Aviation Pioneer. Born at Manchester, England, after beating 200 competitors to win a model aeroplane competition, in 1908 he designed, built and flew his own plane, the first Englishman to do so. In partnership with his brother Humprey he founded the Avro Aircraft Company in 1910, where the Avro 504 was made in 1913. It became one of the most famous military aircraft of World War I; in 1914 they bombed Zeppelin sheds in the first air-raid in history. It was still in use 25 years later. In 1928, he sold his interest in Avro and formed Saunders-Roe, building flying boats. Knighted in 1929, he prefixed in 1933 the name Verdon to his surname in honour of his mother, Sofia Verdon.
Aviation Pioneer. Born at Manchester, England, after beating 200 competitors to win a model aeroplane competition, in 1908 he designed, built and flew his own plane, the first Englishman to do so. In partnership with his brother Humprey he founded the Avro Aircraft Company in 1910, where the Avro 504 was made in 1913. It became one of the most famous military aircraft of World War I; in 1914 they bombed Zeppelin sheds in the first air-raid in history. It was still in use 25 years later. In 1928, he sold his interest in Avro and formed Saunders-Roe, building flying boats. Knighted in 1929, he prefixed in 1933 the name Verdon to his surname in honour of his mother, Sofia Verdon.
Bio by: s.canning
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