M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
GIBSON biplane No.l (Caledonian Motor & Cycle Works, Leith, near Edinburgh, Scotland. J. and G.T. Gibson, proprietors)
This pusher biplane was designed and built during 1909 by the Gibsons, father and son, at their Caledonian Motor and Cycle Works. It had the typical layout of a machine of the period, with front and rear monoplane elevators and a fixed tailplane and single divided rudder. These units were apparently supported by lower booms only but were presumably braced also by wires. The chassis consisted of short curved skids carrying two pairs of sprung wheels on separate axles.
The wings were of equal span, and single acting ailerons were fitted to both top and bottom. The pilot sat on the lower center section, with the engine, fuel tank and radiators on either side. The machine was not capable of flight.
Power: 30hp Alvaston two-cylinder horizontally opposed, water-cooled.
Data
Span 30ft
GIBSON biplane No.2
The second machine was a reconstruction of the first and was completed in the following year, and flown in August 1910 at Beautland Farm near Balerno.
The modifications included changing the front monoplane elevator to a biplane unit with twin rudders. The attitude of the machine on the ground was altered by lowering the tail, and rigging the machine with slight stagger. The front and rear booms were full depth strut braced units with additional support at the front, provided by the extended, curved Sommer-type skids, which met at the front elevator attachments.
The Gibsons built a further nine biplanes, one of which was shown at the Scottish International Exhibition in 1911. During 1913-1914, they were building a machine of 40ft span and had started to design and build an engine. This work was discontinued when war broke out. Of the eleven machines, four were destroyed during testing, one was burned at an exhibition in Brussels, the rest were sold. No detailed information on the design of these has been found.
Power: 30hp Alvaston two-cylinder horizontally opposed, water-cooled.
Data
Span 29ft
Length 30ft
GIBSON biplane No.3
A letter from John Gibson published in Flight on 19 February 1910 illustrates the third biplane which they had made and sold. This was a Farman type machine with twin pushed propellers driven by a single engine of unknown make. There were twin fins and rudders and ailerons set at mid gap. There was a conventional undercarriage with two main wheels and a tail wheel. No further details have been found.
Gibson mentions that they were making a fourth machine of 29ft span and that a fifth was being made for display at the Olympia Show.
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Gibson Biplane No. 1
The single-seat pusher Gibson Biplane No. 1 was designed by J. and G. T. Gibson, and constructed by the Caledonian Motor and Cycle Works of Leith, Scotland, during 1909. The engine was a two-cylinder horizontally-opposed 30 h.p. Alvaston, with radiators mounted vertically on each side behind the pilot.
Gibson Biplane No. 2
The Gibson Biplane No. 2 was a modification produced in 1910 of the Gibson No. 1 of the previous year. The same power plant, the 30 h.p. Alvaston, was used, but the airframe differed in several respects. A biplane fore-elevator was fitted in place of the monoplane type of the No. 1, and the undercarriage skids were extended upwards in a curve to provide additional support for it. The original monoplane tail-unit was replaced by biplane surfaces, with a pair of rudders set side-by-side between them, and the tail booms were lowered towards the rear so that the machine was in a horizontal position on the ground. Alterations were made also in the undercarriage struts. The Gibson No. 2 was flown in August, 1910. Span, 29 ft. Length, 30 ft.
Журнал Flight
Flight, February 19, 1910
PROGRESS IN SCOTLAND.
Herewith I send you two photos of biplane of our own model and construction.
This is our third made and sold. We are now making a fourth, 29 ft. span; and a fifth is ordered, which must be ready for the London Show. It is intended by the purchaser to show also at Berlin.
I thought you would like to know what we up North are doing for aviation.
Caledonian Motor and Cycle Works and Garage, Leith. JOHN GIBSON.
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M.Goodall, A.Tagg - British Aircraft before the Great War /Schiffer/
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| Gibson biplane No.l built at Leith in 1909 was unsuccessful.
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M.Goodall, A.Tagg - British Aircraft before the Great War /Schiffer/
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| Gibson biplane No.2 was a reconstruction of No.l. A further batch of nine was built.
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P.Lewis - British Aircraft 1809-1914 /Putnam/
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Журнал - Flight за 1910 г.
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| A SCOTTISH-BUILT BIPLANE. - This is the work of "Gibson's Aeroplanes" of Lelth. Mr. John Gibson, its designer, in sending us the photographs, writes: "The machine which we are at present practising with promises well, rising readily, but none of us are capable of handling her efficiently as yet. Of course, we have had our engine troubles and a few smashes, but all the fault is either with the engine or with our own inexperienced handling, which time will remedy. The machine itself is all right, and I believe the first Scottish-built aeroplane to leave the ground. My son, age 19, can handle her best; he appears in photos.
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M.Goodall, A.Tagg - British Aircraft before the Great War /Schiffer/
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| Gibson biplane No.3. A Farman type with twin tractor propellers.
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