Sir John Carden was associated with British light aviation after designing the 750 cc ultralight engine for the Gloucestershire Gannet in the early 1920s. Went into partnership with L. E. Baynes in 1930 to produce a one-off single-seat powered glider.
Baynes and Carden then planned a two-seat twin-enged light aircraft and decided to set up a new company to produce this aircraft which was known as the Bee. In spite of the death of Carden in an air crash near Croyden, the new company Carden-Baynes Aircraft Ltd was formed in 1936 at Heston Airport, Middlesex. However, three successive partners, including the Duke of Grafton, also died one after the other but the Bee eventually flew at Heston on 3 April 1937 as a small two- seat high-wing monoplane with two Carden Ford S.P.1 modified car engines.
Development of three-seat B-3 halted by war.
Financial difficulties followed. An agreement was eventually reached with Major Shaw for a development of the Bee to be manufactured by Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd.
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