Aircraft production is a lengthy process, with teams working around the clock to assemble planes in factories. When the Second World War rolled around, it was imperative to expedite this process, given the importance of aircraft in the conflict. However, 80 years ago, one plane was put together quicker than the rest.
Built to boost morale
The aircraft in question was a Vickers Wellington bomber with the serial number LN514. In terms of the decision to put the plane together in record time, this was part of a government initiative to boost British morale in 1943 and to garner support from foreign allies by showcasing the UK’s aircraft manufacturing capabilities.
The site of the record attempt was the Vickers-Armstrongs factory in Broughton. This name may seem familiar, given that, today, it is one of the key manufacturing sites for European planemaker Airbus. In 1943, it was already producing 28 Wellingtons a week, with 6,000 people working 12-hour shifts to get the job done.
Photo: Airbus
The target for the build was set at 30 hours. This represented an enormous leap compared to the record for the time from a bomber’s construction commencing to its leaving the ground. As the BBC noted in a 2010 report, this record was held by the US at the time, with a Californian factory having managed the feat in 48 hours.
30 hours was more than plenty
In the end, the construction of the plane took more than six hours fewer than expected, ultimately clocking in, according to a report shared by Airbus this week, at just 23 hours and 48 minutes. A critical factor in this speed was the pre-assembly of certain parts. While the exact date is unknown, the reason Airbus has chosen to mark the feat today is a very special one. Jerome Blandin, its Broughton chief, notes:
“A real point of pride in this legacy is that roughly half the workforce who built the Wellingtons were women. Given that we don’t have an exact date of when the record was set, it’s only fitting we celebrate this achievement on International Women in Engineering Day, to allow the story to inspire the next generation of female engineers in Broughton and in British aerospace more widely.”
Photo: Airbus
Having budgeted for a 30-hour build, the aircraft’s test pilot reportedly had to be woken early to get the rapidly-constructed Wellington into the air. By the time its wheels had left the ground for the first time, just a single day had elapsed since its construction began. Later that year, the feat was publicized in a popular Ministry of Information newsreel, which showcased the build.
Paying tribute
London-based aerospace company BAE Systems also took the opportunity to reflect on the feat. Ian Muldowney, its Air Chief Operating Officer, stated that:
“The story of the incredible women who worked at Vickers-Armstrong building Wellington bombers at Broughton is one of many inspirational stories woven into the fabric of British aviation.”
Looking to the future, he added that “the biggest tribute our industry can pay to these remarkable women is to champion the generations of women who are at the heart of our business today and in the future, and that’s why we are committed to providing opportunities for all across BAE Systems.” In an increasingly diverse aviation industry, such stories certainly provide appropriate inspiration.