What's this aircraft?

[ACW599]

Following the recent demise of my uncle we’ve been gradually clearing his house and possessions. My cousin has just sent me the attached, which seems to have been included in a family photograph album. I’m reliably informed that the gent in the natty hat next to the bicycle in left foreground is my great-grandfather.

I can’t for the life of me identify the aircraft. Any assistance would be most welcome.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/gw4frx/Aircraft.jpg

[treadigraph]

The lower wing mounting is similar to the Bristol Fighter, wonder if there is a relationship there?

[MReyn24050]

More likely to be the Handley Page G/100
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/Untitled-2_zpsjhp0jor2.jpg

[treadigraph]

Think you have got it there! :ok:

[ACW599]

Yes, that looks very like it. There's a write-up on Wiki together with a picture that looks more or less identical. I'd never heard of an Anzani 10-cylinder two-row radial; must have sounded rather interesting.

Many thanks to those who replied.

[megan]

Details on the engine here ACW.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzani_10-cylinder

[MReyn24050]

Following the recent demise of my uncle we’ve been gradually clearing his house and possessions. My cousin has just sent me the attached, which seems to have been included in a family photograph album. I’m reliably informed that the gent in the natty hat next to the bicycle in left foreground is my great-grandfather.

I can’t for the life of me identify the aircraft. Any assistance would be most welcome.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/gw4frx/Aircraft.jpg

I wonder if your photograph was taken at the Northallerton Carnival in July 1914. See the following;
War at Home: William Ding's life and death as a test pilot - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26015132)

The main photographs show William Rowland Ding in his HP G at the carnival and later the crashed aircraft at Northallerton which he survived. Sadly he was killed in a flying accident, at Oakwood Leeds, on 12 May 1917 when during a series of loops the wing of his BE2c came off.

[treadigraph]

His appetite for flying saw him rapidly clock up 35,000 hours in the cockpit.

Now that has to be a typo! :p

[MReyn24050]

Now that has to be a typo! :p

Agreed, however in this article it states Despite a late start, only taking up professional flying in April 1914, he logged up 35,000 miles in the three months up to the outbreak of war.
William Rowland Ding | Love Oakwood (http://loveoakwood.co.uk/oakwood-history/1224-2/1233-2/)

[ACW599]

>I wonder if your photograph was taken at the Northallerton Carnival in July 1914.<

That's an interesting thought. My great-grandfather lived in a small town called Bedworth, about half-way between Nuneaton and Coventry. I'd be surprised if the picture showed him as far away as Northallerton but will ask my cousin -- who's the de facto family archivist -- whether she knows anything about any relatives in that part of the world.

Thanks to those who came up with references to the Anzani engine. It was intriguing to read that the very first Cessna was powered by one.

[Herod]

he logged up 35,000 miles in the three months up to the outbreak of war.

That's some 380+ miles a day, every day. At what, 60 mph? In excess of 6 hours every day. Either a very reliable aircraft, or a bit of P51 time.