English: Aviation in Britain Before the First World War
A medium close up of Cody aircraft mark II outside the shed on Laffan's Plain, with Cody and passenger aboard. Cody built this aircraft in 1910; the previous aircraft had been in several crashes and was suffering generally from constant usage. The design of this aircraft followed similar lines to the previous one though the wingspan was shorter by around six feet and the wing area around a third smaller.
The single propeller was originally intended to be powered by two 60 hp Green engines (mark IIA) though problems with synchronicity meant that this was never carried out. This did mean that the aircraft was underpowered though alterations to the engine and the removal of excess weight partly solved this problem (marks IIB to IID). When this engine was replaced with a 120 hp Austro-Daimler, the aircraft performed well, and in January 1912 carried Cody and four passengers. It was eventually crashed by Lieut. J N Fletcher on the 5th April whilst Cody was teaching him to fly. It was also in this aircraft that Cody won his first Michelin Trophy.
Note the mid wing balancing planes are protruding slightly over the wing tip and the horizontal appendage on the rudder. In other versions of this mark the balancing planes protrude much further and there is no appendage on the rudder. This reflects the constant tinkering that Cody carried out on his aircraft to obtain better performance and handling.
This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Photographs taken, or artworks created, by a member of the forces during their active service duties are covered by Crown Copyright provisions. Faithful reproductions may be reused under that licence, which is considered expired 50 years after their creation.
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Dera Farnborough (royal Aircraft Establishment)
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Associated themes
Aviation pre-1914
Associated keywords
aviation
Category
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photographs
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{{Information |description = {{en|''Aviation in Britain Before the First World War''<br/> A medium close up of Cody aircraft mark II outside the shed on Laffan's Plain, with Cody and passenger aboard. Cody built this aircraft in 1910; the previous airc...
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