P&M Aviation

P&M Aviation was a British aircraft manufacturer focused primarily on ultralight trikes and related light-aircraft products. It was established in 2003 when Keith Duckworth acquired two established British trike manufacturers, Pegasus Aviation and Mainair Sports. The name P&M reflected the combination of those two businesses. The transaction brought together manufacturing, design, and product expertise from two important participants in the British microlight sector rather than creating an entirely new aircraft concept from the ground up. Following the combination, P&M retained the former Mainair factory in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, as its production site. The former Pegasus facility at Manton, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was used for research and development. This two-site structure allowed the company to preserve the manufacturing capabilities associated with Mainair while continuing design and development work connected with Pegasus. The Rochdale factory was ultimately closed in March 2016, marking a significant contraction in the company's industrial footprint. The company's product activity centered on powered hang-glider-style aircraft, commonly known as microlight or ultralight trikes. These aircraft generally combine a lightweight tubular airframe, tricycle undercarriage, engine, and flexible wing. P&M also had a connection with the imported Ace Magic, a John Pendry-Evans-designed aircraft manufactured in India and sold in the P&M product portfolio. In addition, the business inherited historical links to Solar Wings, the hang-glider division originally associated with Pegasus Aviation. Solar Wings produced hang gliders including the Breeze and the Scandal series, although that division was wound up sometime after 2002, before P&M's later corporate difficulties. P&M Aviation entered administration on 7 May 2019. T. A. Close of Milsted Langdon LLP was appointed administrator. The company's assets were subsequently purchased by Albatross Flying Systems, an aviation company based in Bangalore, India. The asset sale followed the administration process and represented a transfer of the company's equipment, intellectual property, products, or other business assets rather than evidence that P&M continued as an independently operating manufacturer. On the available reference record, P&M Aviation is therefore best treated as a defunct British aircraft-manufacturing company whose legacy continued through its former product lines and the acquisition of its assets by Albatross Flying Systems.

P&M Aviation was formed in 2003 through Keith Duckworth's purchase of two rival British trike manufacturers, Pegasus Aviation and Mainair Sports. The new company adopted the initials of those predecessor businesses in its name and combined their manufacturing and development capabilities. The formation gave P&M a position in the British ultralight and microlight market with inherited product knowledge, facilities, and customer relationships. The company maintained both predecessor sites after the transaction. The former Mainair factory in Rochdale was used for production, while the former Pegasus plant at Manton near Marlborough in Wiltshire became the research-and-development location. This arrangement reflected the different roles of the two legacy businesses: Rochdale provided the principal manufacturing base, while Manton supported technical and design activity. The Rochdale factory was closed in March 2016, reducing P&M's physical manufacturing presence. P&M's principal business was the production of ultralight trikes, a category of light aircraft that combines a powered tricycle carriage with a flexible wing. The company also imported and sold the Ace Magic, designed by John Pendry-Evans and manufactured in India. Its corporate history was connected to Solar Wings, the hang-glider division of Pegasus Aviation. Solar Wings had produced hang gliders from 1980 until the division was wound up sometime after 2002; known designs included the Breeze and the Scandal series. Because the Solar Wings division ended before P&M Aviation was formed, these products are part of the group's predecessor history rather than confirmed continuing P&M products. On 7 May 2019, P&M Aviation entered administration. T. A. Close of Milsted Langdon LLP was appointed administrator. The company's assets were later acquired by Albatross Flying Systems of Bangalore, India. The available account does not provide details of the purchase price, the precise assets transferred, or the extent to which individual aircraft programs continued under the buyer. The administration and subsequent asset sale mark the end of P&M Aviation as an independent British manufacturer in the documented corporate history.

• 2019

  Administration and asset sale

  [1]P&M Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  P&M Aviation entered administration on 7 May, after which its assets were purchased by Albatross Flying Systems of Bangalore.

• 2016

  Rochdale factory closes

  [1]P&M Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The former Mainair production facility in Rochdale was closed in March.

• 2003

  P&M Aviation is formed

  [1]P&M Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Keith Duckworth purchased Pegasus Aviation and Mainair Sports, creating the combined company known as P&M Aviation.

• 1980

  Solar Wings begins hang-glider production

  [1]P&M Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The Solar Wings division associated with Pegasus Aviation began producing hang gliders, including later designs such as the Breeze and Scandal series.

A specialist British manufacturer and distributor serving the ultralight, microlight, and powered hang-glider market.

• Ultralight aircraft · 2003

  P&M ultralight trikes

  P&M Aviation's core product category was the ultralight or microlight trike. These aircraft use a lightweight powered carriage with tricycle landing gear and a flexible wing, serving recreational, training, and sport-flying users. The company inherited trike-manufacturing experience from both Pegasus Aviation and Mainair Sports when those businesses were combined in 2003.

• Light aircraft

  Ace Magic

  The Ace Magic was designed by John Pendry-Evans and manufactured in India. P&M Aviation imported and sold the aircraft, making it a distributed product in the company's portfolio rather than a confirmed in-house P&M design or manufacturing program.

• Hang glider

  Solar Wings Breeze

  The Breeze was one of the hang-glider designs produced by Solar Wings, the former Pegasus Aviation division. Solar Wings operated before and around the predecessor-company merger and was wound up sometime after 2002, so the Breeze belongs to P&M's inherited corporate history rather than a clearly documented active P&M program.

• Hang glider

  Solar Wings Scandal series

  The Scandal series was another range of hang gliders associated with Solar Wings. The division produced hang gliders from 1980 until it was discontinued sometime after 2002. The series is relevant to the lineage of Pegasus Aviation but is not documented as a continuing P&M Aviation product line.

• 2019

  Entry into administrationOther

  Background

  P&M Aviation entered formal administration on 7 May 2019.

  Action taken

  T. A. Close of Milsted Langdon LLP was appointed administrator.

  Aftermath

  The company's assets were subsequently purchased by Albatross Flying Systems of Bangalore, India.

  Source

• 2016

  Closure of Rochdale production siteStrategy

  Background

  P&M retained the former Mainair factory in Rochdale as its production facility after the 2003 combination.

  Action taken

  The Rochdale factory was closed in March 2016.

  Aftermath

  The closure reduced P&M Aviation's manufacturing footprint; the available source does not specify whether production moved elsewhere or the number of jobs affected.

  Source

• 2003

  Combination of Pegasus Aviation and Mainair SportsM&A

  Background

  Keith Duckworth acquired two competing British trike manufacturers, Pegasus Aviation and Mainair Sports, creating P&M Aviation.

  Action taken

  The businesses were brought together under the P&M Aviation name, with the former Mainair site used for production and the former Pegasus site used for research and development.

  Aftermath

  The combination established P&M as a consolidated participant in the British ultralight-trike sector and preserved both predecessor facilities for a period.

  Source

1. 1P&M Aviationen.wikipedia.org