1912 British Military Aeroplane Competition
Encyclopedia
In 1911 the War Office announced their first Military Aeroplane Competition for aircraft to meet the requirements of the newly formed Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. The formal requirements were published in December 1911. The trials were held in August 1912 at Larkhill
Larkhill
Larkhill is a garrison town in the civil parish of Durrington, Wiltshire, England. It is a short distance west of Durrington village proper and north of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. It is about north of Salisbury....
. The competition was won by S. F. Cody with his Cody V biplane
Cody V biplane
-References:*Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-x.*"". Flight, 7 September 1912. pp. 808–809....
.
"Specification for a Military Aeroplane"
J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone
John Edward Bernard Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone CB, CMG, DSO, PC, TD was a British soldier and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1900 to 1904 and a Liberal MP from 1904 to 1922 and from 1923 to 1924...
, Under-Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
, "one is broken beyond repair and one is quite out of date. Others are more or less under repair" adding "We are arriving at a point when we think we see our way to choose what is the best type, first for teaching people to fly, and secondly, to buy for the purposes of war should war unfortunately break out".The only practical step that had been taken was by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
was the creation of an establishment for the scientific examination of the various problems involved in aircraft design. After some consultation with the Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
and various aircraft maufacturers, the announced their "Specification for a Military Aeroplane" in late December, the details being published in Flight
Flight International
Flight International is a global aerospace weekly publication produced in the UK. Founded in 1909, it is the world's oldest continuously published aviation news magazine...
on 23 December 1911.
The aircraft's performance had to meet the following requirements:
- Carry a live load of 350 lb (158.8 kg), in addition to its equipment and instruments and with fuel and oil for 4½ hours.
- Provide accommodation for a pilot and observer, and the controls should be capable of use by either occupant.
- Fly when loaded for 3 hours during which they should climb to 1000 ft (304 m) in five minutes or less and reach an altitude of 4500 ft (1,371.6 m), maintaining that altitude for an hour.
- Attain an air speed of not less than 55 miles per hour.
- Take off from long grass or rough ground in 100 yards (91 m) or less in calm weather, and be capable of being landed without damage on cultivated land by a pilot of ordinary skill.
Additionally, the aircraft had to be transported to Larkhill in a crate of specified size and assembled there. Aircraft had to be capable of being dismantled and transported by road or rail, and the ease of rigging and de-rigging would be one of the factors taken into account by the judges.
Prizes were to be awarded for aircraft built in any country, first prize £4,000, second prize £2,000. Prizes for British subjects in an aircraft made in the United Kingdom (except the engine), first prize £1500, two second-prizes of £1,000, and three third-prizes of £500. Ten other aircraft that passed the flying test would be given £100.
The War Office issued an amended and slightly less demanding list of specifications in May 1912, and manufacturers had to submit their entries to the Secretary of the Judges Committee by 15 June. The aircraft had to be delivered to Larkhill on or before 15 July. No date was given for the actual flying trials.
These eventually started on 2 August 1912. Originally 32 different aircraft were entered for the trials but some failed to turn up.
The competition was judged by a committee consisting of Brigadier D . Henderson, Captain Godfrey Paine
Godfrey Paine
Rear Admiral Sir Godfrey Marshall Paine KCB MVO was a senior commander in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force in the early part of the 20th century...
and Mervyn O'Gorman, with Major F.H. Sykes
Frederick Sykes
Air Vice-Marshal The Right Honourable Sir Frederick Hugh Sykes GCSI, GCIE, GBE, KCB, CMG was a military officer, British statesman and politician....
acting as Secretary.
The trials were very different to modern military aircraft trials. Although the public were excluded from the aircraft hangars and flying field, otherwise free access was allowed. Aviation was then a subject of great popular interest, and many people came to watch.
