M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
EVERSHED biplane (Sydney H. Evershed, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Flying Ground at Netherseal)
This machine was constructed during the winter of 1909-1910 and attempts to fly were made at Grangewood Farm, Netherseal on several weekends in May-June 1910 without success. The final attempt was on 11 June 1910 when, under pressure from the farmer who had charged for admission, use was made of a slope to gain speed. The machine rose 6ft in the air, but landed awkwardly, damaging a wheel and causing more general damage. Sydney Evershed had overspent on the project and abandoned all further attempts to fly, but went on to develop electrical equipment, later founding the firm of Evershed and Vignoles.
The machine was a small biplane loosely based on the early Wright glider but driven by a single tractor propeller. The wings were parallel and with slight dihedral and camber. The fuselage consisted of three bamboo longerons tapering to a universal joint at the rear to carry the box kite tail, which was the sole means of control. The pilot was seated on the lower center section behind the engine. The undercarriage consisted of two motorcycle wheels and a single cycle type tail wheel.
Power: 10hp JAP two-cylinder air-cooled vee type.
Data
Span 25ft
Length 23ft
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Evershed Biplane
In 1910 a small tractor biplane was built at Burton-on-Trent, Staffs., by Sydney Evershed. He attempted to fly it at Netherseal in June, 1910, using an engine of 10 h.p. Span, 25 ft.