ROLLS RPG powered glider

   C.S. Rolls acquired his first glider from Shorts in July 1909, which was based on an early Wright type. (Short-Wright glider S.9). Soon after Rolls placed on order with Shorts for a second glider (S.12), which seemingly was not delivered in complete form, but was developed by stages into a powered aircraft (RPG.IV). The extent of Rolls' influence on the design is not clear, for features of Shorts construction at the time were used in a basic layout resembling a Wright twin pusher aircraft, fitted with a 35hp Green four-cylinder inline water-cooled engine.
   The aircraft was virtually complete at Eastchurch in May 1910 and was for sale, but may not have flown before Rolls died at Bournemouth on the 12th of July. It was almost certainly regarded as an obsolete type and, if Rolls had lived, his own designs would probably have been based on Farman or Sommer types, for the indications were that Rolls had intentions of becoming a constructor himself.
   The fate of the RPG is not known but it was probably dismantled soon after Rolls' death. The unsuccessful Short No.3 (Constructors No.S.24), probably contributed it's engine and parts of the airframe in the construction of RPG IV.