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Rollasons |
The company was founded
in 1943 by W.A. Rollason at Croydon Airport along with his already
existing companys W.A. Rollason Limited and Rollason Aircraft
Services Limited from the early 1930's. Rollason Aircraft and
Engines manufactured the French-designed Druine Turbulent and
Druine Condor under licence and it became the United Kingdom
agent for Jodel aircraft. The company also manufactured four
Beta air-racing monoplanes during 1967. Aircraft were built at
the then closed Croydon Airport and assembled and test flown
from Redhill Aerodrome with the first Rollason aircraft (a Turbulent)
flown on 1 January 1958. W.A.Rollason bought a number of DH Tiger
Moth's and not only rebuilt and traded them but also became a
supplier of spare parts, as well as for the Stampe SV.4. The
company also built Ardem piston engines under licence for use
in the Turbulents. The company was also involved in maintenance
and refurbishment of other types of aircraft as well as the Tiger
Moth. In 1973 the company head office moved to Shoreham Airport.
Some of the aircraft built by Rollasons
Druine Turbulent – 30 built
Druine Condor – 42 built
Rollason Beta – 4 built |
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'W.A.Rollason' also traded under the names
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'Rollason
Aviation Co' |
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'Rollason
Aircraft Services Ltd' |
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'Rollason Aerocessories Ltd' |
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'Rollason
Aircraft & Engines Ltd' |
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(below) a Rollason card of 1953 |
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(above) 'DH84 Dragon'. G-ACIV. and other
aircraft in front of the clearly marked 'Rollason' hangars. early
1930's. |
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(above) 'Spartan 3 Seater II'. (below) 'Desoutter Mk1' |
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The four
advertisements (below) are all from 1934 |
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(below) three advertisements c1930's |
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(below) an advertisement from 1949 |
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(below)
advertisement from the early 1950's |
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Both pictures
from the mid 1950's (above) instruction booklet for a Rollason
prepared Tiger Moth of the local flying club. (below)
completed Tigers in Rollasons hangar. |
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(below)
a completed Tiger Moth for a Belgian customer. mid 1950's. |
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(below) It's believed that it was Rollasons that were
assembling these Beechcraft Bonanza's. There is no date or further
info for the newspaper cutting. |
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(above and below) Test flight of Turbulant at Croydon
on the 2nd of January 1958 |
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(above) 'Druine D31 Turbulent) mnaufactured
by Rollasons. picture taken 1958 |
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(above and below)
'D31 Turbulent's' in Rollason's. below is G-APZZ. pictures either
during the last months of 1959 or just after airport closure. |
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(below) A D.61 Condor, 'PFA/247' at Rollasons, Croydon,
23 Aug 1960 |
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