British Army Aeroplane No.1
Royal Aircraft Establishment · United Kingdom · first flew 1908 · light aircraft
British Army Aeroplane No.1, designed by Samuel Franklin Cody at Farnborough, made the first officially recognised powered aeroplane flight in Great Britain on 16 October 1908. It was a large biplane with a box-kite inspired structure.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.73 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Pioneer British Army experimental aircraft, 1908
- Designed by Samuel Cody at Farnborough
- Made the first officially recognised powered flight in Britain
Large box-kite biplane with a forward-mounted elevator (canard), distinctive biplane box-kite cell structure, and a pusher or tractor engine arrangement. The box-kite inspired structure is its most distinctive feature.
Specifications
- The British Army Aeroplane No.1 has a length of 11.73 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.85 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 105 km/h (65 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Samuel Cody, an American-born British subject, was engaged by the War Office to develop kites and later powered aircraft at Aldershot and Farnborough. His Army Aeroplane No.1 evolved through several configurations. The successful October 1908 flight covered approximately 27 metres, officially marking the start of powered aviation in Britain. The aircraft was subsequently improved and Cody continued to develop it, eventually winning the 1912 Military Trials.
Variants
The aircraft was substantially modified and rebuilt multiple times; the 1908 configuration was just one stage in its development. By the time of the 1912 Military Trials it had been so altered as to be essentially a different machine.
Where you'll see it
Used exclusively by the British Army for experimental trials at Farnborough. It was not an operational military type but rather a research vehicle that proved the concept of military aviation in Britain.
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