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National Aircraft Factory No. 2

October 28, 2023

National Aircraft Factory No. 2 (NAF No.2) was a World War I UK government owned aircraft factory located at Heaton Chapel, Stockport. It produced over 450 warplanes during 1918/19. The Heaton Chapel factory was then sold to Crossley Motors, who used it for building motor vehicles. In 1934, it was sold to the Fairey Aviation Company, with aircraft production there continuing until the late 1950s.

Management edit

In 1917, the UK government decided to increase the country's aircraft production capacity by establishing 'National Aircraft Factories'. These were to be managed by large established industrial firms from outside the aircraft industry. NAF No.2 was created at Crossley Road, Heaton Chapel, next to the London & North Western Railway company's line between Manchester (London Road) station and Stockport (Edgeley) station. Crossley Motors had partially completed a factory to build aero-engines on the 15-acre (61,000 m2) site and this was incorporated in a revised larger facility to be managed by the firm. The factory was completed in mid 1918.[1][2]

Aircraft production edit

 
The erecting area of the National Aircraft Factory No.2 in late 1918 with de Havilland DH.9s under assembly

An initial production contract was received by NAF No.2 for 500 de Havilland DH.9 single-engined two-seat biplane day bombers for the Royal Air Force.[1] The first DH.9 to be shipped from the Heaton Chapel factory was serial D1001 on 16 March 1918.[2] A total of 444 DH.9s had been built when production ceased in spring 1919.[3] Early production aircraft were despatched from NAF No.2 by rail, using the factory's adjacent LNWR sidings, to an Aircraft Acceptance Park at Coal Aston near Sheffield for final erection and testing. From May 1918 the DH.9s were transported in sections by rail or road to an Aircraft Acceptance Park at the newly opened Alexandra Park Aerodrome in Manchester where the aircraft were assembled and flight tested before delivery to the RAF.[1] Some aircraft were also flown out of an airfield set up on the nearby Cringle Fields Park.[2] The last 50 aircraft plus further NAF No.2 contracts for additional DH.9s were cancelled after the Armistice.[1]

A further contract was received for the production of 200 de Havilland DH.10 Amiens twin-engined biplane day bombers. The first seven DH.10s (serials F351/357) were completed at NAF No.2, and test flown, from February 1919 onwards before the remaining machines on order were cancelled.[1]

Closure of NAF No.2 and subsequent use of factory buildings edit

After the cancellation of remaining orders for military aircraft, the factory was sold to Crossley Motors for the manufacture of cars and goods vehicles by Willys Overland Crossley, a joint venture between Crossley and the American Willys-Overland Motors.[2][4] Motor vehicle production at Heaton Chapel ended in the early 1930s, and the Fairey Aviation Company of Hayes, Middlesex, needing more production capacity to fulfil large contracts for military aircraft, purchased the Heaton Chapel facilities in November 1934.[2][5] In late 1935, the factory buildings were refurbished in preparation for aircraft production, and the first of a batch of thirteen Fairey Hendon bombers was completed in September 1936, being moved by road to Barton Aerodrome for flight testing.[2][6] In 1937, production switched to the Fairey Battle bomber, and later that year flight test activities were moved to Ringway Airport (now Manchester Airport).[2]

In 1940, a shadow factory was built next to Fairey's Heaton park factory. This new factory, known as Errwood Park, was also managed by Fairey. It built Bristol Beaufighter fighters and Handley Page Halifax bombers during the war. Aircraft production at the shadow factory was stopped shortly after the end of the war, and at the end of 1945, Errwood Park was leased by Crossley from the Board of Trade, being used to build buses.[7]

Nearly 4,400 new aircraft were built at the two factories between 1936 and 1958.[8]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Scholefield 2004, p. 215
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jenks 1998, p. 3
  3. ^ Jenks 1998, p. 10
  4. ^ Scholefield 1998, p. 35
  5. ^ Taylor 1974, p. 18
  6. ^ Taylor 1974, pp. 214, 216
  7. ^ Jenks 1998, pp. 5–6
  8. ^ Scholefield 1998, p. 158

Bibliography edit

  • Jenks, George (1998), "Stockport Aircraft Factories", Aeromilitaria, Air-Britain, no. 1, pp. 3–10
  • "National Aircraft Factory Near Manchester" (PDF), The Engineer, 127: 422–424, 2 May 1919
  • Scholefield, R.A. (1998), Manchester Airport, Sutton Publishing, ISBN 0-7509-1954-X
  • Scholefield, R.A. (2004), Manchester's Early Airfields: an extended article in Moving Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, ISSN 0950-4699
  • Taylor, H. A. (1974), Fairey Aircraft since 1915, London: Putnam, ISBN 0-370-00065-X

