P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Wokingham Flyer
The Wokingham Flyer was built at Wokingham, Surrey, during 1909 and was fitted with an 80 h.p. engine. The cigar-shaped fuselage was 140 ft. in length and could be reduced to 60 ft. The wings were telescopic, and their span of 20 ft. altered to 14 ft. The height of the machine was changeable from 31 ft. to 16 ft. Accommodation was provided for the pilot and several passengers, and the machine was equipped with electric lighting, hammocks and a lavatory. The Flyer was not successful.
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M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
WOKINGHAM Flyer (A.M. 'Jesse' Farbrother, 44 Westcott Rd., Wokingham, Berkshire)
This unusual machine was described in a local paper and in other journals and, although lacking any information direct, The Aero published their own description. Patents for certain features of the machine were applied for under Nos.121634/1909. It was known locally as the 'Whale' and was built to compete for the prize of ?1,000 offered by the Daily Mail for the flight across the Channel, eventually won by Bleriot.
The machine was a large cigar shaped structure, with the engine in the center driving the propeller, known as a 'Rotoscope', by a long drive shaft. The 'Rotoscope' was described as being spiral and cone shaped pointing outwards.
The accommodation provided for an engineer, several passengers, self balancing hammocks and a lavatory. Electric power for lighting was generated by the main engine in the center section, upon which the end compartments were to slide to and fro. The car was built of 1/8th. inch thick three-ply wood and the sixteen 'portholes' on each side were to accommodate 'poles', namely spars for the wings which were to be covered by stout canvas. The machine was telescopic in all directions as shown by the dimensions.
The machine was completed towards the end of October 1909 and was taken to St. Leonards Rd., Windsor for the engine to be fitted in January 1910. Farbrother, who was a journeyman carpenter, had ruined himself financially and the machine was not completed. It was returned to Wokingham where it was broken up.
Power: 80hp of unknown make weighing 616 lb. Was referred to as a 'Bleriot' engine.
Data
Length 60ft extending to 140ft
Width 14ft extending to 20ft
Height 16ft extending to 31 ft
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