Company founded 1938 at Southampton Municipal Airport,
Eastleigh, Hampshire, to build "flying wing" (lifting fuselage)
aircraft based on Burnelli concept. First
product was improved version of Burnelli UB-14 known
as O.A.1 (two crew, 15 passengers). Second version (three
crew, 20 passengers) designed as O.A.2, but not produced
owing to outbreak of war. France acquired O.A.1 and used
it in Africa during the war. Extensive subcontract work for
Air Ministry undertaken, mostly "anglicizing" U.S. Consolidated
Vultee, Lockheed, and Martin Lend-Lease aircraft
for RAF. Late 1945 converted a number of Lancaster B.lll
bombers for air/sea rescue. In 1946 began design of airliner,
the Concordia 10-seat passenger transport, first flown
May 1947. Prototype and one other built, but work suspended
November 1947 owing to insufficient orders. Also
built that year the prototype W.10 helicopter for Cierva; this project shelved too, and shortly afterwards company
abandoned its aviation interests.
