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Private company

Carden Aero Engines

British aircraft engine manufacturer founded in 19351

Carden Aero Engines Limited was a 1930s British fixed-wing aero-engine manufacturer, based at Heston Aerodrome.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1935Founded1
  • Industryaerospace industry1

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Carden Aero Engines Limited was a 1930s British fixed-wing aero-engine manufacturer, based at Heston Aerodrome.2

The story

Sir John Carden established the company in March 1936, while the Flying Flea craze was sweeping Britain. He saw a need for a cheap low-powered propulsion unit for ultralight aircraft. The engine was an adaptation of the well-proven and reliable Ford 10 Model C motor car engine.

Following the death of Sir John in an air accident in December 1935, the company was taken over by Carden-Baynes Aircraft Ltd, and later sold to Chilton Aircraft Ltd, Chilton Foliat, near Hungerford, Berkshire.

From Wikipedia’s article on Carden Aero Engines, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

Aircraft that have used the Carden-Ford 31 hp engine are: Broughton-Blayney Brawney, B.A.C. Drone, Kronfeld Monoplane, Mignet HM.14 (Flying Flea), Perman Parasol, Taylor Watkinson Dingbat, and Chilton D.W.1 Monoplane.

From Wikipedia’s article on Carden Aero Engines, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1935Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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