Career
In 1911 Fairey aged 24 became General manager with the Blair Atholl Syndicate Ltd., then working on tailless aircraft to the designs of J. W. Dunne at Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey.
In 1913 Fairey joined Short Brothers as chief engineer and in 1915 he formed his own company, Fairey Aviation. At the outbreak of the 1914-18 war he attempted to join first the R.N.A.S. and then the R.F.C., but was refused by both on medical grounds and by reason of his skill as an aeronautical engineer. A year later, at the age of 28, he formed his own aircraft company. It started with an office in Piccadilly, and factory space was found initially in The Gramophone company's facilities at Hayes.
His standing in the United Kingdom aircraft industry led to him to be the chairman of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors in 1922-1924 and president of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1930-31 and 1932-33.
His company developed a new factory at Hayes just across the Great Western Railway. In 1930 a 150-acre (0.61 km2) flying field was developed on land purchased from the church under the control of the vicar of Harmondsworth, Middlesex. Known as the Great West Aerodrome, it was later compulsorily purchased by the Crown during World War II, and today forms the south-eastern part of Heathrow, Airport, London. Soon afterwards a seaplane base was established at Hamble. He also gave his private yacht to the Royal Navy for the duration of the war. Armed and refitted, she served on anti-submarine duties at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda as HMS Evadne.
Fairey remained in charge of his company until his death in the early morning of 30 September 1956, Fairey, who was 69, had been suffering for several years from a heart condition. During those forty years he was involved with the development of many of the companies most important products including; aircraft, rotorcraft, marine craft, mechanical engineering and rocketry.
Read more about this topic: Charles Richard Fairey
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