Airspeed Ltd.

The company Airspeed Ltd.. was a British aircraft manufacturer that was founded in 1931 by Nevil Shute Norway and Hessel Tiltman in York.

After initially some double-decker types were produced, then concentrated on the production of modern monoplane. 1933 new production premises were occupied in Portsmouth. 1934, the company was part of the Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson shipyard.

You gained the greatest economic success during the Second World War with the AS 10 Oxford, were produced by the approximately 8,500 machines. Also known by the company was the supply of gliders, the types of AS 51 and AS 58 Horsa Horsa II, who came to a figure of about 3,500.

In June 1940 de Havilland took over the shares Swan Hunters on the company. After the war began, the AS 10 Oxford adapt to the civilian market, from which the AS was 65 Consul. With the new AS 57 Ambassador was tried in vain to get back on in the civilian market. 1948 the preference shares of de Havilland were taken, and in June 1951, de Havilland, the company Airspeed complete, thus became a part of the de Havilland company.

Civil lines: AS 4 Ferry | AS 5 Courier | AS.6 Envoy | AS 57 Ambassador

Military series: AS 10 Oxford | AS 30 Queen Wasp | AS 39 Fleet Shadower | Cambridge AS 45 | AS 51 Horsa | AS 58 Horsa II

Racing airplanes: AS 8 Viceroy