A 1947 visit to rural Buckinghamshire, and the engineering specialists of Airtech — already specialising in Halifax freighter conversions
Such is the pace of change in the aerospace industry that company names come and go. Even illustrious ones are not too revered to end up on the proverbial scrapheap — the most cursory examination of British aviation history demonstrates that. But some, perhaps surprisingly, prove more enduring.
There have been many firms around the world called Airtech. The one covered by The Aeroplane in June 1947 had been set up on 16 February that year, but it had wellestablished backing. A Croydon Airport-based firm called Chartair had, the piece said, “what may be considered an ideal set-up for an air transport company”. Originally founded by decorated former Bomber Command pilot Gp Capt Guy Lawrence, it had acquired the capital of British-American Air Services, “which now concentrates entirely on cargo carrying”, and was further linked to Airtech, “which undertakes the maintenance work for both companies”. Behind them was a conglomerate of British shipping operators, an industry then taking an ever greater interest in the expanding world of air transport.
“Developing with the …
