Planes and Choppers Photos

British Marine Aircraft Ltd was formed in February 1936 to produce Sikorsky S-42-A flying boats under licence in the UK, with a factory on the Hamble peninsula with a slipway to Southampton Water. The Sikorsky deal failed and the company was sold to Henry P. Folland , formerly Chief designer for Gloster Aircraft Company, who renamed it Folland Aircraft Limited in 1937. After much subcontracting work on WW2 aircraft, it began to design and produce its own aircraft, which were not successful. However W. E. W. Petter, who had designed the Westland Lysander, English Electric Canberra and English Electric Lightning, joined the company as managing director in 1950. This led to the Midge jet fighter and Gnat jet trainer,both being tested at Chilbolton. In 1959 Folland was acquired by Hawker Siddeley who dropped the Folland name in 1963. Ultimately, Folland became part of British Aerospace (BAe).