Farnborough Air Sciences Trust – Cody Flyer Project

I believe that Solent Sky are building a flying version of a later Cody aircraft than that which first flew in the UK. This would be a more aerodynamically stable design and is probably British Army Aeroplane 1B (version 2) for which there are drawings available. It will be marvellous to see a Cody machine in the air again and I wish Solent Sky well with their endeavors.

The FAST project is entirely different, designed to be a full sized authentic replica of British Army Aeroplane No 1A, Cody’s very first Aeroplane, in the exact configuration that flew the first recognized powered flight on 16th October 1908 at Farnborough. More than a year of extensive research has been conducted by the project team at FAST to establish what configuration was flown on that historic day as Cody was forever changing the design before the actual flight. The intention is to use period materials and construction techniques which taken together with the unstable aerodynamic design (the first flight ended in a crash!) would make flying such a replica too dangerous to be acceptable.

Finally the replica is intended to be the centerpiece of numerous centenary celebrations this year associated with marking the 100th anniversary of powered flight in the UK. This will start with display alongside a Wright Flyer replica and other period aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in July just yards away from the actual flight path that Cody flew on that historic day back in 1908.