M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
TRAVERS-AYERS hovering aeroplane and ornithopters. (Travers-Ayers, 19 Dornton Road, Balham, London SW12)
Although the 'Hovering Aeroplane' was only made in model form in 1913, it showed considerable ingenuity and was seen to lift off from water successfully. The ornithopters were tested full size on Tooting Common in 1914.
The 'Hovering Aeroplane' was described as being in the form of a tetrapod with cross bracing. The four upright members came together at the top and were spread apart at the bottom and each carried a float near the lower end. The cross structure formed a biplane wing of some three bays, which were covered at the outboard bays only, this area being in the form of louvers, which would open for vertical flight and close for the horizontal case. Elevators and a rudder were carried on booms.
The rotary engine drove, through a gearbox, a vertical shaft carrying contra-rotating propellers, rotors, at the top and towards the bottom of the structure. A shaft at right angles drove a propeller for horizontal flight. The propellers could be selected by the engagement of suitable clutches.