KITCHEN-LEE-RICHARDS annular glider

   A full size glider biplane, with a circular lower wing and an upper wing of tapered form, was built in January 1912 for testing Kitchen's theories. The trials carried out at Sellet Banks, near Kirby Lonsdale, using a 52ft long launching track and pylon, with weight and cable system, similar to the system employed by the Wright brothers.
   The pilot was seated in the center of the aperture on a simple fuselage, to which the circular edge members of the wing were rigidly attached. The upper wing was mounted on a pylon above the fuselage and on single pairs of interplane struts. The elevators, inset into the lower wing, trailed behind the wing profile.
   Changes were made to the glider, which was tested in three basic forms until the end of 1912, when Kitchen's ideas were discounted and Lee and Richards moved to London to continue their work (q.v.).

   Data
   Span 22ft
   Area 400 sq ft
   Weight 215 lb
   Weight allup 385 1b
   Speed 22mph