George Henry Challenger
George Henry Challenger (1881-1947). Early Aviator
1881 Born at Neath, where his father was tramway manager[1]
1891 Charles Challenger 38, transport manager, lived in Stapleton, Glos., with Emily Challenger 44, Adelarde B Challenger 11, George H Challenger 9, Emily L Challenger 2, Gertrude L Challenger 1[2]
1901 George H Challenger 19, engineer electrical, lived in Clifton, Bristol with his sister Gertrude E Challenger 11[3]
Engineer at the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co where his father was traffic manager of the tramways[4].
1904 Married Emily Beatrice Dudley in West Derby[5]
1910 With the formation of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co, which started in premises leased from the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, Challenger moved across as works manager and engineer.
Among his designs of aircraft were the Boxkite and the Bristol Glider.
1911 With the creation of an experimental department, Challenger was sent to Larkhill to learn to fly.
1911 Gained his aviator's certificate at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain.
1911 Chief Engineer, Aeroplane Manufacture, lived in Bristol with Emily Beatrice Challenger 29, Marjorie Eleanor Challenger 3[6]
With the formation of an Aviation Department by Vickers, Challenger went there as chief designer and engineer. He was involved in numerous patents, including those for a ring mounting and a gun synchroniser, both for machine guns.
Designed the Vickers F.B.19 which first flew in August 1916.
1919. Aeronautical specifications. 2,565. Vickers Ltd., G. H. Challenger and Harold A. Savage. Automatic guns for aircraft. (126,708.) Published 12th June.
1918 He left Vickers in 1918
1939 George H Challenger, village store keeper and Air Warden, lived in North Curry, Taunton with Emily B Challenger[7]
1947 Died in Somerset[8]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Royal Aero Club records
- Wikipedia