* ‘The Avroplane’. An important Pioneer and “Daily Mail” Prize-contest de

* ‘The Avroplane’. An important Pioneer and “Daily Mail” Prize-contest design model by Edwin Alliot Verdon-Roe, 1907, a unique exhibition display model of a pioneer flying-machine, created by Alliott Verdon-Roe (the founder of AVRO and Saunders-Roe Aircraft Companies) later knighted for his services to the Aviation Industry, this model, numbered “B2”, is the second maquette for his winning example of two versions submitted for the prize-contest sponsored by the Daily Mail, for a free-flight aeroplane design. Of biplane format utilising pusher-type airscrew powered by a three cylinder Anzani motor, the open-work wire-braced wooden airframe featuring a large forward-mounted lifting-surface, under which was situated the pilot’s control-seat, with dual surface main-planes to the rear, and with additional movable aileron-control surfaces mounted in parallel between the main-planes. The engine mounted centrally behind the pilot, driving the rear-mounted propeller via a long shaft to clear the main flying surfaces. Well fabricated of wood, brass and metal construction, with cotton-thread simulating rigging wires, cream-painted flying surfaces, with black open frame fuselage and silver gravity fuel tank etc, this model represented a sturdy airframe structure with practical application for scaling up to a full-size machine capable of flight, wingspan 12 in, length 7.5in (30 x 19cm), the designer having graduated through engineering via railway and marine practical experience, now turned his attention to aeronautics, and this his first serious design, was subsequently built by Roe in a small rented shed at the newly opened Brooklands Motor Circuit, with its flying field within the central curtilage of the track. The prototype was his first successful aeroplane in a long series of now-venerated machines, produced subsequently by his enlarged enterprise at the Manchester factory where he ultimately relocated. The following year by June 1908, Verdon-Roe had built his first aeroplane to the model-pattern and flew it for a short duration - the first true Englishman to design and build his own heavier-than-air powered machine. A full-size flying replica of this aeroplane was specially re-created to celebrate its centenary in his memory, and is now on display at the RAF Museum at Duxford - a testament indeed to this genius, who laid the foundations of the British Aircraft Industry. The model is contained in his original wooden transit-box, ailerons lacking, and showing some age wear and deterioration to cotton rigging wires. (1)