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pretty sure the only Lanchester works were in Birmingham around this time? |
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In 1905 he became an apprentice at the [[Lanchester Motor Company]] in [[Birmingham]], then in 1908 he became a draughtsman at the [[Daimler Motor Company]]. It was here that he developed his interest in powered flying machines.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Derek N.|title=Fighter Master Folland and the Gladiators|year=2007|publisher=Tempus pp 11}}</ref> He worked at the [[Royal Aircraft Factory]] at [[Farnborough Airfield|Farnborough]] from 1912,<ref name="Obit"> ''Flight'' 10 September 1954, p.395.</ref> where he was the lead designer on the [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5|S.E.5]] during the [[World War I|First World War]]. He also designed the [[Ruston Proctor Aerial Target]], an anti-[[Zeppelin]] pilotless aircraft to use [[Professor Low|A M Low]]s control systems.<ref name="Lewis Fighter p101"> Lewis 1978, p.101.</ref><ref name="Danger"/>
He left the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1917, joining the [[Nieuport & General Aircraft]] company as chief designer.<ref name="Lewis Fighter p120"> Lewis 1978, p.120.</ref>, designing the [[Nieuport Nighthawk]], which was adopted as a standard fighter by the [[Royal Air Force]] but did not enter service owing to the failure of its engine.<ref name="Lewis Fighter p133"> Lewis 1978, p.133.</ref> Not long after starting at Nieuport Folland was joined by Howard Preston a design and stress man and who was also to work with him at Glosters and Follands. Nieuport & General ceased operations in 1920 <ref name="Danger"> ''Flight'' 19 August 1920.</ref> and his services were taken up by the [[Gloster Aircraft Company]], who had built Nighthawks under licence during the [[First World War]], joining them in 1921.<ref name="James p7-9"> James 1971, pp.7-9.</ref> He was the chief designer for Glosters for many years, producing a range of successful fighter aircraft such as the Grebe, Gamecock,Gauntlet and finally the Gladiator. He left the company in 1937, following the takeover of Gloster by [[Hawker Aircraft|Hawker]], feeling that Hawker designs would be favoured over his own. He purchased the [[British Marine Aircraft]] Company at
Initially Folland Aircraft was mainly involved in sub-contract work for other aircraft manufacturers particularly during the Second World War. Although some forty five civil and military projects were offered by Follands, only one the Fo.108, a flying engine test bed, was ordered and twelve were built.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Derek N.|title=Master Fighter Folland and the Gladiators|year=2007|publisher=Tempus|pages=157}}</ref>
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