Founded as Zander and Weyl Ltd at Luton Road, Dunstable in 1934 when E.P.Zander and A.R.Weyl went into partnership to build and repair gliders and light aircraft, along with the Dunstable Sailplane Company in 1935 with works at Hockliffe. W.L. Manuel joined as manager.

In July 1935 the company moved to new premises at the Luton Aerodrome, Barton-in-the-Clay, Bedfordshire, when Latimer-Neeham formed Luton Aircraft Ltd.

Several Zogling gliders were built and in 1935 a series of replicas of early gliders were made for the film “The Conquest of the Air” which was filmed by Alexander Korda at the Denham studios. These replicas included two Lilienthal types, a Wright 1902 glider, and one of Catley’s early gliders. Also, at the time the firm built a ‘Flying Flea’ from approved aircraft materials. This was the first powered aircraft built by Zander and Weyl.

The Flea was followed by the Dunstable Dart which was built after a suggestion, by members of the London Gliding Club, that the Slingsby Falcon 3 would possibly make a reasonable ultralight aircraft if it was fitted with a small engine. Weyl eventually came up with a completely new aircraft.

In 1936 to designs of A. R. Weyl, Zander & Weyl built the Dart Flittermouse single-seat ultralight aeroplane in 1936. Built aircraft subsequently as Dart Aircraft Ltd. First were Dunstable Dart, later named Dart Pup, and Flittermouse, both with parasol wing and pusher propellers. Three Dart Kittens were built in U.K., as well as one in Australia from plans.

In September 1936 the company moved to Phoenix Works at Gerrard Cross, Buckinghamshire, and concentrated on kits and plans for Minor aircraft for home constructors. At the same time Dunstable Sailplane offered kit drawings for the Kestrel sailplane.

In 1936 the company was re-organised financially and the name was changed to Dart Aircraft Ltd. New premises were obtained at 29 High Street North, in Dunstable. The Dunstable Dart aircraft was renamed the Dart Pup, and two new sailplanes were designed and built; the Cambridge and Totternhoe. Also introduced in 1936 was the Dart Flittermouse aircraft and, at the end of the year, the first Dart Kitten ultralight.

In 1937 a revised version of the Kitten was built but financial difficulties followed. E.P. Zander later left the firm to establish another company in Dunstable; Scott Light Aircraft.

Weyl continued to develop the Kitten and in 1938 designed a two-seat version as the Dart Weasel. This was an enlarged version of the Kitten, having tandem seating and a tricycle undercarriage, and was intended for possible Civil Air Guard training but it was not completed.

Operations ceased in 1939 and after the war Weyl continued development of the Kitten and introduced a Mark 3 version for homebuilt construction.

He died in 1965.

Dart Aircraft Article