Airwork Limited, also referred to during its history as
Airwork Services Limited, is a wholly owned subsidiary company of
VT Group plc. It has a long and rich history in providing a variety of defence support services to the
Royal Air Force (RAF),
Fleet Air Arm and overseas air forces, as well as having played an important role in the development of civil aviation — both in the
United Kingdom and abroad.
History
Origins
Airwork was founded in 1928 by
Nigel Norman and
Alan Muntz, with the opening of the private
Heston Aerodrome in
Middlesex.
Aeroplane — Britain's Biggest Independent Airline, Vol. 102, No. 2625, pp. 143/4, Temple Press, London, 8 February 1962 In the early days, Airwork’s chief pilot was Captain
Valentine Baker MC,
DFC, who later formed the world-famous
Martin-Baker company with Sir
James Martin. In December 1936, Airwork Limited was registered at
Companies House, and the newly formed company started its long association with RAF flying training.
Airwork moved out of Heston in 1935 due to a lack of adequate space and relocated to
Gatwick, where it continued with a contract to maintain
Whitley bombers for the RAF. During the 1930s, Airwork also helped to establish the predecessors of the post-
World War II national airlines of
Egypt,
India and
Rhodesia. Thus,
United Arab Airlines,
Indian Airlines and
Central African Airways were Airwork descendants.<ref...
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