avion ancien
The accidental peasant!
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On another forum (http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=16410.0), there is an interesting topic concerning Worthing resident George Clout's Air-ship of 1904. It comprises mainly an article which appeared in the Worthing Gazette of 3 August 1904. The article includes what appears to be a photograph of a model of the projected air-ship (although the article describes the subject of the photograph as 'his serial machine'). It's of poor quality but it's reproduced below. The article elaborates upon the photograph of George Clout's air-ship in the following terms:
'From the photograph it will be seen that above the car are two wings, or aerial planes, measuring thirty feet from tip to tip; and these revolve above the operator’s head, and immediately over the petrol motor which supplies the motor power. These are designed to lift the car from the ground and sustain it in the air. There are two propellers driven by the same motor, and one of these is attached to each wing, their purpose being to drive the machine in a horizontal direction; but it can be propelled forward independently of these by altering the balance of the car. The angle of the wings can be regulated while flying, at the operator's wish, to meet the atmospherical conditions. Affixed to the rear of the car is a tail for steering the machine in any direction. By a simple contrivance the frame of the car can be enveloped in descending, thus converting it into a parachute some thirteen feet in diameter, a provision the value of which will, in case of derangement of the mechanism, be immediately recognised.'
The air-ship appears to have been some form of helicopter. Mr Clout said that the projected full scale air-ship was to have a framework composed of light steel tubing and wood and when fully equipped would weigh about 350 lb. Mr Clout goes on to say that by the use of aluminium or some other light metal the weight could probably be reduced by one-half and also greater rigidity would be imparted to the frame.
It is said that the air-ship was the result of thirteen or fourteen years' study of the problems of aerial navigation on the part of Mr Clout (whose daytime job was that of a plasterer). Mr Clout also said that during his prolonged experiments he had become acquainted with many and varied designs for airships, but he had seen nothing yet that promises success. He added that he had a quiet confidence in his own invention, which led him to put forward its manifest claims in the hope that it would enable him to continue his investigations into the mysteries of flight.
It seems that the Worthing Gazette published another article concerning Mr Clout's air-ship a year before that extracted above but I haven't seen that article.
There is not much on the internet concerning Mr Clout's air-ship. The little that there is comprises http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft29531.htm, https://helicoptermaintenancemagazine.com/article/dinosaurs-and-giant-butterflies-1493-–-1907-legacy-leonardo-davinci and https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/clout-helicopter and a marginally better photograph of it. Does anyone else know anything more about Mr Clout's air-ship project?
It seems certain that this was never more than a project, and its only tangible evidence was the model, as within two years George Clout was dead. In November 1905 he travelled to Montreal and from there to New York. It was en route from there to the UK that he died and was buried at sea in May 1906.
'From the photograph it will be seen that above the car are two wings, or aerial planes, measuring thirty feet from tip to tip; and these revolve above the operator’s head, and immediately over the petrol motor which supplies the motor power. These are designed to lift the car from the ground and sustain it in the air. There are two propellers driven by the same motor, and one of these is attached to each wing, their purpose being to drive the machine in a horizontal direction; but it can be propelled forward independently of these by altering the balance of the car. The angle of the wings can be regulated while flying, at the operator's wish, to meet the atmospherical conditions. Affixed to the rear of the car is a tail for steering the machine in any direction. By a simple contrivance the frame of the car can be enveloped in descending, thus converting it into a parachute some thirteen feet in diameter, a provision the value of which will, in case of derangement of the mechanism, be immediately recognised.'
The air-ship appears to have been some form of helicopter. Mr Clout said that the projected full scale air-ship was to have a framework composed of light steel tubing and wood and when fully equipped would weigh about 350 lb. Mr Clout goes on to say that by the use of aluminium or some other light metal the weight could probably be reduced by one-half and also greater rigidity would be imparted to the frame.
It is said that the air-ship was the result of thirteen or fourteen years' study of the problems of aerial navigation on the part of Mr Clout (whose daytime job was that of a plasterer). Mr Clout also said that during his prolonged experiments he had become acquainted with many and varied designs for airships, but he had seen nothing yet that promises success. He added that he had a quiet confidence in his own invention, which led him to put forward its manifest claims in the hope that it would enable him to continue his investigations into the mysteries of flight.
It seems that the Worthing Gazette published another article concerning Mr Clout's air-ship a year before that extracted above but I haven't seen that article.
There is not much on the internet concerning Mr Clout's air-ship. The little that there is comprises http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft29531.htm, https://helicoptermaintenancemagazine.com/article/dinosaurs-and-giant-butterflies-1493-–-1907-legacy-leonardo-davinci and https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/clout-helicopter and a marginally better photograph of it. Does anyone else know anything more about Mr Clout's air-ship project?
It seems certain that this was never more than a project, and its only tangible evidence was the model, as within two years George Clout was dead. In November 1905 he travelled to Montreal and from there to New York. It was en route from there to the UK that he died and was buried at sea in May 1906.
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