Lee-Richards Annular Monoplane
Lee-Richards · United Kingdom · first flew 1913 · light aircraft
The Lee-Richards Annular Monoplane was a pioneering British experimental aircraft of the early 1910s that replaced conventional wings with a circular annular (ring-shaped) wing encircling the fuselage — one of the most unconventional designs of the pre-First World War era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, elliptical |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Circular annular wing forms a ring around the fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Circular annular wing forms a ring around the fuselage
- No conventional tail — control achieved by ring-wing geometry
- Pioneer British pre-WWI experimental design with wholly unconventional layout
Unmistakable — the only aircraft of its era with a continuous circular wing forming a hoop around the fuselage in place of conventional straight or swept wings.
Specifications
- The Lee-Richards Annular Monoplane has a length of 7.09 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.16 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 137 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Cedric Lee and G.T. Richards, the annular monoplane underwent several iterations between 1911 and 1913, achieving flight and demonstrating some of its predicted stability advantages. The design attracted attention but was not developed into a practical aircraft before conventional monoplane and biplane configurations became dominant.
Variants
Several successive versions were built, each refining the ring-wing proportions and control system.
Where you'll see it
A purely experimental private aircraft; no military or commercial use.
Related aircraft
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