Early Aeromodelling History/A
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History of the South African Model Aircraft Association Early beginnings, to 1960 Early beginnings Through the ages, it was recorded that other pioneers built model aircraft to prove their aerodynamic theories. To understand the current situation of the SAMAA, it is Furthermore, many ancient cultures made objects that flew, necessary to find out when and how aeromodelling started. eg. kites, and boomerangs. Although this is not a definitive history of aeromodelling and the connection to the developments in South Africa, it is an In the early part of the 19th century, William Samuel Henson attempt to describe the major events, activities, and time- (1812 - 1888), an English inventor and aviation engineer lines, and where possible, to show photographs. It is who later worked in collaboration with John Stringfellow intended to be a live document, and it will be reviewed from (1799 - 1883), was experimenting with model gliders and time-to-time, as more information becomes available. light steam engines. Members and interested parties wishing to contribute to this historical account, are requested to communicate with the When Henson and Stringfellow joined forces in 1843, much SAMAA General Manager. progress was made, and from examples of their work, which may be seen in the Science Museum in London, it is A vital part of the functions of the SAMAA, is to preserve the interesting to note that their models show surprisingly history of aeromodelling, and that of the Association. The modern tendencies. In 1848 Stringfellow built a model Alphonse Penaud’s rubber-powered Planophore. SAMAA does not yet have a permanent museum, or a monoplane with a small steam engine as its motive power, was for a distance of 42 metres. He also made model library, where memorabilia, manuscripts, equipment, and flights in excess of 40 metres were attained with it. helicopters, one of which is said to have hovered for 26 historic aircraft, and magazines may be housed for seconds. With his models as basis, he went on to build full members to access and enjoy. In the meantime, it is sized aircraft with many advanced features, but was unable prudent to give credit to those who have donated material to to get any support for his project. the SAMAAs History Preservation Project, through this website. Many of the articles and items are in the SAMAA Modern aeromodelling began more than 100 years ago, as office, and members are free to ask to see any of the pioneers experimented with heavier-than-air designs to donated material. better understand the principles of flight and aeroplane design, so that they could build aeroplanes that could carry Historical documentation proves that aeromodelling people. So, the first models were not controlled in any way activities go back many centuries, with the experiments of after they were launched. These were the first 'free-flight' Italian painter, geologist, engineer Leonardo da Vinci. models. The history of aeromodelling is closely linked with the Henson and Stringfellow’s model aeroplane (ca.1843 - 1848) history of aviation. Early aviation experimenters often tested their ideas with models, rather than risking their lives In 1871, a young Frenchman, Alphonse Penaud, built and and fortunes with full-sized aircraft. At the start of the 20th flew his famous Planophore, the first truly successful century, Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe, founder of the aircraft automatically stable flying model. The Planophore was a company AV Roe & Co Ltd, devoted a lot of time to the rubber-powered pusher model, and his best-recorded flight construction of model aircraft, from which he derived Leonardo da Vinci’s experiments with flying machines is well documented. Early beginnings, to 1960 valuable experience. It is recorded that Mr Roe competed in To enliven his talk, he took four boys with him from the permit comparisons to be made; and to verify evidence and a model aeroplane event at the Crystal Palace in 1906. Chicago Model Club. They flew their rubber-powered thus ensure that record-holders have undisputed claims to model airplanes out over the audience. The last model that their titles.” they demonstrated, was flying boat that took-off from a big meat platter filled with water that had been placed on the They also specified that each national member should speaker's table, and the model flew the length of the room. retain full and autonomous control over its own affairs. www.fai.org/about/ In the short 12-year period after the Wright brothers had their success with powered flight at Kitty Hawk, an The Aero Club of America was formed in the summer of established model aircraft club had entertained the 1905 by a group of automobile enthusiasts interested in prestigious Society of Automotive Engineers. [from Frank mankind’s future in the air. The club was patterned after the Zaic, Model Airplanes and the American Boy Northridge, Aero-Club de France, with the objective of promoting the CA: Model Aeronautic Publications, 1982, 158]. development of aerial navigation. [Tom Crouch, The Bishop’s Boys, WW Norton N.Y 312]. During the 1920s a model design called a Twin Pusher was popular. It had an A-frame fuselage, and rubber bands The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) traces its roots powered its twin propellers. For more on the Twin Pusher back to 1905, when the Aero Club of America was founded. see home.att.net/~dannysoar/home.htm The NAA was incorporated in 1922 and was the first to issue pilot licenses. Original members include famous aviators Wilbur and Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmie Doolittle, and many others of note. www.naa- When Milton Wright (bishop of the United Brethren church) usa.org/website and click welcome. bought his sons Orville and Wilbur a small toy flying machine, the boys were obviously intrigued. However, their Model aircraft building and flying as a sport and pastime attempts to duplicate it with larger models were entirely became increasingly popular preceding the First World unsuccessful. Orville admitted that it was their first thinking War. The models showed little resemblance to full-size about anything to do with flying machines. By the way, the aircraft, since they usually were of the A-frame construction toy was one of Alphonse Penaud's helicopters. for the fuselage, providing a structure to mount the wing and stabiliser. The motive power was usually two skeins of The public perception that all model aircraft are toys, has rubber strip, each driving a propeller when unwinding. always been a problem. The late head of the Smithsonian Institution, Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley's 1901 gas- During the early and formative years of aviation, various South African beginnings powered model weighed a hefty 26 kilograms. He was organisations, and alliances of these organisations with South African aeromodelling goes back to the 19th century, discouraged from flying it because some small-minded industry, served to educate and represent their members. with recorded history mentioning aviation pioneers like men, whose names are fittingly lost to us, chided the head John Goodman Household and Gordon Household, flying a of so illustrious an institution for fussing with toy aircraft. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) was hang glider from a cliff near Karkloof in Natal. The brothers [1982 Model Airplane News Annual, 42] . founded in 1905. Representatives from France, Germany, had built models prior to their manned flights. and Belgium proposed a federation to the Olympic In 1908, an enterprising 15-year-old boy designed a Congress of Brussels. The proposal was well received and In the early part of the 20th century, aviation pioneers like rubber-powered model, patented it, and registered its an international conference was convened in Paris. Cecil Paterson, Alfred Raison, and Cecil Bredell were of the trademark “Ayrel.” It was a huge success, firmly Representatives of Belgium, France, Germany, Great first pilots of powered aircraft, always preceding their efforts establishing him in the design and manufacturing business. Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States with model-building and flying, chiefly to test their theories. His name was Raymond Loewy, the French-born famed agreed to a package of statutes. industrial designer. Dedicated building and flying of model aircraft in South The aims of the FAI were, and are, to "methodically catalog Africa, as a pastime, was first mentioned in 1913, when In 1915, the Detroit Society of Automotive Engineers asked the best performances achieved, so that they be known to aeromodelling enthusiasts in Cape Town built mainly the A- William B. Stout to speak on aviation at its annual banquet. everybody; to identify their distinguishing features so as to frame pusher-types, and flew them on occasion. Early beginnings, to 1960 As early as 1928, Mr Alan Morris was building model In 1934, a prominent aeromodeller in the Johannesburg In December of 1935, the Rand Daily Mail sponsored the aircraft from split bamboo and cardboard, and flying the area, Mr Alf Yardley, opened the famous Yardley's Hobby first model aeroplane contest in Johannesburg, and there models in the East London area. His first successful Shop in Kerk Street, Johannesburg, and supplied local were 15 entries. The winning flight of a rubber-powered rubber-powered model was a British design, the Warneford enthusiasts with the much-needed equipment and model was 19 seconds. In the early part of 1936, Robert Demon, built from spruce and oiled silk. materials to build their marvellous aircraft. It also had a and Ludwig Koch built and flew several slope soaring sports good section, but this probably had no appeal to the gliders. Ludwig was the first to suggest the formation of a aeromodellers! club in East London. In July, the Natal Model Aeroplane Society was founded, details of the founder members unknown.