The Pioneers : An Anthology : The 'One Offs'

The 'One Off Wonders'

Images of those who dreamed, built and flew? during the first decade of powered flight only, in most cases, to disappear from the history books - until now that is !

As with the aviators, theirs was and this definitely is a work in progress

Last Updated August 16, 2006

"Now I'm sure it said 1:10 scale !"

Aviator J. E. Mair's biplane that he built in his backyard at 3106 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Source: Chicago Historical Society for the Chicago Daily News of Chicago, Illinois, USA. American Memories section titled Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933 : Contributed by Nancy Mess, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

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Aimé-Salmson, 1909

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Albessard

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Albessard (detail)

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Albessard

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Arondel

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Auffin-Ordt

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Auffin-Ordt

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Autostable

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A.V.I.A, 1909

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A.V.I.A Vedette, 1909

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A.V.I.A, 1910

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A.V.I.A, 1910

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A.V.I.A, 1910

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Badaire Concours Securité

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Balassanian de Malawas

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Balsan, 1911

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Barillon

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Barillon

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Barillon

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Bartlett, Ornithopter, 1911

Bastier

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Bataille, 1911

César Battaille, b.1882, in Basècle, developed engineering and artistic skills at an early age and in 1909, following a visit to an 'Aviation Week' at nearby Tournai, set himself on a course of study and construction which culminated in his triplane of 1911. The first flight took place on 16th August 1911 and between 1911 and 1914, the machine was tested, updated and flown by César Battaille and the French pilot Jean Chassagne. After WWI, César Battaille took to sculpture and concentrated on the technical management of his family's factory. The Bataille Triplane is now housed in the Brussels Royal Armed Forces Museum.

Bathiat Sanchez

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Belin fils

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Bell, Cygnet 1, 1907

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Alexander Graham Bell's 'Cygnet 1', consisted of 3393 tetra cells covered with 184 square meters of silk. After being launched from a raft towed behind the steamer 'Blue Hill and carrying Lt. Thomas Selfridge, the Cygnet 1 achieved flight but was destroyed during landing and retrieval

Berger, 1913

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Berthaud

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Bertin

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Bertin

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Bertrand, 1910

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Bertrand, 1910

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Bertrand, 1910

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Bertrand, 1910

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Besson, 1912

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Besson, 1912

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Blackburn AD 'Sparrow'

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In response to a 1915 Admiralty Directive, (AD) four Sparrow prototypes were built. Though structurally conventional, with a wire-braced, fabric-covered wooden airframe, their appearance was markedly unconventional. Built using commercial materials which were more readily available than some of the special steels and other materials required for most contemporary Aircraft, the pusher engine with its high mounted nacelle gave the pilot a good field of view. This view shows No. 1536, one of the two Blackburn-built Aircraft, after delivery to the R.N.A.S. aerodrome at Chingford.

Blanc

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Blanc

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