Fairlight, Hastings – Intrepid Aviator!

Tangmere, what was the source of your “large collection of memorabilia”? Might this serve to shed some light on the matter?

It’s unkind to pour scorn on this guy.

It is easy to sit in judgement now with hindsight gained by over one hundred years of aviation experimentation that has got flying to our current advanced state.

It may have been built for the glider trials – it may even have flown.

It may have been built as a model (although the “controllable” flying surfaces suggest otherwise) – lets not forget that most of the pioneers started by building models.

Tangmere your comment about the ailerons – this kind of arrangement was not rare (I think Shuttleworth’s Boxkite replica has them) particularly in pre-1914 types. Both ailerons drooped until flying speed was obtained, then an aileron was pulled down to induce roll although it would, presumably, induce yaw as well?

Roger Smith.

Interesting stuff. I think we have a prime example of “…misguided enthusiasm” here!

A very long shot – perhaps Sis’s first husband was someone with the aspiration, but not the technical expertise, to participate in the Daily Mail competition at Itford Hill in 1922. It’s not an unreasonable distance between Hastings and Lewes and Ann Welch, in ‘The Story of Gliding’, does say:

“The entries ranged from those produced by established aircraft manufacturers…………to the inevitable lunatic fringe who lacked everything except misguided enthusiasm”!

Maybe Sis’s first husband was one of those in the latter category!

Indeed so….! The aileron linkage must be a tad suspect as I notice that both are in the “down” position. I cannot work out if this contraption was some kind of glider or if it was powered in some way? Whatever, its a great image. The houses could possibly be those around Ore or Clive Vale areas of Hastings. Makes me wonder if he has just flown it from Fairlight (not far from there) and ended up here where the photo was taken. Presumably no CAA or equivalent in those days!

I hope that what appears in the photo is the large scale radio controlled aircraft that Sis’s first husband flew at Fairlight. If it was not then,Tangmere, your speculation appears to be eminently justified!

Class!