PILCHER gliders (Percy Sinclair Pilcher, Glasgow and London)

   Pilcher became interested in flight whilst at Glasgow University. He began by making and testing models from 1893 and made his first full size glider in 1895. He corresponded with Lilienthal and visited Germany that year, to witness and discuss matters at first hand, at a time when his machine was well advanced in construction. In the space of a year or so Pilcher had made his fourth glider, at which time he moved south to London, to work for the Maxim, Nordenfeldt Gun Co. as Hiram Maxim's assistant; this was around March 1896.
   This arrangement terminated, when Maxim was no longer managing his own company and Pilcher then became joint managing director of Wilson and Pilcher Ltd., an engineering company registered in November 1897, with workshop premises in Clerkenwell. The latest of his gliders, the Hawk, was brought down with him for further development and trials were carried out at Eynsford in Kent. This glider was still in use in September 1899 when he agreed to demonstrate it at Stanford Park, near Rugby, which resulted in an accident on 30 September 1899, from which he died two days later.
   Also at Stanford Park, for exhibition only, was a triplane glider, to which Pilcher intended to fit a small 'oil engine', that had already been on test, but required further development.


PILCHER Bat glider

   This first glider was made early in 1895 and was tested from slopes at Cardross by the River Clyde from June of that year.
   The machine was a monoplane hang glider with considerable dihedral, controlled by weight shift only. A triangular front frame, and a single rod to carry the fin, comprised the center structure of the machine. A tailplane was fitted later. The wings were made separately, the main spars being lashed to the front frame and extensively braced by wires. Later the excessive dihedral was reduced, by curving the wings downwards, and introducing greater camber.

   Data
   Area 150 sq. ft
   Weight 45 lb.
   Weight allup 1901b.


PILCHER Beetle glider

   Pilcher's second machine was ready for use in about June 1895, but not for very long, as he found the machine ungainly. It had been assembled in a barn at Auchensail, north of Cardross, where he was able to spend more time at practice.
   He had built the Beetle with the intention of fitting an engine, after the initial gliding trials, and consequently it was stronger and heavier than would otherwise be the case. The body consisted of two parallel Warren girders, between which the shoulders could pass to enable the pilot to rest his arms in sleeves on the bottom longerons. The wing, of angular shape, was built round five spars and was braced to kingposts above, and to the girders below. A circular fin and tailplane, in the form of a cross, were fitted.
   The Beetle was discarded in favor of the modified Bat, which was put back into use again in September.

   Data
   Area 170 sq. ft
   Weight 80 lb.
   Weight allup 225 1b.


PILCHER Gull glider

   The third glider was constructed late in 1895, but was not really proved until the following year, although there is evidence of it being complete, but damaged, in October 1895. The light wing loading made the Gull difficult to handle in gusty conditions in Scotland, but with better conditions in the summer of 1896, after the move to Eynsford, the Gull was flown. It suffered some damage at times and was still awaiting repair in January 1897.
   The body consisted of a tapered, wire braced girder, from which a frame extended below, and which carried, at its outboard ends, the two vertical kingposts, later connected by a crossbar. The cruciform tail, as used on the Beetle, was employed. The wing structure consisted of a number of radial ribs, similar to those of the Bat, which could be swung round the kingposts to fold back for transport.

   Data
   Area 300 sq. ft
   Weight 55 lb.
   Weight allup 2001b.