October 28, 2023
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National Aircraft Factory No 2 NAF No 2 was a World War I UK government owned aircraft factory located at Heaton Chapel Stockport It produced over 450 warplanes during 1918 19 The Heaton Chapel factory was then sold to Crossley Motors who used it for building motor vehicles In 1934 it was sold to the Fairey Aviation Company with aircraft production there continuing until the late 1950s Contents 1 Management 2 Aircraft production 3 Closure of NAF No 2 and subsequent use of factory buildings 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographyManagement editIn 1917 the UK government decided to increase the country s aircraft production capacity by establishing National Aircraft Factories These were to be managed by large established industrial firms from outside the aircraft industry NAF No 2 was created at Crossley Road Heaton Chapel next to the London amp North Western Railway company s line between Manchester London Road station and Stockport Edgeley station Crossley Motors had partially completed a factory to build aero engines on the 15 acre 61 000 m2 site and this was incorporated in a revised larger facility to be managed by the firm The factory was completed in mid 1918 1 2 Aircraft production edit nbsp The erecting area of the National Aircraft Factory No 2 in late 1918 with de Havilland DH 9s under assemblyAn initial production contract was received by NAF No 2 for 500 de Havilland DH 9 single engined two seat biplane day bombers for the Royal Air Force 1 The first DH 9 to be shipped from the Heaton Chapel factory was serial D1001 on 16 March 1918 2 A total of 444 DH 9s had been built when production ceased in spring 1919 3 Early production aircraft were despatched from NAF No 2 by rail using the factory s adjacent LNWR sidings to an Aircraft Acceptance Park at Coal Aston near Sheffield for final erection and testing From May 1918 the DH 9s were transported in sections by rail or road to an Aircraft Acceptance Park at the newly opened Alexandra Park Aerodrome in Manchester where the aircraft were assembled and flight tested before delivery to the RAF 1 Some aircraft were also flown out of an airfield set up on the nearby Cringle Fields Park 2 The last 50 aircraft plus further NAF No 2 contracts for additional DH 9s were cancelled after the Armistice 1 A further contract was received for the production of 200 de Havilland DH 10 Amiens twin engined biplane day bombers The first seven DH 10s serials F351 357 were completed at NAF No 2 and test flown from February 1919 onwards before the remaining machines on order were cancelled 1 Closure of NAF No 2 and subsequent use of factory buildings editAfter the cancellation of remaining orders for military aircraft the factory was sold to Crossley Motors for the manufacture of cars and goods vehicles by Willys Overland Crossley a joint venture between Crossley and the American Willys Overland Motors 2 4 Motor vehicle production at Heaton Chapel ended in the early 1930s and the Fairey Aviation Company of Hayes Middlesex needing more production capacity to fulfil large contracts for military aircraft purchased the Heaton Chapel facilities in November 1934 2 5 In late 1935 the factory buildings were refurbished in preparation for aircraft production and the first of a batch of thirteen Fairey Hendon bombers was completed in September 1936 being moved by road to Barton Aerodrome for flight testing 2 6 In 1937 production switched to the Fairey Battle bomber and later that year flight test activities were moved to Ringway Airport now Manchester Airport 2 In 1940 a shadow factory was built next to Fairey s Heaton park factory This new factory known as Errwood Park was also managed by Fairey It built Bristol Beaufighter fighters and Handley Page Halifax bombers during the war Aircraft production at the shadow factory was stopped shortly after the end of the war and at the end of 1945 Errwood Park was leased by Crossley from the Board of Trade being used to build buses 7 Nearly 4 400 new aircraft were built at the two factories between 1936 and 1958 8 References editCitations edit a b c d e Scholefield 2004 p 215 a b c d e f g Jenks 1998 p 3 Jenks 1998 p 10 Scholefield 1998 p 35 Taylor 1974 p 18 Taylor 1974 pp 214 216 Jenks 1998 pp 5 6 Scholefield 1998 p 158 Bibliography edit Jenks George 1998 Stockport Aircraft Factories Aeromilitaria Air Britain no 1 pp 3 10 National Aircraft Factory Near Manchester PDF The Engineer 127 422 424 2 May 1919 Scholefield R A 1998 Manchester Airport Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 1954 X Scholefield R A 2004 Manchester s Early Airfields an extended article in Moving Manchester Lancashire amp Cheshire Antiquarian Society ISSN 0950 4699 Taylor H A 1974 Fairey Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 00065 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Aircraft Factory No 2 amp oldid 1150221841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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