The British Empire’s Aero Industry
Category: Aviation Ads, etc.
Boom to Bust: The Alexander Aircraft Company
In the late 1920s, the future looked promising to J. Don Alexander and his aircraft business. In the years 1928-29, Alexander sold more planes than anyone else in the world, but unfortunately, the company became plagued with troubles. A 1928 fire destroyed their manufacturing plant killing eleven workers (J. Don Alexander and his brother were found liable), and even after constructing another facility, new aircraft projects ran into problems as well. The Great Depression finished off Alexander in 1932. The company’s most successful product, the Eaglerock, is seen in these photos.
Boeing’s Model 80
With its open cockpit, it is tempting to think this is an early model, but in actuality it came about after pilots complained about the confines of Model 80s enclosed cockpit.
The sole survivor, now on display at Boeing’s Museum of Flight.
More great ads!
Considered by many as one of the worst aircraft designs of all time, the “strut-less, wings like a bird” Christmas Bullet had (surprise!) an annoying habit of shedding those unsupported wings immediately after takeoff. Two were built, both lost their visible means of support. Note: Dr. William Christmas designed the aircraft with an idea in mind that it could be used to fly over to Germany and kidnap Kaiser Wilhelm II during WW1. No, I did not make that up.
The artist might have sketched a hard-working engineer that did not look like a mad scientist in his laboratory.
More great ads!
A variety of German aircraft ads…
Boulton & Paul
Builders of such fine aircraft as seen above, “BP” was a great innovator of design, but by the 1950’s they faded away. I have always had a soft spot for the “Defiant.” It got a deserved bad reputation for its vulnerability, but it is hard not to like its appearance.
Mixed bag of ads & such
When this PBY ad was seen in 1940, the aircraft was already a seasoned veteran.
The Convair 37 never made if off the drawing-board.
Official newspaper of Sikorsky, 1930.
Your daily ad assortment
RCAF Otters are ready for anything
Heinkel 112B
Original ads: Fokker and Zenith
As one can see from the pictured Fokker Eindecker, this ad is an early one indeed.
The Zenith Vergaser (carburetor) features a marauding Zeppelin high over London.
Arado 196, JU-87 Stuka, and JU88K
Focke-Wulf FW 58 and the FW 200
Some spiffy British ads from the 1930’s
Featuring the immortal Bristol Bulldog, and the thoroughly excellent Airspeed Oxford.
Aeromarine
In 1919, the Aeromarine Plane & Motor Company took pride in stating that their company was already in business prior to WW1. They were not some new kid on the block, no, they had been around at least five years.
The Alexander Aircraft Company “Bullet”
Boeing builds the plane…you buy it. Boeing teaches you to fly…you pay them. No wonder they are still around.
Needless to say, who wouldn’t want to find a pile of these goodies in dad’s top drawer? Ad dates from the late 1920’s. 
Der Deutsche Sportflieger of Oktober 1940
This issue features Hermann Goering making friends with his fellow Luftwaffe airmen during the closing days of the Battle of Britain. Der Sportflieger of that era of course contains a healthy dose of propaganda (hey, what wartime aviation magazine didn’t?), but it also contains outstanding information.
The Blohm & Voss Ha-139 was, undoubtedly, one of the more pleasing appearing aircraft in an era of, well, pleasing looking aircraft
Bayerische Flugzeugwerke & Junkers
Two great pieces of artwork. The first is from Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in Augsburg. This is part of a several page promotional booklet, hence the German and French. The other is cover art from Flug-Woche magazin featuring the Junkers G-31.
The Jive Bomber 