Royal Aero Club gold medal

In recognition of his huge contribution to the development of aviation, Geoffrey de Havilland was awarded the Royal Aero Club gold medal in 1963. From the early 1920s, the de Havilland company produced many successful airliners and training aircraft for airlines, flying schools and record breakers.

Born in 1882, De Havilland trained as an engineer and initially worked in automotive engineering. In 1909 he designed his first aircraft and shortly after joined the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1910. In May 1914 he joined the company Airco as chief designer and designed many successful First World War aircraft, each model being designated with his initials DH. Airco closed in 1920 and De Havilland established his own aircraft company which produced many successful airliners, military, civil and training aircraft. De Havilland sold his company to Hawker Siddeley in 1960.