PIFFARD hydrobiplane No.3

   In January 1911, in an article in The Aero, Piffard indicated that a successor was in hand, to the machine wrecked in the previous October. This time his intention was to fly from the water. The information on his seaplanes is not available in much detail, but it would appear that he produced a pusher biplane fitted with his original engine, making use of tube in its construction.
   The flotation gear consisted of a single large central float, possibly also intended to provide lift, with a pair of nose floats and a small tail float. Air bags for the minor floats were originally used. The machine was a sesquiplane, with the lower wings extending only out as far as the main booms, whereas the top wings had considerable overhang, braced by struts back to the ends of the lower spars.
   The front elevator was carried on booms and was on a level with the lower wing. There was a fixed tailplane and rectangular rudder and single acting ailerons on the top wing, with the outer ends cut back diagonally.
   The machine was housed at Bungalow Town, Shoreham. On 8 August 1911 the hydroplane was taken down to the sea for the first time but it capsized and had to be beached. There were further trials with no satisfactory results and the machine was reconstructed later that year.


PIFFARD hydrobiplane No.4

   The rear portion of the fuselage and the center section of No.3 were used again, to form the basis of No.4, later in 1911. The wings were of two bays, with extensions on the top wings tilted upwards and braced with light struts to the lower spars. Two separate single acting ailerons on each top wing hung on the trailing edges of the main wing and the extensions. All of Piffard's wing surfaces were made with spars at the leading and trailing edges with little or no camber to the ribs. The buoyancy was now provided by two rather short main floats with a tail float as before. The main floats had, in addition, curved hydroskis attached to their undersides, which were braced back to the main structure of the aircraft.
   The aircraft taxied, but would not unstick from the water; Piffard achieved no success with his seaplanes and this was his last aviation activity. The aircraft was wrecked in a gale on the beach at Shoreham at the end of 1911. The ENV engine, propeller, fuel tank and radiator were retained and now form an exhibit at the Science Museum.