Aviation Archive: Aviation Heritage

His second design, the G.E.1 Biplane (no 64), was much more successful, begun in 1911 it aimed to provide a military two seater that could quickly have the wings detached in order for it to be transported in convoy. It used wood for construction and used a 50 hp four cylinder upright water-cooled Clerget. This had a front radiator and a hinged car type bonnet cover. The aircraft was seriously underpowered and was trialled by a flying school but soon returned to the factory where it was later scrapped in 1912.

An improved machine the G.E.2 was built for the Military Aeroplane competition in August 1912, No 103 was fitted with a 100 hp double row Gnome directly coupled to the airscrew and No 104 used a 70 hp water-cooled Daimler-Mercedes with 2-to-1 chain drive reduction. At the competition the Daimler engined machine did not reach full power and the other had problems following England's hurry and omitting his standard pre-flight checks.

Gordon England went on to design two G.E.3 Biplanes but they were never delivered, he left the company and eventually went into car design, making some interesting bodies, most notably for the Austin Seven and for Standard.

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