Roe I Biplane
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 |
| Founder | Alliott Verdon Roe |
| Headquarters | Putney, London , England |
| Products | Aircraft |
Roe I Biplane
The Roe I Biplane—commonly referred to later as the Avro Biplane—holds the distinction of being the first powered aircraft both designed and flown within England. Its creation was motivated by a competition announced by the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club, which offered a substantial reward. The aircraft’s designer and builder, Alliott Verdon Roe, drew inspiration from a powered model that had secured him a Daily Mail prize of £75 at Alexandra Palace in April 1907. The Brooklands club had set a £2,500 prize for the inaugural flight completing a full circuit of their three-mile (4.8 km) race track before the year's end. Additionally, the Daily Graphic offered £1,000 for any flight covering more than one mile (1.6 km).
Construction of the Roe biplane took place in the coachhouse belonging to Roe’s brother in Putney, after which it was moved to Brooklands for trial runs in September 1907. The aircraft featured an unequal-span, two-bay biplane configuration without vertical stabilisers or a rudder. Initially, it was powered by a 9 hp (7 kW) JAP engine positioned ahead of the wings, driving a two-bladed aluminium pusher propeller mounted behind them. However, this powerplant failed to generate sufficient thrust to lift the aircraft off the ground. Roe then acquired a 24 hp (18 kW) French Antoinette engine on loan, which necessitated fitting additional lifting surfaces midway within the inner wing bays to support the increased weight. With this upgraded engine, Roe succeeded in achieving several brief flights, beginning on 8 June 1908.
During Roe’s tenure at Brooklands, one stipulation for using his shed was that it serve as a refreshment area during race events. On one such occasion, while being carried over a fence by track staff, the aircraft sustained damage. After repairs were made, Roe conducted further short flights until he was asked to vacate Brooklands on 17 July 1907. Subsequently, he dismantled the biplane and returned the borrowed engine due to financial constraints.
To commemorate Roe’s pioneering efforts, a non-operational replica was built in 1988 for the 80th anniversary of his initial flight and is now exhibited at the Brooklands Museum. Later, in 2008, a taxiable reproduction was created for the museum to mark the centenary of that historic flight.
Specifications (Antoinette engine)
See also
References
Further reading
- Taylor, Michael J. H., Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation, Studio Editions, London, 1989, p. 90
- World Aircraft Information Files, Bright Star Publishing, London, File 889 Sheet 92
