53 Facts About Howard Pixton

Cecil Howard Pixton was a British aeronautical engineer, test pilot and air racing pilot who was most famous for winning the 1914 Schneider Trophy seaplane race.

Howard Pixton was the youngest of four boys born to John Pixton, a stockbroker, and his wife Elizabeth, living in West Didsbury, Manchester.

Howard Pixton then worked at engineering companies, becoming a machine tool draughtsman, studying engineering in the evenings.

Howard Pixton moved to Leek, Staffordshire to work for an engineering company to gain practical experience.

Howard Pixton thus saw his first aeroplane, and several airships, and having always been fascinated by the current advances in aviation he became determined to learn to fly.

Howard Pixton arrived at Brooklands in June 1910 and after a few days Roe gave him his first flight, in one of his Triplanes.

Howard Pixton became a pupil and then a friend of Roe, and soon replaced him as test pilot.

Howard Pixton quickly became an instructor, demonstrator and pilot for passenger rides in Avro's series of triplanes and the Type D biplane.

The Triplanes, along with spares, tools and personal belongings, were sent by rail, and Howard Pixton was by chance on the same train.

The next day the Avro team rushed to the factory in Manchester and were able to construct a new aircraft from spares within three days, and they took part in the later part of the week-long meeting, Howard Pixton making his first display flight there.

Howard Pixton recovered sufficiently to return to the airfield and fly the other Triplane, crashing yet again but without hurting himself further.

Roe and the rest of the team returned to Britain, leaving Howard Pixton to assemble a working aircraft from the two wrecks, deliver it to the University, and sell them the remaining parts as spares, the money from which would pay for his fare home.

Back at Brooklands, which was now a thriving centre of aviation development and training, Howard Pixton resumed his normal activities, including giving many pleasure flights.

Howard Pixton took part in air races including taking the new biplane on the Brooklands to Brighton race, the first British point-to-point air race, held on 6 May 1911.

Howard Pixton started the race late, distracted by a flight for the Manville Prize, then got lost and had to land at what turned out to be Plumpton Racecourse to refuel, and arrived at the finish line well after the other three contestants.

Howard Pixton was involved in the first pilots' strike in history.

Howard Pixton left Avro in early June 1911, parting on friendly terms with the Roe brothers, and very grateful for the opportunity they had given him.

Howard Pixton started at Bristol's Brookands school, instructing pupils flying their Boxkite biplanes.

Howard Pixton gained a great reputation for his skill in flying in high winds that left everyone else grounded Bristol used this in adverts even though he had only been with them for a few weeks.

Howard Pixton stalled on the approach, narrowly missing the cricket pavilion, but crashed into the grass.

Howard Pixton had a cut to his hand and a few bruises.

Howard Pixton carried on at Brooklands flying passengers, demonstrating and instructing, but on 31 August 1911 Bristol moved him to Larkhill as an instructor and test pilot.

Howard Pixton was able to carry on competing for the Manville Prize for the most hours flying at Brooklands with passengers during the year.

In 1912 Bristol started an overseas sales drive, and Howard Pixton was the pilot chosen to make some of the trips.

Howard Pixton started at the 3rd International Paris Aero Salon with the new Bristol Prier monoplane being the only British aircraft on display, with another Bristol Prier giving flying displays at the airfield.

In Milford Haven testing took place over three weeks, but with little success, and Howard Pixton endured many drenchings in the process.

Howard Pixton was to form a flying school, and to teach six German officers, after which he returned to Larkhill.

Howard Pixton took part in the Military Aircraft Trials at Larkhill in August 1912.

Howard Pixton started the trials flying a Bristol England biplane, but mid-way through the trials the Englands were withdrawn and he replaced James Valentine as pilot of a new Bristol Coanda monoplane for the remainder of the tests.

Landing after one demonstration flight, Howard Pixton ran into what he thought was a damp patch on Bucharest's Cotroceni Aerodrome.

Howard Pixton spent a month flying in Romania, and an order for ten was placed for the government.

Soon he went to Italy with a team of Bristol people and accompanied by his new wife where Howard Pixton did a demonstration tour with Bristol aircraft, especially the Coanda, and the Italian government placed an order for a total of around 60 aircraft, some of which were to be built under licence by Caproni.

In January 1913 he made another trip to Spain to demonstrate the Bristol Coanda to King Alfonso, whom Howard Pixton flew as a passenger.

Coanda refused to make any changes, so Howard Pixton resigned and joined the Sopwith Aviation Company.

Howard Pixton leased an old skating rink in Kingston-upon-Thames as his factory and design office, and used his buildings at Brooklands for assembling and flying the aircraft.

Howard Pixton would be at Brooklands testing along with Harry Hawker, until then Sopwith's only pilot.

Howard Pixton tested and delivered aircraft including the Batboat, Three-seater Tractor, Sociable and Tabloid biplane.

The Tabloid, officially named the Scout, was a very fast aircraft, and capable of looping, but Howard Pixton had no desire to perform 'stunts'.

Howard Pixton had had to alight to refuel, and averaged 51mph.

However Howard Pixton continued with his work for Sopwith, testing and delivering aircraft and competing in air races until, on 4 August 1914, war was declared and soon all non-military-related aviation had to stop, except within 3 miles of a recognised aerodrome.

Howard Pixton was appointed as an assistant inspector and test pilot at Farnborough.

Howard Pixton turned down requests from AV Roe and Tom Sopwith to return to work for them.

Howard Pixton was posted to No 9 AAP which had been formed in August 1917 at Newcastle's Town Moor airfield.

Howard Pixton was discharged from the RAF on 11 June 1919.

Howard Pixton had logged about 3,500 hours, flying at least 80 aircraft types until he left the RAF including:.

Howard Pixton operated charter flights including flying Daily News newspapers to the Douglas Bay in the Isle of Man, on which he would take fare-paying passengers for 10 guineas.

Avro Transport Company withdrew in October 1919, so Howard Pixton carried on himself, as well as starting a car garage at the hangar and running a taxi and seasonal coach tours.

Howard Pixton called the business The Lakes Motor and Seaplane Company, and he ran it for the next eight years.

Howard Pixton then moved to Devon where he was the ground engineer at Haldon Aerodrome.

Howard Pixton retired to the Isle of Man in 1932, but during the Second World War worked again in the AID, retiring again in 1945.

Howard Pixton married Maude E Hallam, daughter of the late Chief Constable of Salford, on 19 November 1912 at St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire.

Howard Pixton married again, to Winifred A Radford, in July 1931 at Newton Abbott, close to Haldon, Devon, where he was then working.

Howard Pixton died 7 February 1972 and is buried in the cemetery of St Patrick's Church, Jurby, Isle of Man.