Project News
Cody Flyer
You can find the latest news on this FAST project on the team's own website - it is on a separate website for convenience at the moment: do not be confused, it IS a major FAST project.
What will it look like?
The picture shows a model of the British Army Aeroplane No:1A
that was the first aircraft to fly in the UK – piloted by Mr
Cody – on October
16th 1908.
We believe the model was made by the RAE Apprentices around 1964 and
was made of brass/copper.
100th Anniversary
Just Four Months To Go!
The project team are on schedule with the building of the replica. Equally importantly the plans for the display of the model in the Museum grounds are well in hand too.
Sorry, no photos yet - even the keen photographers are finding it hard to take good photos in the construction shed.
99th Anniversary
There was already plenty to show in time for the 99th anniversary of Cody's first powered flight (October 16th). By taking an engineering approach to filling the gaps in the knowledge of how Cody built his aeroplane, the team have made some significant discoveries. The team will be posting more on this on their website soon.The press release on the launch:
FAST has launched a project to build a full-size replica of British Army Aeroplane No1A, the aircraft in which Samuel Franklin Cody made the first successful powered flight in Great Britain, at Farnborough on 16th October 1908.
The project is aimed at becoming the focus for centenary celebrations of this important historical event in 2008, and will also include a unique educational aspect bringing together organisations which will be offered the opportunity to participate. The project has already received enthusiastic support from Rushmoor Borough Council and local MP, Gerald Howarth, and a major partnering and fund-raising effort will be launched.
The non-flying replica will be built full size, and with a 52ft wingspan will be impressively large. Designed to look as authentic as possible in appearance, using representative materials, including some original Cody bamboo, it will be unique as after the first flight, the actual aircraft crashed and its design was subsequently modified. The design chosen by FAST will be based on detailed plans researched by local historian and Cody expert, Jean Roberts, and drawn by John Roberts, depicting the configuration as flown on 16th October 1908. It is intended to allow the public to see progress on the replica in the FAST Museum, on Farnborough Road, when the components begin to take shape. It is hoped that a public preview might be possible in time for the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow.
The project team is led by FAST member David Wilson, who before retirement was responsible in MOD for Eurofighter. He is one of many team members who are also members of the Farnborough Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Members of the project team have extensive aeronautical knowledge and skills, many being ex-RAE specialists, and some are employed at QinetiQ and other aerospace organisations. Work has already started on the preparation of lists of materials and components needed, and detailed drawings and patterns. All work is on an unpaid voluntary basis though some components are expected to be bought in or donated by partner companies.
Education
Exciting re-use of R52
One of the key pieces of the FAST strategy is education. An exciting project already in planning will bring a "hands-on" science education centre. The target group is school students at the stage of making their mind up about A-levels, particularly those not yet fully convinced about doing science subjects.
The Trustees have plans to reactivate a historic wind tunnel in the refurbished R52 structure as part of this ambitious educational project.
Trenchard House
There are initiatives under way to improve the facilities both for the visiting public and for the staff of FAST. The Museum Shop is having a make-over with new display cabinets and a carpet in FAST colours.
Behind the scenes: for the first time the Trustees have their own office with enough space for filing, also the catering kitchen is steadily being refitted with fridges, microwaves, crockery etc. and much of it by generous donations from FAST members
Display Aircraft
There is project in planning which will be very visible. Plans are being drawn up to repaint the aircraft on display. There are exciting possibilities to choose historically fitting colour schemes, possibly bringing some of the aircraft back to the colours in which they originally flew.
There will be more details soon. There is much knowledge and many skills among the FAST members and look forward to a truly professional result.
Registered Charity 1040199
http://www.farnboroughairsciences.org.uk
Version: 1.01 date: 26 April 2007