Museum of Science and Industry

The first attempt to fly a replica Triplane – the fragile machine built by Salford-born Alliott Verdon Roe for the first all-British flight in 1909 – is expected to go ahead this month (weather permitting) at Woodvale airport, near Formby. The fragile three-winged aeroplane has been recreated by volunteers at MOSI to celebrate 100 years since Roe's tentative flight, of just 900 feet (30.48 m). Eric Verdon-Roe, the grandson of A.V.Roe, has sponsored the building of the Triplane.  

The replica aeroplane is now being prepared for its first flight trials after appearing for celebrations last weekend at Walthamstow Marshes, in Leyton, London - the location that Roe flew the original Triplane. In the next two weeks - once the weather conditions are right - the pilot will attempt to fly the plane.

The replica has been painstakingly built over three years by the Roe Heritage Group, who joined MOSI as volunteers to use their workspace. Most of the team are former aeronautical engineers from the former Avro factory at Woodford (now part of BAE Systems) in Manchester. They carried out careful research about the materials and techniques which Roe used, to build it as closely as possible to his original design. Despite this, there are no guarantees that this replica will fly. Roe’s model itself only just flew, and weather, slight changes in design and luck will all affect its chances of flight.

Pilot George Ellis said: “It is a great privilege to be asked to be the pilot for this beautiful replica of such an important historic British flying machine.  Old aeroplanes are a huge challenge to fly. In the early years of aviation they were often unstable and had poor controls.  In gusting winds they could be uncontrollable.  To add to the difficulties, this machine has an engine of very low power.  It will be a major achievement if the Triplane gets airborne for even a short hop.”

Eric Verdon-Roe said: “The replica is a wonderfully faithful creation of my grandfather’s Triplane including the period JAP engine. It has been a pleasure working with such a talented team and it would be wonderful for A.V. Roe’s Triplane to fly almost a century to the day after Alliott flew the original. Recently the Royal Aeronautical Society gave the team a Centenary Heritage Award - an honour the team richly deserve.”

Nick Forder, transport curator said: “The MOSI team has worked tirelessly in recent months to recreate the Triplane, so we are all very excited to see whether it can actually fly. The original flew, so there’s every chance that this one will too. The replica is slightly heavier and stronger than the original, but Roe didn’t need to worry about health and safety! Roe’s flight put this Salford man in the forefront of British aviation, and less than six months later he set up his first factory, in Manchester. Roe’s company, Avro, is still here today as part of BAE Systems.”

A.V. Roe, who was from Patricroft, in West Manchester, went down in British aviation history on 23 July 1909 when he managed to fly his fragile three-winged Triplane, 900 feet (30.48 m) at an average 20 feet (6.096 m) off the ground. The original aeroplane weighed just 320 pounds (145 kg), without its nine horse power JAP motorcycle engine. Its three pairs of wooden wings, covered in cotton-backed oiled paper, and bicycle wheels for landing, meant the contraption was light, and had just enough lift to get off the ground.

The replica Triplane weighs around 60 pounds (27 kg) more than the original, without pilot or fuel, and generates 11 horsepower from a 1912 JAP engine. The team have hand-made a wooden frame from spruce, ash and birch, using modern heat shrink fabric for the wings.

MOSI has one of the most significant collections of aeroplanes in Britain, including several models built by the Manchester Avro factories.

Due to changeable weather conditions and tests on the Triplane an exact date cannot be set for the trial flight. Media will be updated regularly on an expected date for the first trial flight. If you are interested in attending a media launch of the Triplane trials, or for more information or photos please contact Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647.

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