HIGGINS glider (Henry Higgins, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

   This glider was designed and built in 1910, and was tested successfully at Cleeve Hill, near Cheltenham. It was a canard monoplane with the pilot seated below the wing, above the axle of the wheels. Control was provided by a front elevator, and by warping the wing, with a foot bar. A movable 'blinker' was fitted in the front bay of the single girder structure.

   Data
   Span 26ft
   Chord 6ft
   Length 20ft
   Area 160 sq ft
   Area elevator 16 sq ft
   Weight 941b


HIGGINS monoplane

   The glider had been built with the intention of fitting a low powered engine later, and one was installed as a pusher in 1911. A two-cylinder JAP of 10-12hp was fitted below the wing, driving a 7ft 2in diameter propeller by chain. A tail was fitted 12ft behind the cg; a fixed plane below the elevator increased the lifting surface to 196 sq ft and the weight to 280 lb. In this form the machine was unsuccessful.
   In 1912 further changes increased the span to 30ft, the lifting area to 240 sq ft and weight to 300 lb. There were no further reports and it is presumed that the machine was not a success.