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Samuel Cody statue unveiled to mark 1908 flight in Farnborough Samuel Cody statue unveiled to mark 1908 flight
(about 13 hours later)
A statue created in memory of the first person to pilot a powered and sustained flight in Britain is being unveiled near the airfield he flew from. A statue created in memory of the first person to pilot a powered and sustained flight in Britain has been unveiled near the airfield he flew from.
US-born Samuel Franklin Cody took off from Farnborough Common in Hampshire in October 1908 for a flight which lasted a mere 30 seconds.US-born Samuel Franklin Cody took off from Farnborough Common in Hampshire in October 1908 for a flight which lasted a mere 30 seconds.
He died on 7 August 1913, aged 46, in a plane crash at the same site.He died on 7 August 1913, aged 46, in a plane crash at the same site.
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (Fast) is unveiling the new statue and memorial on the centenary of his death. Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (Fast) unveiled the new statue and memorial on the centenary of his death.
The trust has raised £100,000 for the bronze statue, which was created by sculptress Vivian Mallock.The trust has raised £100,000 for the bronze statue, which was created by sculptress Vivian Mallock.
It will be unveiled by wartime test-pilot Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown, 94, at a ceremony outside the Fast Museum. Wartime test-pilot Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown, 94, unveiled it at a ceremony outside the Fast Museum.
Buffalo Bill claimBuffalo Bill claim
David Wilson, Cody Statue Project leader, said there was no public monument to the aviation pioneer and he was in danger of being forgotten. David Wilson, Cody statue project leader, said there was no other public monument to the aviation pioneer and he was in danger of being forgotten.
"Cody a showman and cowboy by trade, but he was a man of the people," he said. "What he did for aviation in this country should be remembered. "Cody was a showman and cowboy by trade, but he was a man of the people," he said. "What he did for aviation in this country should be remembered.
"In making that flight he was the first to do what the Wright brothers did in America. He was Britain's first, and did not just copy what the Wright brothers did, he pioneered his own aeroplanes."In making that flight he was the first to do what the Wright brothers did in America. He was Britain's first, and did not just copy what the Wright brothers did, he pioneered his own aeroplanes.
"They [Wright brothers] only demonstrated their flight in public six weeks before Cody flew, and after he had already built his plane." "They [the Wright brothers] only demonstrated their flight in public six weeks before Cody flew, and after he had already built his plane."
Mr Cody was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1867 and trained as a cowboy, becoming a popular wild west show performer before moving to England in 1890.Mr Cody was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1867 and trained as a cowboy, becoming a popular wild west show performer before moving to England in 1890.
He claimed to be the son of Buffalo Bill Cody, but in fact he was not related to him and his real name was Cowdery.He claimed to be the son of Buffalo Bill Cody, but in fact he was not related to him and his real name was Cowdery.
In England he started experimenting with kites, becoming the leading expert in man-lifting kites which led to the Army taking him on.In England he started experimenting with kites, becoming the leading expert in man-lifting kites which led to the Army taking him on.
He later developed aeroplanes with the backing of the War Office and became a British citizen by naturalisation in 1909.He later developed aeroplanes with the backing of the War Office and became a British citizen by naturalisation in 1909.
On 16 October 1908 he took to the skies in his British Army Aeroplane No 1, which he had designed and constructed.On 16 October 1908 he took to the skies in his British Army Aeroplane No 1, which he had designed and constructed.
He reached about 18ft (5.5m) and flew for about 1,400ft (426m).He reached about 18ft (5.5m) and flew for about 1,400ft (426m).
It was the first official sustained and controlled flight of a "heavier-than-air" machine in the British Isles. It was the first official sustained and controlled flight of a powered "heavier-than-air" machine in the British Isles.
Mr Cody was in the air for just 30 seconds and flew over a clump of trees before crash-landing after being hit by a gust of wind and damaging the machine. Mr Cody was in the air for just 30 seconds and flew over a clump of trees before crash-landing after being hit by a gust of wind, damaging the machine.
The military authorities were not convinced about investing in his new flying machines, which were prone to crashing.The military authorities were not convinced about investing in his new flying machines, which were prone to crashing.
Mr Cody's funding was withdrawn but he continued his trials and plane-building with his own funds, trying to develop new aeroplanes.Mr Cody's funding was withdrawn but he continued his trials and plane-building with his own funds, trying to develop new aeroplanes.
However, on 7 August 1913 he and his passenger, Hampshire cricketer William Evans, died when they fell out of their aircraft and plunged 300ft (90m) to the ground after it broke up during a test. But on 7 August 1913 he and his passenger, Hampshire cricketer William Evans, died when they fell out of their aircraft and plunged 300ft (90m) to the ground after it broke up during a test.
Afterwards, the air correspondent of the Times newspaper wrote: "The tragic death of SF Cody is one of the greatest blows which aviation has sustained in recent years." Afterwards, the air correspondent for the Times newspaper wrote: "The tragic death of SF Cody is one of the greatest blows which aviation has sustained in recent years."
His funeral in Aldershot, with full military honours, attracted up to 100,000 mourners and he is buried in the town's military cemetery.His funeral in Aldershot, with full military honours, attracted up to 100,000 mourners and he is buried in the town's military cemetery.
A full-size replica of Mr Cody's British Army Aeroplane No 1 was built in 2008 to commemorate the centenary of his first flight. It remains on permanent display at the Fast Museum.A full-size replica of Mr Cody's British Army Aeroplane No 1 was built in 2008 to commemorate the centenary of his first flight. It remains on permanent display at the Fast Museum.