HUMPHREYS monoplane No.l (British Aeroplane Syndicate Ltd., 80 Brook St., London W. Works at Wivenhoe.)

   In 1909 Humphreys decided to raise funds to form a company, and took full page advertisements in the aviation press for the purpose in May and June. The syndicate formed following this, being advertised for the first time in The Aero on 22 June 1909, but the advertising faded away by the end of August. However, Humphreys had somehow financed the building of a monoplane, with the declared intention of competing for the Daily Mail prize of .1,000 for a flight of one mile by an all-British aircraft. This he attempted on unsuitable ground at Rowhedge near Wivenhoe on 16 October 1909 and the machine was wrecked when it hit a drainage ditch.
   No data exists for the monoplane, other than that which can be deduced from a surviving photograph. It was a tractor type and had a triangular section fuselage, apparently made of tube, with a pylon above to carry a streamlined fuel tank, bracing wires and warping controls. The tubular undercarriage structure extended rearwards, terminating in a large sprung tailwheel, the structure also providing anchorages for bracing cables.
   The wings were deeply cambered and curved downwards, and the leading edge curved back to the trailing edge tips. The lateral control surfaces were wide chord flaps hinged behind the trailing edges. The tailplane was of considerable size and probably contributed lift. The pilot was seated well aft, an indication of the effect of the sweep-back and distribution of lift. The rudder, below the tailplane, was rectangular in shape and emblazoned with the Union Jack over the whole surface. The original engine, a 35hp JAP, was fitted with a clutch and extension shaft for the propeller, but was replaced by the new 50hp Green.
   The machine was transported to the Bournemouth Meeting in July 1910, where it arrived dismantled on horse and cart transport, on the fourth day of the meeting, 21 October 1909, but it did not perform.


HUMPHREYS monoplane No.2 (Wivenhoe and Brooklands Hangar No.10)

   This machine was considerably different from No.l, although the fuselage, which was covered, was still triangular in section and again fitted with the 50hp Green, driving the tractor propeller by clutch and extension shaft. Later these were removed and the propeller was fitted direct to the crankshaft. The original undercarriage was similar to that of an Antoinette, with a central sprung strut, using tension springs. A single front skid was fitted. This was later replaced by one of A type with two pairs of wheels, and a larger elevator was also fitted.
   Long tapered fins were fitted above and below the fuselage; a skid supported the tail. The wings had curved leading edges, but less sweep-back to the trailing edges; they were braced by kingposts and did not droop as on No. 1. Lateral control was by warping the wings, which were cut away at the center section to allow access to the cockpit.
   This is the machine described in The Aero as the 'earlier version' and presumably is that shown in the only remaining photograph taken at Forrest's Boatyard. The machine, with its wing span of 48ft, was the largest at Brooklands at the time, and became known as the 'Elephant'. It appeared for a test flight on 9 October 1910 in the hands of Humphreys, but it fell over to one side on take off and was damaged. It was tried again at Abbey Fields Colchester on 5 November 1919 but did no more than taxi.