FOLLAND

Folland Aircraft was a British company that specialized in aircraft manufacturing from 1937 to 1963. The company was originally formed as British Marine Aircraft Limited in February 1936 to produce Sikorsky S-42-A flying boats under license in the UK. However, due to financial difficulties, the company was liquidated and mergers with other British aircraft companies were considered but not executed. In 1937, Henry Folland, the chief designer of Gloster Aircraft, took over the British Marine site and established Folland Aircraft Company. Folland Aircraft initially assembled aircrafts and manufactured parts for other aircraft companies such as Bristol Blenheim and Beaufort bombers, as well as rear portions of the Supermarine Spitfire. In 1940, Folland Aircraft designed and flew its first aircraft, the Folland Fo.108, which was used as a flying engine testbed. The company also developed the F.115 and F.116 designs to meet the Specification E.28/40 for a research aircraft. These designs were ultimately cancelled due to the resolution of the issues they were meant to investigate. In 1950, W. E. W. Petter joined the company as managing director and designed the Folland Midge, an unarmed proof-of-concept jet fighter that first flew in 1954. Folland Aircraft was acquired by Hawker Siddeley in 1959 and ceased operations in 1963.