Moss Brothers Aircraft

Last updated

Moss Brothers Aircraft
Company typeAircraft design, construction and repair
Founded1 January 1936
Fateceased trading circa 1955
HeadquartersChorley, Lancashire, England
Key people
William Henry Moss

Moss Brothers Aircraft Ltd , known as Mosscraft, was an English aircraft manufacturer and repairer which was active between 1936 and the mid-1950s.

Contents

Formation

The company was formed on 1 January 1936 with a registered address at 45 Ashfield Road, Chorley. The aims of the company were "the design, manufacture and repair of aircraft of all types". The directors were William Henry Moss (managing), Geoffrey P. Moss, Brian E. Moss, Ronald L. Moss and Richard A.S. Moss. [1]

Aircraft activities

The Mosscraft MA.2 (left) and Mosscraft MA.1 (right) at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airport in 1950 Mosscraft M.A.2 G-AFMS & G-AEST M.A.1 WVTN 17.06.50 edited-2.jpg
The Mosscraft MA.2 (left) and Mosscraft MA.1 (right) at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airport in 1950
The Mosscraft MA.1 competing as No.4 in the Kings Cup air race at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airfield on 17 June 1950. It crashed fatally during the race. Mosscraft MA.1 Pendeford 1950.jpg
The Mosscraft MA.1 competing as No.4 in the Kings Cup air race at Wolverhampton (Pendeford) airfield on 17 June 1950. It crashed fatally during the race.
The Mosscraft MA.2 at Blackpool airport in August 1949, wearing that year's racing No.13 Moss M.A.2 Blackpool 1949.jpg
The Mosscraft MA.2 at Blackpool airport in August 1949, wearing that year's racing No.13

The company was headed by William H. Moss. It designed and built two types of light sporting aircraft. The firm's aircraft and components were often referred to as "Mosscraft".

The Moss M.A.1 first flew in 1937. The firm advertised the M.A.1 in the aeronautical press, including "Flight" magazine where the aircraft was offered for sale to private owners for £750, equipped with a Pobjoy Niagara III engine of 95 h.p. The aircraft's maximum speed was advertised as 132 mph, with a landing speed with flaps down of 38 mph. [2] However, no orders were received and the prototype was destroyed in a crash in June 1950 which resulted in the death of William H. Moss. [3]

The firm then built the Mosscraft MA.2 in early 1939. This differed from the earlier aircraft in being powered by a 90 h.p Blackburn Cirrus Minor I and having a covered cabin. This aircraft was shipped to Canada in 1940 and made a long cross-country flight from Vancouver, over the Rocky Mountains to Toronto and south to New York. This achievement was recorded for several years by a lengthy caption marked by hand on the port side of the engine cowling.

The MA.2 was shipped back to the UK in 1947 and took part in the Kings Cup Air Race in 1950 and 1954. It was lost in a crash in mid-Wales during July 1958 whilst owned by the Fairwood Flying Group based at Swansea Airport. A second MA.2, was partially constructed prewar and stored. It has been the subject of a planned completion project. [4]

Other activities

The company also undertook contract work for the manufacture and repair of aircraft components during the Second World War. All operations were run down in the mid-1950s.

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

de Havilland Dragon Rapide 1934 small airliner family

The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft, despite its outdated plywood construction.

de Havilland Express Type of aircraft

The de Havilland Express, also known as the de Havilland D.H.86, was a four-engined passenger aircraft manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company between 1934 and 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handley Page Hermes</span> Type of aircraft

The Handley Page HP.81 Hermes was a civilian airliner designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Handley Page.

de Havilland Albatross Type of aircraft

The de Havilland DH.91 Albatross was a four-engined British transport aircraft of the 1930s manufactured by de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited. Seven aircraft were built between 1938 and 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chater-Lea</span>

Chater-Lea was a British bicycle, car and motorcycle maker with a purpose-built five-storey factory in Banner Street, EC1, in the City of London and, from 1928, premises at Letchworth, Hertfordshire. It was founded by William Chater-Lea in 1890 to make bicycle frames and components. It made cars between 1907 and 1922 and motorcycles from 1903 to 1935. William died in 1927 and the business was taken over by his sons John and Bernard. After vehicle production finished, the company remained trading as a bicycle component maker and contract manufacturer until 1987. The company relaunched in 2017 as a maker of high-end British manufactured bicycle components and launched its first new products in the summer of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handley Page Type W</span> Early British airliner

The Handley Page W.8, W.9 and W.10 were British two- and three-engine medium-range biplane airliners designed and built by Handley Page.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airspeed Envoy</span> 1930s British light aircraft

The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a twin-engined light transport aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Airspeed Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airspeed Courier</span> British 6-seat, single engine aircraft (1933)

The Airspeed AS.5 Courier was a British six-seat single-engined light aircraft, designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Airspeed Limited at Portsmouth. It was the first British aircraft fitted with a retractable undercarriage to go into small quantity production.

de Havilland Giant Moth Early British transport aircraft

The de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth was a 1920s British large single-engined biplane transport built by de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware. Intended primarily for use in Australia, a number were also shipped to Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parnall Heck</span> Type of aircraft

The Parnall Heck was a 1930s British four-seat cabin monoplane built by Parnall Aircraft Limited at Yate, Gloucestershire. Originally a Hendy design, few were built. It combined the strength and comfort of a cabin aircraft with the speed of a racer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handley Page Marathon</span> Type of aircraft

The Handley Page (Reading) H.P.R.1 Marathon was a British four-engined civil transport aircraft, capable of seating up to 20 passengers. It was designed by Miles Aircraft Limited and largely manufactured by Handley Page (Reading) Limited at Woodley Aerodrome, Reading, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dart Aircraft</span> British aircraft manufacturer during the 1930s

Dart Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer during the 1930s. Its facilities were located at 29 High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles Nighthawk</span> 1930s British civil utility aircraft

The Miles M.7 Nighthawk was a 1930s British training and communications monoplane designed by Miles Aircraft Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heston Phoenix</span> Type of aircraft

The Heston Type 1 Phoenix was a 1930s British single-engined five-seat light transport monoplane built by the Heston Aircraft Company Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsmouth Airport (Hampshire)</span> Airport in Portsea Island, Portsmouth

Portsmouth Airport, also known as Portsmouth City Airport, PWA (Portsmouth Worldwide Airport) and Hilsea Airport, was situated at the northeast Hilsea corner of Portsea Island on the south coast of England and was one of the last remaining commercial grass runway airports in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short Crusader</span> British racing seaplane

The Short Crusader also called the Short-Bristow Crusader and Short-Bristol Crusader was a British racing seaplane of the 1920s, built by Short Brothers to compete in the 1927 Schneider Trophy race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosscraft MA.1</span> Type of aircraft

The Mosscraft MA.1 was a British light two-seat low-winged sporting monoplane of the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosscraft MA.2</span> Type of aircraft

The Mosscraft MA.2 was a British light two-seat low-winged sporting monoplane of the 1930s.

Chilton Aircraft Ltd was a British aircraft design and manufacturing company of the late 1930s and 1940s.

Heston Aircraft Company was a British aircraft manufacturer based at Heston Aerodrome, Middlesex, England.

References

Citations

  1. "Flight" 9 January 1936, p. 54
  2. "Flight" 24 March 1938, p. 62
  3. Jackson, 1974, p. 273
  4. Jackson, 1974, p. 274

Bibliography