The Aircraft Disposal Company (ADC), or Airdisco, was a British firm established in March 1920 to take advantage of the large number of World War I-surplus military aircraft on the market.[1] The company changed name in 1925 to ADC Aircraft Limited.
In 1920 the British government, through the Disposal and Liquidation Commission of the Ministry of Munitions, sold the entire stock of surplus aircraft, aero-engines and related equipment held in the United Kingdom to the Imperial and Foreign Corporation Limited.[2] The sale included more than 10,000 aircraft and 35,000 aero-engines, for the sum of £1,000,000 plus a 50% share of any profits.[3] The Imperial and Foreign Corporation formed the Aircraft Disposal Company to sell the equipment and to take over the management of the storage organisation and the large aircraft depots throughout the country.[2] The Handley Page Company were appointed sole managing and selling agents for ADC although problems with the financial arrangement soon put Handley Page at risk and the agreement was made in March 1921 between Handley Page Limited, Frederick Handley Page and ADC to stop ADC liquidating the Handley Page Company.[4]
The former military aircraft were converted to various civil roles before being sold on while others were sold to military buyers. By 1925, it had sold 2,000 airframes and 3,000 engines, generating profits of over £2,500,000, of which half was returned to the British Treasury.[5]
The company had several sites across Britain including 11 acres (45,000 m2) of Regent's Park in London known as Marylebone Green. Three of the National Aircraft Factories became part of the Aircraft Disposal Company including Aintree in Liverpool, Waddon in Croydon, and at Stockport near Manchester.
The company became known as "Airdisco" from its telegraphic address, "Airdisco, London".
In 1926 eight A.D.C.1 fighters (developed from the Martinsyde Buzzard) were delivered to Latvia.[6]
The company had offices at Regent House, 89 Kingsway London WC2.
The company name was changed to ADC Aircraft Limited in 1925 and was finally wound up in 1930.[7]
The company produced a small range of aircraft engines under the direction of Frank Halford, the 'Cirrus' line continued to be manufactured by Cirrus Aero Engines Ltd and their successors.[8]
Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2nd Edition, 2005. ISBN0-7509-3981-8.
Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN1-85310-294-6.
April 21, 2024
aircraft, aircraft, disposal, company, airdisco, british, firm, established, march, 1920, take, advantage, large, number, world, surplus, military, aircraft, market, company, changed, name, 1925, limited, aircraft, disposal, company, airdisco, industryaviation. The Aircraft Disposal Company ADC or Airdisco was a British firm established in March 1920 to take advantage of the large number of World War I surplus military aircraft on the market 1 The company changed name in 1925 to ADC Aircraft Limited Aircraft Disposal Company Airdisco ADC AircraftIndustryAviationFounded1920Defunct1930FateWound upKey peopleFrederick Handley Page Frank Halford Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft 3 Aircraft engines 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 BibliographyHistory editIn 1920 the British government through the Disposal and Liquidation Commission of the Ministry of Munitions sold the entire stock of surplus aircraft aero engines and related equipment held in the United Kingdom to the Imperial and Foreign Corporation Limited 2 The sale included more than 10 000 aircraft and 35 000 aero engines for the sum of 1 000 000 plus a 50 share of any profits 3 The Imperial and Foreign Corporation formed the Aircraft Disposal Company to sell the equipment and to take over the management of the storage organisation and the large aircraft depots throughout the country 2 The Handley Page Company were appointed sole managing and selling agents for ADC although problems with the financial arrangement soon put Handley Page at risk and the agreement was made in March 1921 between Handley Page Limited Frederick Handley Page and ADC to stop ADC liquidating the Handley Page Company 4 The former military aircraft were converted to various civil roles before being sold on while others were sold to military buyers By 1925 it had sold 2 000 airframes and 3 000 engines generating profits of over 2 500 000 of which half was returned to the British Treasury 5 The company had several sites across Britain including 11 acres 45 000 m2 of Regent s Park in London known as Marylebone Green Three of the National Aircraft Factories became part of the Aircraft Disposal Company including Aintree in Liverpool Waddon in Croydon and at Stockport near Manchester The company became known as Airdisco from its telegraphic address Airdisco London In 1926 eight A D C 1 fighters developed from the Martinsyde Buzzard were delivered to Latvia 6 The company had offices at Regent House 89 Kingsway London WC2 The company name was changed to ADC Aircraft Limited in 1925 and was finally wound up in 1930 7 Aircraft editAirdisco Phi Phi A D C 1 Martinsyde Buzzard Aircraft engines editThe company produced a small range of aircraft engines under the direction of Frank Halford the Cirrus line continued to be manufactured by Cirrus Aero Engines Ltd and their successors 8 ADC Airdisco ADC Cirrus ADC Nimbus ADC AirsixSee also editRelated lists List of aircraft engine manufacturersReferences editCitations edit Gunston 2005 p 7 a b Terms of Surplus Aircraft Sale The Times No 42360 London 16 March 1920 p 16 Barnes 1976 pp 26 27 Company Meetings Handley Page Limited The Times No 43067 London 26 June 1922 p 21 Barnes 1976 p 27 Martinsyde A D C 1 fighter Aircraft Disposal Company LTD Scripoworld Lumsden 2003 p 54 Bibliography edit Barnes C H Handley Page Aircraft since 1907 London Putnam 1976 ISBN 978 0 370 00030 5 Gunston Bill World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers Stroud UK Sutton Publishing 2nd Edition 2005 ISBN 0 7509 3981 8 Lumsden Alec British Piston Engines and their Aircraft Marlborough Wiltshire Airlife Publishing 2003 ISBN 1 85310 294 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title ADC Aircraft amp oldid 1209046234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
