The First Manchester Built Aeroplane

Although the A V Roe aeroplane company was Manchester based and its founder Alliott Verdon-Roe was born near Eccles its early aeroplanes were all designed, built, and flown around London. The company didn't build aeroplanes in Manchester until 1910, and even when they were, they were transported by train to Brooklands near London for flight testing.

There was, however, lots of interest in aviation all around the country and Manchester was no exception. Many early aviation pioneers visited the area to demonstrate their aeroplanes, flying skills hoping to inspire the awe-struck crowds to take up this new and exciting craze.

Engineering companies clambered to make parts for the blossoming aircraft industry. Charles Fletcher's motor company Empress Engineering had a factory on Stockport Rd in Longsight and produced the UK's first ambulance, they also made rotary aircraft engines. In 1908 Fletcher took on an apprentice named John Alcock from Old Trafford who at first distinguished himself by backing the firm's heavy lorry through the workshop wall. It wasn't held against him and Fletcher who had built a Blériot-like monoplane was impressed with Alcock's enthusiasm and engineering abilities.


In October 1909 Fletcher's monoplane made several short flights at Heaton Park but further trials only had limited success. Fletcher turned his attention to building a pusher-biplane based on the Farman design with a copy of the Gnome rotary engine.

After watching Louis Paulhan winning the 1910 London to Manchester air race Alcock was determined to become a pilot. By 1911 he was the technical representative for Empress
Engineering and accompanied delivery of rotary engines for trials on Avro aeroplanes at Brooklands. The engines were not very successful Alcock but stayed on to be in the company of the most significant aviation pioneers.

Avro were unable to offer Alcock a place at their flying school but Maurice Ducrocq who occupied the next hangar employed him as a mechanic and taught him to fly. He flew in WW1 and then for the Vickers Aircraft Company and famously with Arthur Whitten Brown became the first to fly across the Atlantic.

The Empress biplane eventually made a few hops at Manchester Racecourse before ownership was transferred to Brooklands. Fletcher was subsequently sued by Gnome and his company bankrupted.

(Monochrome Photographs L-R) - Photos courtesy of Lloyd Robinson
Alcock working on the monoplane engine
Monoplane at Heaton Park
Bi-plane at Manchester Racecourse