pioneers

This page contains slightly improved scanned reproductions of pre-WWI postcards. Quality may not always be as good as one would wish but the historical importance more than makes up for this.

Tips

This aircraft was constructed by Mr.Tips in Belgium. He originally intended the aircraft for vertical take off and landing (!) but as he realised that the engines were not yet powerful enough he settled for a classic aircraft. He achieved some successes with it, but generally the aircraft was overweight. Better designs like the ones of the Farman brothers became available and Mr.Tips abandoned his design.

Length : 9.70 m

Wing span : 13 m

Empty weight : 750 kg

Load : 400 kg (!)

Astra triplane

Not very much is known of this heavy biplane, except that is was powered by a 75 hp Renault engine and was said to be capable of attaining 90 km/h.

Engine : 12 hp Buchet

Wing surface : 25 m2

Total weight : 250 kg

Pean

Aircraft design was still in its infancy and some designers were highly innovative. Spectacular-looking aircraft appeared at high pace, usually leading to limited flight success. This was presumably also the case for this contraption devised by Mr.Pean.

Length : 12.50 m

Wing span : 11.50 m

Bonnet-Labranche No.2

Another strange machine, this design by the brothers Emile and Albert Bonnet was powered by a 30 hp Filtz-Arion engine.

Wing span : 12 m

Total weight : 400 kg

Engine : 50 hp Anzani 3-cylinder

Germe Biplane

Evidently inspired by the Wright Flyer, the Germe was a one-off design, flown by its designer.

Length : 11.50 m

Wing span : 12 m

Total wing surface : 50 m2

Total weigth : 450 kg

Sanchez-Besa

Watch the curving lines of the front elevator mounting : great engineering, isn't it ? Apart from this fantasy, the aircraft used the same construction techniques as contemporary Voisin and Farman designs. It also used the well-known 50 hp Anzani engine chain-driving two pusher propellors, which was evidently a copy of the Wright brothers' propulsion system.

Kapferer

Some people disliked the biplane and opted for a monoplane or, like Mr. Kapferer, for a tandem wing layout. Usually, flight success was very limited.

Wing span : 13 m

Total weight : 220 kg

Guilbaut Monoplane

Tandem gull wings, a kite-like tail : why not ? The designer even envisaged an exchangable float/wheels landing gear. Unfortunately, the engine's 12 hp were just a little bit insufficient.

De La Vaux monoplane

Another strange contraption, this monoplanes looks extremely frail. Its designer tried to compensate the low-power engine with a streamlined fuselage, but judging from the wing mounting it is doubtful that this aircraft survived even its first hop.

Length : 10.80 m

Wing span : 10.60 m

Total wing surface : 78 m2

Total weight : 600 kg

Engine : 40 hp 4-cylinder Dutheil and Chalmers

Piquerez Biplane

Strange it may look, but a lot of thought went into this aircraft. The passenger seat was located amidships, near the center of gravity. Therefore, flying the aircraft with or without passenger did not alter flight characteristics too drastically, an error that proved fatal to many an early twoseater.

Wing span : 11 m

Total wing surface : 72 m2

Total weight : 500 kg

Engine : 80 hp Antoinette V8

Melvin-Vanniman Triplane

If one wing does not do the trick, maybe three will ? Mr.Melvin-Vanniman tried his luck with this exotic machine. The original photograph has been manipulated, probably to make the aircraft look as if flying although it remained solidly on the ground.

Bockor Triplane

The Americans tried their hand at exotic flying machines as well. This triplane, powered by a 38 hp engine was seen at Morris Park, NY.