Buffalo Joe, son Mike, a lady and a chap wielding a big video camera been around most of this week. I resisted ‘bothering’ them in the local pub the other night.

Usable bits are being removed from the two ‘Christmas tree’ airframes left behind – suppose they’ll eventually get cut up :apologetic:

Roger Smith.

I’d assumed the ‘inspiration’ was the Neil Williams/Zlinn incident.

Roger Smith.

I thought the Martinsydes were single/two seat scouts/fighters – that’s surely too big.

With that glazing it makes me think of a Fokker/Avro tri-motor – it’s not but that’s what comes to mind.

Roger Smith.

Thanks Mike J – I thought the SPT had taken it over.

Roger Smith.

….. Unfortunately, the Anson threw another ‘sickie’ …….

Depends on your point of view :diablo::diablo:

Roger Smith.

Thanks Topgun Regect but Wikipedia doesn’t answer my question!

However looking through some of the references at the end of the page I looked at Ornithopter zone and, in that, there is:
The word “ornithopter” (c.1908) combines the ancient Greek words for “bird” and “wing”.
I presume the “c.1908” is their estimation of the word’s first use.

In Wikipedia it explained the connection of ornithopter to helicopter in that they both use their wings for lift and forward thrust.

Roger Smith.

Interesting and shall read properly later.

Also interesting is that the Smithsonian are ‘sponsoring’ this research – I thought they had a “for ever” agreement (with the Wrights) made when they got the Flyer from Britain’s Science Museum in the late 1940s. The agreement was something along the lines that the S.I. would never, again, dispute the Wright’s claim to have made the first powered, controlled flight.

Roger Smith.