Santos-Dumont 14-bis
Alberto Santos-Dumont · France · first flew 1906 · light aircraft
The Santos-Dumont 14-bis was the aircraft in which Alberto Santos-Dumont made the first officially observed and recorded powered heavier-than-air flight in Europe on 23 October 1906, covering 60 metres before the Aéro-Club de France observers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.61 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First officially witnessed powered heavier-than-air flight in Europe, October 1906
- Canard boxkite configuration: the pilot stood at the rear, the forward canard cell acted as elevator
- Engine and pusher propeller mounted behind the pilot; no conventional tail
Unmistakeable box-kite biplane with a large canard elevator cell at the front, no tail, a pusher engine behind the pilot's nacelle, and a profusion of bamboo-and-fabric box-cell wings.
Specifications
- The Santos-Dumont 14-bis has a length of 9.61 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.2 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 41 km/h (25 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Named because it was initially tested suspended beneath his No. 14 airship, the 14-bis was a canard boxkite of unconventional arrangement, with the pilot standing in a wicker nacelle at the rear, a forward elevator cell, and a pusher propeller driven by an Antoinette engine. On 12 November 1906, Santos-Dumont flew 221 metres, winning the Archdeacon Prize.
Variants
The aircraft was modified between its October and November 1906 flights, with octagonal ailerons added to the outer wing cells to improve lateral control.
Where you'll see it
The 14-bis was a developmental machine and did not enter any form of operational service; it was retired after the November 1906 flights.
Related aircraft
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