Chrislea Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer, formed in 1936 and closed in 1952.

History

The company was formed on 2 October 1936 at

Heston Aerodrome Heston Aerodrome was an airfield located to the west of London, England, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex. In September 1938, the British Prime Minister, Ne ...

near

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, to build the designs of Richard Christoforides. The company name was derived from the partners Christoforides and Bernard Victor Leak. The first product was the Airguard which first flew in 1938. The Ace first flew in 1946 and soon after in April 1947 the company moved to

Exeter International Airport Exeter Airport , formerly ''Exeter International Airport'', is an international airport located at Clyst Honiton in East Devon, close to the city of Exeter and within the county of Devon, South West England. Exeter has a CAA Public Use Aerodr ...

(due to the closure of Heston). At Exeter the Super Ace and Skyjeep were produced, but the aircraft did not sell well due to resistance to the unusual control wheel used. The Managing Director and Chief Designer R.C. Christoforides left the company after internal problems, reduced demand and low production levels, with the assets of the company being bought by C.E.Harper Aircraft Limited in 1952, which scrapped all partly constructed and non-flown aircraft (Seven Super Aces and two Skyjeeps).

Aircraft designs

* Chrislea Airguard * Chrislea Ace * Chrislea Super Ace * Chrislea Skyjeep

References

* ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)''. London: Orbis Publishing. * Jackson, A.J. ''British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 Volume 1''. London: Putnam, 1974. . * Smith, Ron. ''British Built Aircraft Greater London''. London: Tempus Publishing, 2002. .

External links

Chrislea
– British Aircraft Directory {{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1936 1936 establishments in England Vehicle manufacture in London Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1952 1952 disestablishments in England British companies disestablished in 1952 British companies established in 1936