Aircraft
| Serial number | Aircraft | Entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanriot 1912 Monoplane | Hanriot (England) Limited | £100 for completing trial |
| 2 | Hanriot 1912 Monoplane | Hanriot (England) Limited | £100 for completing trial |
| 3 | Vickers Monoplane No. 6 Vickers R.E.P. Type Monoplane -References:* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.* ". Flight, 15 April 1911, p. 336.* . Flight, 29 July 1911, p. 663.... |
Vickers Limited | Completed trial |
| 4 | Bleriot Type XI-2 | Louis Bleriot Louis Blériot Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000... |
Tandem seating, £100 for completing trial, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps after trial |
| 5 | Bleriot Type XI | Louis Bleriot | Side-by-side seating, £100 for completing trial. |
| 6 | Avro Type G Avro Type G -References:*... |
A V Roe and Co | |
| 7 | Avro Type G | A V Roe and Co | £100 for completing trial. |
| 8 | Breguet Biplane Biplane | Breguet Aeroplanes Limited | British-built, 110 hp Salmson engine. Engine problems stopped it from paying a major part in the trials. |
| 9 | Breguet Type U2 | Breguet Aeroplanes Limited | French-built, 110 hp Salmson engine, crashed before trial. |
| 10 | COW Biplane | Coventry Ordnance Works Coventry Ordnance Works Coventry Ordnance Works was a British manufacturer of heavy guns, particularly naval artillery. The firm was based in the English city of Coventry.-History:... Limited |
Did not complete trial |
| 11 | COW Biplane | Coventry Ordnance Works Limited | Did not enter due engine trouble |
| 12 | Bristol GE.2 | Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company Bristol Aeroplane Company The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines... |
|
| 13 | Bristol GE.2 | Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company | 3rd Prize of £500 in the British-built category, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps. |
| 14 | Bristol-Coanda Monoplane Bristol-Coanda Monoplanes -External links:* *... |
Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company | 3rd Prize of £500 in the British-built category, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps. |
| 15 | Bristol-Coanda Monoplane | Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company | Purchased by the Royal Flying Corps after trial |
| 16 | Flanders B.2 Flanders B.2 |-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing-See also:... |
L. Howard-Flanders Limited | Withdrawn and did not finish trial |
| 17 | Martin-Handayside Monoplane | Martin & Handayside Martinsyde Martinsyde was a British aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer between 1908 and 1922, when they were forced into liquidation by a factory fire.-History:... |
Had engine trouble during trial |
| 18 | Aerial Wheel Syndicate Monoplane Aerial Wheel Syndicate Monoplane -References:* Lewis, Peter. British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam 1962... |
Aerial Wheel Syndicate Limited | Arrived at Larkhill but not assembled in time for start of flight trials |
| 19 | Mersey Monoplane Mersey Monoplane -References:* Barnes, C.H. Handley Page Aircraft since 1907. London: Putnam, 1976. ISBN 0 370 00030 7.* Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0 370 300894 x.... |
Mersey Aeroplane Company | Fatal crash during trial |
| 20 | Deperdussin Type B Monoplane | British Deperdussin Aeroplane Company Limited | 100 hp Anzani radial engine Radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel... |
| 21 | Deperdussin Type B Monoplane | British Deperdussin Aeroplane Company Limited | 100 hp Gnome rotary engine 3rd Prize of £500 in the British-built category, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps after trial |
| 22 | Maurice Farman S.7 | Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited | £100 for completing trial |
| 23 | DFW Mars DFW Mars -References:* "" Flight 8 November 1913, pp 1216-18* "" Flight 13 December 1913, 1374* "" Flight 10 January 1914, pp 34-38... monoplane |
Cecil E. Kny | Did not arrive. |
| 24 | Lohner biplane | Jacob Lohner and Co | Did not arrive |
| 25 | Harper Monoplane | A M Harper | Did not arrive |
| 26 | Deperdussin Type B Monoplane | Armand Deperdussin | 100 hp Gnome rotary engine French-built, 2nd prize in any country category of £2,000, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps. |
| 27 | Deperdussin Type B Monoplane | Armand Deperdussin | French-built did not arrive |
| 28 | Handley Page Type F Handley Page Type F The Handley Page Type F was a two-seat, single-engined monoplane designed to compete for a War Office prize for a specified military machine in 1912. It crashed before the trials got under way and,although it flew well enough later, only one was built.... monoplane |
Handley Page Limited | Damaged during trial |
| 29 | Piggott biplane | Piggott Brothers and Co Limited | Did not complete trial |
| 30 | Cody IV monoplane | Mr S F Cody | Crashed before trial |
| 31 | Cody V biplane Cody V biplane -References:*Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-x.*"". Flight, 7 September 1912. pp. 808–809.... |
Mr S F Cody | Winner of the trial with the 1st prize in any country category of £4,000 and 1st prize in the British built category of £1,000, purchased by the Royal Flying Corps. |
| 32 | Borel monoplane | Societe Anonyme des Aeroplanes, Borel | Not ready to compete |
Aftermath
The Cody biplane, successfully passed all the tests and was declared winner of the competition, despite the fact that several other of the competitors (such as the Hanriot monoplanes) demonstrated better all-round performance. As a result, the Cody was purchased by the Flying Corps, with an order placed for a second example to be built by Cody.Several more of the competitors were also purchased by the Royal Flying Corps. These were the Beriot XI-2, the two Bristol Coanda monoplanes and the two Gnome-powered Deperdussins. Most of these aircraft saw little use, with one of the Deperdussins crashing fatally on 6 September 1912, followed by one of the Bristol-Coanda monoplanes on 10 September (with the Bristol crash being caused by inadvertent operation in flight of a quick-release catch which had been fitted to allow easy disassembly for the Trials). These crashes resulted in a ban being imposed of monoplane use by the RFC. This had a long-term effect on the course of British aircraft design. The Cody Trials aircraft crashed fatally due to a structural failure in April 1913, and the second Cody biplane was withdrawn from use.
The War Office had already placed orders for A. V. Roe's Type 500 two seat biplane, the Gnome-engined immediate predecessor of the Type G. They had also placed orders for examples of the B.E.1 built by the Royal Aircraft Factory and designed by Geoffrey de Havilland
Geoffrey de Havilland
Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, OM, CBE, AFC, RDI, FRAeS, was a British aviation pioneer and aircraft engineer...
. The prototypes of this designs had put in a number of appearances at the trials and had clearly demonstrated their all-round superiority to the other aircraft: they were barred from competition, because the Director of the Aircraft Factory, Mervyn O'Gorman, was on the panel of judges.