Seddon Mayfly
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name =Seddon Mayfly |image =File:Seddon Mayfly top view circa 1908.jpg |caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type =Experimental aircraft |manufacturer =Accles & Pollock, Oldbury |designer =Lieutenant John Wilfred Seddon, A G Hackett |first flight = |introduced = |retired = |status = |primary user = |more users = |produced = |number built =1 |variants with their own articles = }} |
The Seddon Mayfly was a tandem biplane of unusual construction. It was designed by Royal Navy Lieutenant John W. Seddon and A. G. Hackett[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200735.html The Seddon Aeroplane]Flight 10 September 1910, p.734 and built by Accles & Pollock. When built it was the largest aeroplane in the world, but it failed to fly when tested.
Design and development
Design of the Seddon Mayfly began in 1908, with the intention of attempting to win the prize for a flight between Manchester and London given by the Daily Mail. The design was based on a paper model, and Seddon took leave from the Navy to design and build and test the aircraft.[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200910.html Dunstall Park] Flight 5 November 1910, p.908] It was built in Oldbury by Accles & Pollock, a company who specialised in the manufacture of steel tubing, and its structure made extensive use of intersecting pairs of steel hoops: over {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}} of steel was used in its construction Lewis 1962 p.432 The aircraft had two sets of biplane wings, the front pair of greater span than the aft pair. Control surfaces consisted of a forward-mounted biplane elevators and a pair of diamond-shaped rudders mounted between each set of wings. The aircraft was intended to carry five passengers in addition to the pilot.
File:Seddon Mayfly circa 1908 side view.jpg
It was powered by a pair of {{convert|65|hp|kW|abbr=on}} N.E.C. water-cooled engines mounted side by side between the two sets of wings. Each drove a single Beedle type tractor propeller. These were made of sheet aluminium, with the semi-circular blades supported at the ends by attachment to a radial tube.[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200041.html Aerial Propellers]Flight 15 January 1910
It was tested at the Midland Aero Club grounds at Dunstall Park near Wolverhampton[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200909.html Dunstall park] Flight 5 November 1910] but damaged an axle[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200956.html Dunstall Park] Flight 19 November 1910] and failed to leave the ground. It was eventually taken apart by souvenir hunters.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew= 1
|capacity= 5 passengers
|length ft=50
|length in=
|length note=approx.
|span ft=50
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|wing area sqft=1000
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|gross weight lb=2600
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|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=NEC
|eng1 type=6-cylinder water-cooled 2-stroke in-line piston engine
|eng1 hp=65
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propellers
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References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- Lewis, P., British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam, 1962
- Winchester, Jim. The World's Worst Aircraft. United States, NY: Metro Books, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7607-6742-4}}
{{refend}}
Category:1910s British aircraft
Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft