The First British Powered Flight - John Doyle

Sep 01, 2014, 07:01 AM

John Doyle tells the story of the first British powered flight in a British designed plane which took place on Walthamstow Marshes over a hundred years ago. Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe was a pioneer English pilot and aircraft manufacturer, and founder in 1910 of the Avro company. The Roe I Triplane was the first all-British aircraft to fly. It was of extremely flimsy construction; financial hardship compelled Roe to use wood for structural elements and the wings and fuselage were paper-covered. Beginning on 5 June 1909, he made a series of short hops on the Walthamstow Marshes. For more information see this website: http://www.verdon-roe.co.uk/