GRAHAME-WHITE AVIATION Co. (Claude Grahame-White, Hendon Aerodrome)

   Grahame-White operated a successful motor business and, after a brief period of ballooning, turned to heavier than air machines in 1909, after the developments in France and Bleriot's Channel crossing. He learnt to fly at the Bleriot School at the end of the year, receiving Brevet No.30 of the Aero Club de France in January 1910. Thereafter he set up his own flying school at Pau, later transferring this temporarily to Brooklands. In May 1910 The Aero reported that he rented ground at Park Royal, near the Plumes Hotel, but this report was premature. The report also referred to 'half a dozen monoplanes of Bleriot type', built at his workshop at Walham Green, under the supervision of R.W.A. Brewer.
   The school was moved to Hendon in 1911, where Grahame-White also ran many flying displays, which made Hendon famous. He also established his manufacturing company there, early in 1911, and this operated into the early postwar period, but was forced into receivership in 1922. From 1913 to 1915, J.D. North, later of Boulton and Paul, was in charge of design.
   Farman and Bleriot machines from the French factories had been used by Grahame-White since 1909, but when his school commenced operations the number of machines was increased. The aircraft in use in 1911-1912 were often reported to be 'British-built Farmans' but the number actually made is uncertain. To indicate the scale of operations, reports at times referred to biplane No. 10 and monoplane No.6. A photograph in Flight 11 February 1911 (p. 114) showed five Bleriots, one Farman and one G.W. Baby already available. The manufacture of aircraft developed from Farman types, to those of original design, and the production capacity was enhanced by a large addition of plant and machinery in October 1911.


GRAHAME-WHITE Sommer type biplane

   A single propeller, pusher type biplane with seats for two was exhibited at Gamages store from 6 to 11 June 1910, with which Grahame-White was hoping to fly to Paris from London. It was described as 'British-built', and was constructed before the works at Hendon were established. It was made by the Windham Detachable Motor Body Co. Nothing more was heard of this machine at the time.
   In some respects like a Sommer biplane, the machine had front booms and long curved skids, to which the front elevator was hinged. Rear booms carried a fixed tailplane but no rudder. The front spars of the wings were at the leading edge. Large single acting ailerons hung from the rear spars of the top wings, with additional fixed trailing edge surfaces inboard of these.
   A later reference states that a Sommer biplane was dismantled at Brooklands by Compton Paterson, at that time a GW pilot, and in November it was being reassembled with a Gnome engine for the use of the pupils. Although not confirmed, this is presumed to refer to this machine.

   Power: 40hp Humber four-cylinder inline water-cooled.
   Data
   Span 33ft
   Gap 5ft 9in
   Length of tail, rear of wings 23ft
   Area 450 sq ft
   Weight allup 800lb


WINDHAM biplane No.2

   In 1910 Windham built a biplane for Grahame-White, who intended to use it for a flight from London to Paris, which he never carried out. This machine was exhibited at Gamages in the summer of 1910, and is already described as the Grahame-White Biplane Type 1 (q. v.). It was made before Grahame-White had established his own manufacturing facilities.