Manuel 1929 Biplane
W. L. Manuel · United Kingdom · first flew 1929 · glider
The second Manuel Biplane was a simple biplane glider designed and built by Bill (W. L.) Manuel in the UK in the late 1920s. It mostly flew tethered as a kite in the propwash of a stationary powered aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.39 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-wood two-bay biplane without stagger, sweep or dihedral
- Upper and lower wings of equal span and precisely rectangular plan
- Tail carried on a flat wooden girder fixed to the wings, with the pilot exposed ahead of the lower wing
Look for a very basic rectangular-winged biplane glider whose tail surfaces sit on a long open girder, with an all-moving horizontal tail and a rhomboidal rudder.
Specifications
- The Manuel 1929 Biplane has a length of 4.39 m (14 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.71 m (22 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first flight was at RAF Hawkinge in Kent, where Corporal Manuel was stationed, in May 1929. It had a large interplane gap and ailerons on the upper wing only.
Variants
Only one was built. It was the second biplane design by Manuel.
Where you'll see it
In later tests it was tethered on a 20 ft rope to a Gloster Grebe and flown in the Grebe's propwash for a few minutes. It was eventually destroyed in these experiments.
Related aircraft
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