LONG monoplane (Victor Long, The Firs, Arundel, Sussex)

   This monoplane, built in 1910-1911, was similar in layout to a Bleriot and incorporated a Bleriot type undercarriage. However it differed in other respects, particularly in the tail unit, which consisted of a one piece elevator and tailplane, with a long triangular fin and square shaped rudder, mounted above the fuselage girder. The heavily cambered wings incorporated cutouts for small ailerons in the trailing edges.
   A 20/24hp JAP vee four, side valve, air-cooled engine was fitted, originally with a Cochrane metal propeller with corrugated metal trailing portions, but this was replaced by a Chauviere wooden propeller at some stage. The original pilots controls consisted of two hand wheels, Antoinette style, mounted fore and aft on the top longerons, but these were replaced with a more usual control column.
   No record of tests or flight exists. Long discontinued his aviation activities and offered a Bleriot type monoplane with 'Farman type' landing chassis, without engine and propeller for ?20 in Flight on 8 July 1911 and the JAP engine and Chauviere propeller for ?70 on 5 August 1911, together with a Bleriot chassis.