Horatio Barber
Encyclopedia
Captain
Horatio Claude Barber (1875–1964) was an early British
aviation
pioneer and First World War flight instructor
. In 1911 he flew the first cargo flight in Britain, transporting electric light bulb
s from Shoreham
to Hove
. He was also the first person in Great Britain
to gain an aeronautical degree.
Barber was one of the first aviation pioneers and within a few years of the first powered flight he leased a railway arch
in Battersea
to design and produce aircraft. In 1909 he moved to Lark Hill
on Salisbury Plain
and formed the Aeronautical Syndicate Limited to produce his designs.
In early 1910 he began fly his designs and in late September 1910 he became the first occupant of Hendon Aerodrome
, newly established by the London Aerodrome Co, where he leased three hangars. His Valkyrie design started test flying from there in October 1910, Barber using the aircraft to gain his Aero Club Certificate (No. 30) in November of that year. The company gave four Valkyries to the government and one aircraft and military pilot were lost in an accident in September 1911. Barber carried on with some experimental work, producing a tractor biplane called the ASL Viking
early in 1912 , but in April 1912 he dissolved the Syndicate, having failed to achieve any commercial success. The company's aircraft and equipment were sold, mostly to Frederick Handley Page
. Barber continued to work as an aeronautical consultant, with an office at 59 Pall Mall
in London.
In 1912 he tried to insure himself against any liability from passengers of his aircraft, this was unknown at the time and Lloyd
's asked him to write his own policy
, the first aircraft insurance policy.
Barber served in the First World War in the Royal Flying Corps
(RFC) and later the Royal Air Force
(RAF). He was one of the first flying instructors at Shoreham
and he also invented a number of training aids. Barber was in charge of all flying training in England.
In 1917 he published a book The Aeroplane Speaks and in 1927 Aerobatics. After the war he continued his involvement in aircraft insurance. He died in 1964.
A replica of his Valkyrie design is on display at Fantasy of Flight
in Polk City, Florida.
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Horatio Claude Barber (1875–1964) was an early British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneer and First World War flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
. In 1911 he flew the first cargo flight in Britain, transporting electric light bulb
Incandescent light bulb
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe makes light by heating a metal filament wire to a high temperature until it glows. The hot filament is protected from air by a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated. In a halogen lamp, a chemical process...
s from Shoreham
Shoreham
Shoreham is the name of several different places:* Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK** Shoreham 1974–1997** New Shoreham 1295–1885* Shoreham, Kent, UK* Shoreham, Michigan, USA...
to Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
. He was also the first person in Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to gain an aeronautical degree.
Barber was one of the first aviation pioneers and within a few years of the first powered flight he leased a railway arch
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
to design and produce aircraft. In 1909 he moved to Lark Hill
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....
on Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
and formed the Aeronautical Syndicate Limited to produce his designs.
In early 1910 he began fly his designs and in late September 1910 he became the first occupant of Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...
, newly established by the London Aerodrome Co, where he leased three hangars. His Valkyrie design started test flying from there in October 1910, Barber using the aircraft to gain his Aero Club Certificate (No. 30) in November of that year. The company gave four Valkyries to the government and one aircraft and military pilot were lost in an accident in September 1911. Barber carried on with some experimental work, producing a tractor biplane called the ASL Viking
ASL Viking
-Comparable Aircraft:* Avro Type E* Royal Aircraft Factory B.E. 1* Bristol Gordon England biplanes* Coventry Ordnance Works No. 11 and 12 biplanes-References:*Lewis, Peter British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam 1962...
early in 1912 , but in April 1912 he dissolved the Syndicate, having failed to achieve any commercial success. The company's aircraft and equipment were sold, mostly to Frederick Handley Page
Frederick Handley Page
Sir Frederick Handley Page, CBE, FRAeS was an English industrialist who was a pioneer in the design and manufacture of aircraft. His company Handley Page Limited produced a series of military aircraft, including the Halifax bomber in World War II, of which around 7,000 were produced...
. Barber continued to work as an aeronautical consultant, with an office at 59 Pall Mall
Pall Mall
-Places:* Pall Mall, urban downtown ares of Bendigo, Australia* Pall Mall, London, a street in the City of Westminster, London* Pall Mall, Tennessee, a small unincorporated community in Fentress County, Tennessee...
in London.
In 1912 he tried to insure himself against any liability from passengers of his aircraft, this was unknown at the time and Lloyd
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
's asked him to write his own policy
Insurance contract
In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the insured, known as the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for payment, known as the premium, the insurer pays for damages to the insured which are caused by...
, the first aircraft insurance policy.
Barber served in the First World War in the 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...
(RFC) and later the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF). He was one of the first flying instructors at Shoreham
Shoreham Airport
- Sussex Police Air Operations Unit :The Sussex Police Air Operations Unit is headquartered at Shoreham Airport. The unit has been equipped since February 2000 with a MD Explorer, registered as "G-SUSX". The unit is headed by a Police Inspector, assisted by a Police Sergeant and two Police...
and he also invented a number of training aids. Barber was in charge of all flying training in England.
In 1917 he published a book The Aeroplane Speaks and in 1927 Aerobatics. After the war he continued his involvement in aircraft insurance. He died in 1964.
A replica of his Valkyrie design is on display at Fantasy of Flight
Fantasy of Flight
Fantasy of Flight is an aviation-related attraction in Polk City, Florida, USA that takes visitors back to the pioneering days of early flight, World War I, World War II and beyond. The attraction opened in November of 1995, and houses the world's largest private aircraft collection on display...
in Polk City, Florida.