1930s In the mid 1930s BAC's airframe and aero engine production was boosted by the UK's rearmament programme which also brought major expansion to the works at Filton and Patchway, the start of a shadow-factory system to meet demand and a big increase in employment in the city-region. The decade began with the Great Depression which had a wide-ranging impact around the world. The economic upheaval contributed to the growth of political extremists (most notably the National Socialist party in Germany) and of totalitarian oppression including Stalin's purges of the 'Old Communists' in the Soviet Union. The decade closed with the start of World War Two. It was not all doom and gloom, however, as millions escaped into the fantasy and glamour created by the Hollywood studios including Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and the backstage musicals of Busby Berkeley. 1932 Perseus becomes world's first sleeve-valve radial engine cleared for flight. 6 September 1932 Vickers Vespa powered by Pegasus radial engine sets new world altitude record. Other UK and world events this year: Imperial Airways London-Cape Town service begins. First female solo transatlantic flight (Earhart). 3 April 1933 Westland Wapitis powered by Pegasus engines make first flight over Everest. Other UK and world events this year: First flight of Boeing 272, the first modern monoplane airliner. First solo flight around the world (Post). 11 April 1934 Caproni aircraft powered by Pegasus sets new world altitude record. 14 May 1934 World diesel altitude record set by Phoenix in Westland Wapiti. Other UK and world events this year: Breguet's helicopter's first flight. 1935 BAC floated as a public company. 12 April 1935 Maiden flight of 'Bristol' Type 142 (Britain First). Built as a private aircraft for Lord Rothermere, its design will go on to form the basis of the Blenheim bomber. 23 June 1935 Maiden flight of the Bombay, which will later become one of the first UK aircraft of World War Two built under the shadow factory system. Other UK and world events this year: Start of rearmament programme in UK. January 1936 First run of Hercules sleeve-valve. April 1936 New Filton House opens. 25 June 1936 Maiden flight of Blenheim, which will go on to serve in 26 RAF squadrons in every theatre of war. 28 September 1936 Type 138A powered by Pegasus sets new world altitude record, first time record is held by aircraft and engine built by the same company. 30 October 1936 First service flight of Imperial Airway's C Class Empire flying boat Canopus powered by Pegasus. Other UK and world events this year: First helicopter flight over an hour in duration. Hindenburg disaster. 1937 Rotol Airscrews set up by BAC and Rolls-Royce, specialising in the design and production of propellers. March 1937 Blenheim enters service with RAF. 16 June 1937 First Bermuda-New York service by Empire flying boat Cavalier powered by Perseus. 30 June 1937 Type 138A regains world altitude record after losing it to Italians. 6 July 1937 Atlantic survey crossing completed by Empire flying boat Caledonia powered by Pegasus. Other UK and world events this year: Bombing of Guernica. 2 August 1938 Death of Frank Barnwell while piloting privately developed single-seater monoplane. 15 October 1938 Maiden flight of the Beaufort medium bomber. November 1938 Vickers Wellesley sets new world distance record with Pegasus. Other UK and world events this year: First flight of pressurised transport aeroplane. Germany occupies Austria. 17 July 1939 Maiden flight of Beaufighter, nicknamed 'Whispering Death', a versatile long-range fighter. 5 August 1939 First transatlantic mail service by scheduled flight completed by Empire flying boat Caribou powered by Perseus. 3 September 1939 Blenheims used in reconnaissance mission to observe German ports within an hour of war being declared. 4 September 1939 Blenheims make first bombing raid on German fleet. Other UK and world events this year: First turbojet flight. British Overseas Airways Company formed in merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd. Air Transport Auxiliary formed.
				Cover of Bristol Review promoting world-beating Bristol engines, 1931 (Bristol Aero Collection). Imperial Airways' Canopus (private collection). Stairway window in New Filton House (Airbus). Plan drawing of Blenheim (Bristol Aero Collection). Rotol advertisement (Bristol Aero Collection). Plan drawing of Beaufighter (Bristol Aero Collection). Beaufort (Bristol Aero Collection). See Hercules and other original 'Bristol' radial engines at the Bristol Aero Collection at Kemble and the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust at Patchway. Search the Aviation Archive for images of West of England aircraft in the 1930s.