Charles Richard Fairey

Charles Richard Fairey
C.R. Fairey, 1936
Born	5 May 1887 Hendon, Middlesex
Died	30 September 1956 (1956-10-01) (aged 69)
Nationality	English
Children	John Fairey
Engineering career
Institutions	Fairey Aviation Company

Sir Charles Richard Fairey MBE, also known as Richard Fairey FRAeS (5 May 1887 – 30 September 1956) was an English aircraft manufacturer.

Charles Fairey was born on 5 May 1887 in Hendon, Middlesex and educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and Ardingly College, and later as an apprentice at the Finsbury Technical College where he studied City & Guilds courses in electrical engineering and chemistry. Fairey’s father had died when he was aged 11 and although from a middle-class background this dramatic change in the families circumstances led to Fairey taking a job, aged 15 with the Jandus Electric Company of London, who manufactured arc lamps. His progress was such that he was able to take charge of the installation of electric lights at Heysham docks whilst still in his teens. His next job was as an analytical chemist, working on boiler-feed and fuel problems at Municipal Borough of Finchley power station. Fairey became a skilled designer and builder of model aeroplanes and active member of the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association. On 4 June 1910 (aged 23) Fairey entered a model flying competition at Crystal Palace, London. His model monoplane design won 1st prize in the Longest Flight and Stability Competition with a distance of 153yds 1 ft 10in. His success in aeroplane modeling helped establish his reputation as a craftsman and innovator.

In 1911 Fairey aged 24 became General manager with the Blair Atholl Syndicate Ltd., a company formed to develop the tailless aircraft designed by John William Dunne, at Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey.

In 1913 Fairey joined Short Brothers as chief engineer and in 1915 he formed his own company, Fairey Aviation. At the outbreak of the First World War he attempted to join first the Royal Navy Air Service and then the Royal Flying Corps, but was refused by both on medical grounds and by reason of his skill as an aeronautical engineer. A year later, at the age of 28, he formed his own aircraft company. It started with an office in Piccadilly, and factory space was found initially in The Gramophone company's facilities at Hayes.