This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/7673625.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fly-past celebrates first flight | Fly-past celebrates first flight |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The 100th anniversary of the first officially recognised flight by a powered aeroplane in the British Isles was marked by a fly-past at an airport. | |
| Samuel Franklin Cody flew his British Army Aeroplane No 1 on 16 October 1908 at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire. | |
| He reached about 18ft (5.5m) and flew for about 1,400ft (426m). It was the first official flight of a "heavier than air" machine in the British Isles. | He reached about 18ft (5.5m) and flew for about 1,400ft (426m). It was the first official flight of a "heavier than air" machine in the British Isles. |
| A replica of his plane was on show at the Farnborough airport celebrations. | A replica of his plane was on show at the Farnborough airport celebrations. |
| Several historical aircraft, including a Vulcan jet resurrected by volunteers, took part in the fly-past. | Several historical aircraft, including a Vulcan jet resurrected by volunteers, took part in the fly-past. |
| Capt David Rowland, from the Royal Aeronautical Society, watched the fly-past and said: "It's just amazing the progress that's been in the 100 years before today. | Capt David Rowland, from the Royal Aeronautical Society, watched the fly-past and said: "It's just amazing the progress that's been in the 100 years before today. |
| "Today we've seen the Vulcan fly by, which was created about halfway through that first century and then the fly-past was completed by the [Eurofighter] Typhoon, the very latest aircraft in service. | "Today we've seen the Vulcan fly by, which was created about halfway through that first century and then the fly-past was completed by the [Eurofighter] Typhoon, the very latest aircraft in service. |
| "It makes you wonder what Cody and his other pioneers would have actually thought of it. Could they have even imagined it could have gone this way. | "It makes you wonder what Cody and his other pioneers would have actually thought of it. Could they have even imagined it could have gone this way. |
| Volunteers have recreated Mr Cody's British Army Aeroplane No 1 | Volunteers have recreated Mr Cody's British Army Aeroplane No 1 |
| "[Mr Cody] must have been very brave when you look at how flimsy and how delicate [the replica] is. | "[Mr Cody] must have been very brave when you look at how flimsy and how delicate [the replica] is. |
| "All the principles of flight are here with the wings and the controls. They have been reorganised and developed over the years. | "All the principles of flight are here with the wings and the controls. They have been reorganised and developed over the years. |
| "The propellers and the power have been changed but you're seeing very much the real birth of aviation." | "The propellers and the power have been changed but you're seeing very much the real birth of aviation." |
| American Mr Cody claimed to be the son of Buffalo Bill Cody who was a popular wild west show performer in the US. | American Mr Cody claimed to be the son of Buffalo Bill Cody who was a popular wild west show performer in the US. |
| In fact he was not related to him and his real name was Cowdery. | In fact he was not related to him and his real name was Cowdery. |
| Mr Cody came to England in 1890 and started experimenting with kites and later developed aeroplanes with the backing of the War Office. | Mr Cody came to England in 1890 and started experimenting with kites and later developed aeroplanes with the backing of the War Office. |
| He wanted to build on the achievement of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight in 1903 and on 16 October 1908 the Cody Flyer took off on Farnborough Common. | He wanted to build on the achievement of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight in 1903 and on 16 October 1908 the Cody Flyer took off on Farnborough Common. |
| Mr Cody was in the air for just 30 seconds and the machine was damaged at the end of this flight. | Mr Cody was in the air for just 30 seconds and the machine was damaged at the end of this flight. |
| He carried on trying to develop new aeroplanes but on 7 August 1913 he was killed when one crashed during a test. | He carried on trying to develop new aeroplanes but on 7 August 1913 he was killed when one crashed during a test. |
| His funeral in Aldershot attracted 50,000 mourners. | His funeral in Aldershot attracted 50,000 mourners. |