The Seddon Mayfly was a tandem biplane of unusual construction. It was designed by Royal Navy Lieutenant John W. Seddon and A. G. Hackett[1] and built by Accles & Pollock. When built it was the largest aeroplane in the world,[2] but it failed to fly when tested.
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.[3] 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 2,000 ft (610 m) of steel was used in its construction [2] 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.
Side view of the Seddon Mayfly circa 1908
It was powered by a pair of 65 hp (48 kW) 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.[4]
It was tested at the Midland Aero Club grounds at Dunstall Park near Wolverhampton[5] but damaged an axle[6] and failed to leave the ground. It was eventually taken apart by souvenir hunters.
^"BRITISH NOTES OF THE WEEK : The Seddon Aeroplane". Flight. II No.37 (89): 733. 10 September 1910.
Bibliography
Lewis, P., British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam, 1962
Winchester, Jim. The World's Worst Aircraft. United States, NY: Metro Books, 2005. ISBN0-7607-6742-4
May 03, 2024
seddon, mayfly, tandem, biplane, unusual, construction, designed, royal, navy, lieutenant, john, seddon, hackett, built, accles, pollock, when, built, largest, aeroplane, world, failed, when, tested, role, experimental, aircraft, manufacturer, accles, pollock,. The Seddon Mayfly was a tandem biplane of unusual construction It was designed by Royal Navy Lieutenant John W Seddon and A G Hackett 1 and built by Accles amp Pollock When built it was the largest aeroplane in the world 2 but it failed to fly when tested Seddon Mayfly Role Experimental aircraft Manufacturer Accles amp Pollock Oldbury Designer Lieutenant John Wilfred Seddon A G Hackett Number built 1Design and development editDesign 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 3 It was built in Oldbury by Accles amp Pollock a company who specialised in the manufacture of steel tubing and its structure made extensive use of intersecting pairs of steel hoops over 2 000 ft 610 m of steel was used in its construction 2 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 nbsp Side view of the Seddon Mayfly circa 1908 It was powered by a pair of 65 hp 48 kW 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 4 It was tested at the Midland Aero Club grounds at Dunstall Park near Wolverhampton 5 but damaged an axle 6 and failed to leave the ground It was eventually taken apart by souvenir hunters Specifications editData from citation needed General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 5 passengers Length 50 ft 15 m approx Wingspan 50 ft 15 m approx Wing area 1 000 sq ft 93 m2 7 Gross weight 2 600 lb 1 179 kg Powerplant 2 NEC 6 cylinder water cooled 2 stroke in line piston engine 65 hp 48 kW each Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellers PerformanceReferences edit The Seddon AeroplaneFlight 10 September 1910 p 734 a b Lewis 1962 p 432 Dunstall Park Flight 5 November 1910 p 908 Aerial PropellersFlight 15 January 1910 Dunstall park Flight 5 November 1910 Dunstall Park Flight 19 November 1910 BRITISH NOTES OF THE WEEK The Seddon Aeroplane Flight II No 37 89 733 10 September 1910 Bibliography 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seddon Mayfly amp oldid 1187262443, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
