Scottish Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Automotive |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Fate | Merged into British Aerospace in 1977 |
| Successor | British Aerospace |
| Headquarters | Prestwick , Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Products | Aircraft (Pioneer, Twin Pioneer, Bulldog, Jetstream), Electric vehicles (Scottish Aviation Scamp) |
Number of employees | 2,500 (1958) |
Scottish Aviation Limited was an aircraft manufacturing firm located in Prestwick, Scotland.
History
Established in 1935, the enterprise initially operated as a flying school before diversifying into aircraft maintenance by 1938. Throughout World War II, Scottish Aviation supported military operations by servicing and modifying Consolidated Liberator bombers.
The company's production facility originated as the Palace of Engineering, showcased at the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park. This structure was subsequently dismantled and transported to Prestwick, where it remains intact today.
Following the war, Scottish Aviation concentrated on producing durable military STOL utility planes, including the Pioneer and Twin Pioneer. In later years, it manufactured Jetstream turboprop passenger aircraft and navigation trainers after the downfall of Handley Page, as well as the Bulldog training aircraft once Beagle Aircraft Limited ceased operations.
In November 1958, the company declared layoffs impacting approximately 800 out of its workforce of 2,500 employees.
The year 1977 saw Scottish Aviation merge with British Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics, creating British Aerospace. Presently, numerous former Scottish Aviation assets belong to Spirit AeroSystems.
Aircraft
(first flight dates in parentheses)
- Scottish Aviation Pioneer (5 November 1947)
- Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer (25 June 1955)
- Scottish Aviation Bulldog
- Scottish Aviation Jetstream
Cars
From 1964 to 1966, Scottish Aviation developed the Scottish Aviation Scamp, a compact battery-powered electric vehicle, producing twelve prototype units.
See also
Bibliography
- Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 (Volume 3). London, Putnam, 1974.
Further reading
- Berry, P (2005) Prestwick Airport and Scottish Aviation
- Robertson, A (1986) Lion Rampant and Winged
External links
- Scottish Aviation – BAE Systems
- Scottish Aviation – British Aircraft Directory
- Articles with short description
- Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Scotland
- South Ayrshire
- 1935 establishments in Scotland
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1935
- 1977 disestablishments in Scotland
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1977
- Companies based in South Ayrshire
- Car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Scotland
- Battery electric vehicle manufacturers
- Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom
- British companies disestablished in 1977
- British companies established in 1935