Roe IV Triplane, 1910

 

 Also known as an Avro Triplane, as the name indicates this is the fourth type of triplane built by Alliott Verdon Roe of the AV Roe and Company aircraft manufacturers, which later became known as the shorter Avro. Only one example was built, and it was used as a training aircraft at Brooklands, the famous Edwardian motor racing circuit which also had an aerodrome inside the track. As a trainer, it unsurprisingly had several accidents, but as these early aircraft were relatively slow they were easily repaired and was not uncommon. At least twice it crashed into the infamous Brooklands sewage farm, not particularly pleasant for the pilot or any rescuers. The original did not survive to preservation, but this is an airworthy replica built for the superb 1965 film 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines' in which it is one of the main aircraft stars, unfortunately meeting a very comedic demise involving a train and a tunnel! Fortunately more than one replica was built, and this surviving replica still flies at the Shuttleworth Collection when the weather permits at their frequent airshows. For photos of the aircraft airborne, visit the blog in two days time