Penrose, Harald Architect of Wings

A Biography of Roy Chadwick - Designer of the Lancaster-Bomber

Roy Chadwick, the most famous designer of the Lancaster bomber, was one of the most important figures in the aviation world in the first half of the 20th century. His career spanned both wooden and fabric biplanes before the First World War and the futuristic delta-winged Vulcan jet bomber. This classic biography of Harald Penrose - himself a major figure in the development of aviation - tells his fascinating story. Both Roy Chadwick and the author lived through the same contemporary events, so this biography of the Avro designer not only covers the development of the aircraft, but also reflects the atmosphere of those days. No sooner had one design been completed than Roy Chadwick was already imagining the next one and the one after that, totalling around two hundred. They range from initial experiences with pre-World War I precursors and the world-famous Avro 504 training aircraft to a series of prototypes, including ultra-light aeroplanes, powerful fighters and bombers. In particular, the Avro 504 with its 20 variants, the twin-engined Anson and the mighty Lancaster were built in large numbers. In a fast-paced narrative, Penrose describes Chadwick's career through the chequered years, from the first revelations of flight to the age of 54, when he began designing the futuristic Vulcan delta-wing aircraft, and ending with his tragic death in the crash of the Avro Tudor II passenger plane in 1947. Harald Penrose studied aeronautical engineering at London University from 1922 to 1926, spending six months as a student aerodynamicist at Handley Page Ltd. in 1924 and gaining practical design experience at Westland Aircraft Works in 1925. In 1926 he joined Westland as a designer and technician and a year later learnt to fly with the Royal Air Force Reserve. In 1928 he was appointed manager at Westland Civil Aircraft and obtained his Class C pilot's licence, which enabled him to take part in the testing of the aircraft he built. Three years later he was appointed Chief Test Pilot and over the next two decades flew nearly 400 types and variants of aircraft of British and foreign design, including light aircraft, fighters, bombers, commercial aircraft, seaplanes, autogyros and helicopters. In 1946 he was awarded the Order of the OBE. In 1953 he became Group Sales Director of the merged Westland, Fairey, Saunders-Roe and Bristol divisions, followed two years later by his appointment as Special Director. In a career spanning 42 years, he witnessed many of the most important and exciting developments in British aircraft construction and design and came into contact with major figures in international aviation.