Company founded March 24,1926 by Air Commodore J.
G. Weir, specializing in construction of Autogiros designed
by famous Spanish pioneer aviator Juan de la Cierva
(1886-1936). Two best-known craft were C.8L, first rotorcraft
to fly the English Channel, and C.30A, built by A. V.
Roe as Rota for RAF. Production of other Autogiros
licensed by Cierva to Airwork (C.30, C. 30P); Avro (C.6,
C.8, C.9, C.12, C.17, C.19, C.30A, C.30P); British Aircraft
Manufacturing Co (C.40); Comper (C.25); de Havilland
(C.24, C.26); George Parnall & Co. (C.10, C.11); and Westland
(CL.20). Weir formed a separate company (G. & J.
Weir Ltd.) in 1933, and reestablished Cierva Company
in 1944. After Second World War evolved (jointly with above company), the W.9, a two-seat helicopter using jet
thrust to counteract torque. The W.11 Air Horse three-rotor
design was built for Cierva by Cunliffe-Owen;
designed specifically for crop-spraying, it was first flown
December 8,1948. The W.14 Skeeter, small two-seat helicopter,
first flown October 8,1948. Both designs taken
over in 1951 by Saunders-Roe, together with other
Cierva projects. Company then concentrated on research;
eventually reemerged as Cierva Rotorcraft Ltd, and bought
up Rotorcraft Ltd. in April 1966 and Servotec Ltd. in
1968.The prototype CR.LTH-1 flew October 18,1969, but
was not produced due to lack of funds.
