Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
The Demoiselle was a great design for it's age. Since aircraft development in the US stalled due to the legal wrangling between Curtiss and the Wright Brothers, it was for Europe to take the lead. Santos Dumont's design introduced the configuration and stability features that we know take for granted and led to a stable and very flyable machine, unlike the Wright brother's. Instead of attempting to capitalise on his creation, Santo Dumont made the plans available for anyone to copy publishing the design in the July 1910 edition of 'Popular Mechanics'. Many were built and as the plans were available in the 1960s, it was an obvious choice for the movie.
The plans are still available and more have been built since. I have a notion that I would like to build one. A Rotax 912 would be an ideal powerplant.
The plans are still available and more have been built since. I have a notion that I would like to build one. A Rotax 912 would be an ideal powerplant.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
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Looks a delightful little machine doesn't it?
Three aircraft my dream hangar would include are the Demoiselle, Turbulent and Fournier RF-4...
I thought Jean-Pierre Cassall won the best prize in the film!
Three aircraft my dream hangar would include are the Demoiselle, Turbulent and Fournier RF-4...
I thought Jean-Pierre Cassall won the best prize in the film!
The plans are still available and more have been built since. I have a notion that I would like to build one. A Rotax 912 would be an ideal powerplant.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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George Miles at the controls of the Boxkiteboxkite george.jpg on its maiden flight
May have told this before, but it is relevant. Waiting at Royan for the Gironde ferry a few years back, fell into conversation with driver of the car behind me. On my way to A RAFA event so he asked me if I had ever flown in a Avro aircraft. I said that as a 13 year old air cadet I had flown in Anson, and enquired why he asked. "Aah," he said, "my Grandfather was A V Roe".
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Flight International 28 January 1978
Looking for something else, I came across this: https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarch...0-%200151.html
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cooper City, Florida
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Looking for something else, I came across this: https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarch...0-%200151.html
I was sorry to hear from son Tony that he had closed up shop, end of an era.
