John Kenworthy B.Sc., F.R.Aes (1883–1940) was an English aviation engineer and aircraft designer.
John Kenworthy appears in the 1901 Census of Darlington, aged 17, living with four sisters, one brother and his parents George and Ellen Kenworthy at 65 Greenbank Road, Darlington, County Durham.
[2] His first design in 1912 was the B.E.3 (Blériot Experimental), also known as the Goldfish because of its horizontal tail fin.
[3] Following closely in 1912 was the (B.E.4, B.E.7 and in 1913 the B.E.8)[4] After the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) needed fighter and reconnaissance aircraft from the Royal Aircraft Factory and Kenworthy as Chief designer produced the F.E.8 (Fighter Experimental) from 1916,[5] and the R.E.8 (Reconnaissance Experimental), used from 1917.
[6] In 1916 he was part of the project team as chief draughtsman who designed the 150 hp S.E.5 (Scout Experimental), and its follow up, the S.E.5a which arrived several months later with the same basic designs, but a more powerful 200 hp engine.