Ernest Brooks (b. 7 May 1928
in Spennymoor, Durham – d. 9 March 1969 in Teeside), aided by younger brother Bernard, started his own garage
in Bishop Middleham, offering repairs and vehicle salvage, something that would later provide a handy source of Volkswagen
engines for conversion to gyroplane use.
In 1960 he built his first aero engine, modifying an air-cooled Volkswagen
for his Druine Turbulent G-APOL. Having met Fred Fewsdale, he grew an interest in gyrocopters, first building a Benson gyroglider and then Bensen B-7 G-ASFN.
Brooks decided
to pursue the development of a safe and dependable gyroplane. A prefab building of corrugated asbestos was erected at the
bottom of the Brooks’s family garden in Tudhoe. Construction commenced in 1961 and the first Mosquito Mk.1 made its
maiden flight in August 1962. This was followed by the improved Mosquito Mk.2, the Brookland Rotorcraft Company
having been formed to develop the machine, and on 22 August 1968, Flight reported that Brooks "has received a number
of orders for a Mk.2 version of the Mosquito Gyroplane. Eleven Gyroplane Mk 2s are being built".
At some point
in late 1968, Cecil Golightly (b. 21 Sep 1922, Durham – d. 2006, Durham) became involved, presumably injecting much
needed capital into the company. A local entrepreneur, his family owned several large industrial enterprises in the area,
including a plant hire business at the old Dean and Chapter pit yard in Ferryhill.
Tragically, Ernest Brooks was kiled
on March 9 1969 when a Mosquito he was displaying crashed 150ft to the earth at Teesside Airport. B.R. Luesley now joined
Brookland Rotorcraft to undertake test pilot duties. Later that year the Brookland Rotorcraft equipment was taken Golightlys
site at the Dean and Chapter colliery at Ferryhill, the company being rebranded as Gyroflight Ltd.
Brian Luesley was appointed Project Manager and test pilot and became responsible for producing and marketing the Hornet.
Brian Richard Luesley (b. 6 Apr 1933 – d. 27 June 1970) was killed at a Woodford Air Display, flying Mosquito G-AWTZ.
By 1970, Gyroflight were advertising the Hornet gyrocopter and Gnat and Midge gyrogliders, while under development was Sprite
two-seater gyrocopter. It seems unlikely, however, that any new machines were actually produced. Despite retaining the skills
of Brooks' original production team, the modified Brookland Hornet could not sustain the earlier promise of the Mosquito,
simply because it lacked Ernest Brooks, and Gyroflight would cease trading about 1974.
Brookland Rotorcraft Limited
was struck off Companies Register December 1976, but the story was not completely over. In 1978, a newspaper advertisement
offering the entire stock of the former Brookland Gyroflight Company caught Tony Phillpots' eye. Consequently Tony acquired
enough components to complete nine Brookland gyroplanes. As a result, at least four more gyroplanes were built in 1978.
Company References
Company references TBD
Project Data
Brookland
Project
No
Type No
Name
Alternative
Name(s)
Year
Spec
Status
Qty
Description
References
Mosquito
1962
Prdn
11
1S, 1E gyrocopter
1,2,3,4
Hornet
1968
Prdn
5
1S, 1E gyrocopter
1,2,3,4
Gyroflight
Project
No
Type No
Name
Alternative
Name(s)
Year
Spec
Status
Qty
Description
References
Hornet
1968
See Brooklands Hornet
Gnat
1970
Proj
0
1S gyroglider
5
Midge
1970
Proj
0
1S gyroglider
5
Sprite
1970
Proj
0
2S, 1E gyrocopter
5
Project References
British Civil
Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 2nd Ed., 1973)
Autogiro, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume
(Mushroom Model Publications, 2009)
British Private Aircraft 1946-1970, Volume 2, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume
(Mushroom Model Publications, 2013)
British Homebuilt Aircraft since 1920 2nd Ed, Ken Ellis (Merseyside
Aviation Society, 1979)
Flight 3 Sep 70
Production Summary
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Note: In the Production Summary, conversions are only listed where
they result in a change from one Type to another. Changes to sub-type or Mark Number are not shown in the summary. For details
of these, see the individual listings.