| Roe I Biplane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Alliott Verdon Roe |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 8 June 1908 |
TheRoe I Biplane (often later referred to as theAvro Biplane) was the first powered aircraft to be designed, built, and flown in England. Designed in an attempt to claim a prize offered by theBrooklands Automobile Racing Club, it was designed and built byAlliott Verdon Roe, who based it on a powered model with which he had won aDaily Mail prize of£75 atAlexandra Palace in April 1907. This prize was substantially larger: the club committee was offering £2,500 for the first person to fly a circuit of their three-mile (4.8 km) race track by the end of the year. In addition theDaily Graphic was offering a £1,000 prize for a flight of more than a mile (1.6 km).[1]
The Roe biplane was built in the coachhouse of Roe's brother in Putney and transported to Brooklands for testing in September 1907.[1] It was an unequal-span two-bay biplane without any vertical stabilising surface or rudder and was originally powered by a 9 hp (7 kW)JAPengine mounted in front of the wing and driving a two-bladed aluminiumpusher propeller mounted behind the wings. This proved insufficiently powerful to get the craft airborne. Roe continued work on his aircraft, borrowing a FrenchAntoinette engine of 24 hp (18 kW) to use instead. In order to carry the additional weight of this engine, Roe fitted additional lifting surfaces at mid-gap in the inner bay of the wing structure. With this motor, Roe was able to make several short flights in the aircraft; the first on 8 June 1908.[2]
One of the conditions of Roe's occupation of his shed at Brooklands was that it was to be used as a refreshment room on race days and on the first of these the aircraft was damaged when being manhandled over a fence by Brooklands racetrack attendants. Roe repaired the machine and some further short flights were made before he was evicted from Brooklands on 17 July 1907. Roe dismantled the aircraft and returned the engine, since he could not afford to buy it.[3]
In 1988, a non-flyingreplica was constructed for the 80th anniversary of Roe's first flight and is displayed at theBrooklands Museum. In 2008, a taxiable replica was constructed for the museum to celebrate the flight's centenary.
Data from Jackson 1990 p.3
General characteristics
