A remarkable centenary celebration
Date Published: 24/06/2009
AV Roe with his Triplane on Walthamstow Marshes 1909
On Sunday 12 July history will repeat itself on Walthamstow Marshes as Eric Verdon- Roe, Grandson of flight pioneer Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe unveils an exact fully flyable replica of his grandfather’s Roe I Triplane – the first all British aeroplane, built one hundred years ago.
This event will take place in the exact same spot that A.V. Roe revolutionised British aviation, Roe’s former workshop which he constructed underneath two railway arches on East London’s Walthamstow Marshes, now part of the 26 mile long Lee Valley Regional Park.
The Triplane, built with a British 9hp JAP engine, created history on 13 July 1909 when the short ‘hops’, officially became ‘flights, and by 23 July, it had flown 900ft and A.V. Roe was recognised by the Aero Club as the first Englishman to design, build and fly an all-British aeroplane.
In celebration of this magnificent achievement the replica of the Roe I Triplane has been built by a team of ex-BAe Systems employees with the help of BAe Systems and subsequently the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Every attempt has been made to make the Triplane as original as possible, including obtaining a period JAP engine.
A Centenary Certificate for Heritage Projects has been awarded by The Historical Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society to the Roe Heritage Group for the replica of the Triplane. Constructed in Manchester under the leadership of Mike Taylor and Peter Teagle. Eric Verdon-Roe, the grandson of A.V. Roe who funded the project said:
"I am delighted that the team have won this recognition; their determination to build an exact replica as possible of Alliott's Triplane has been fully vindicated. The quality of their workmanship is superb; everything is designed to workand is as close to period as possible including the JAP engine".
Mike Taylor explained:
"After the celebrations of A.V.Roe's pioneering flight to be held at the Lee Valley Regional Park site, a series of trials will take place at RAF Woodvale, and if all goes well it is hoped that wewill achieve short flights, thus emulating Roe's original achievementwhich was remarkable given the very low power ofhis 9hp engine".
The public are invited to come and celebrate this historic anniversary of British aviation on Walthamstow Marshes on 12 July. Visitors can explore the replica plane and marvel at this magnificent feat of engineering. There will also be a range of aeronautical and early industrial heritage exhibits as well as short presentations from Eric Verdon-Roe, David Rowlands, Past President of The Royal Aeronautical Society and Dr Jim Lewis – a renowned local historian.
Presentations and entry to view the replica plane and exhibits are free of charge. Visitors are encouraged to make a day of it and bring a picnic to enjoy the river and the wildlife and heritage walks around the Marshes, or discover a magical secret garden packed with history at the Waterworks and Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve, a short walk way.
The event is sponsored by BAE Systems Plc and organised and supported by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.