In 1903 Alliott Verdon Roe started to build a man carrying version of his successful model, in the hope of winning £2,500 offered by the management of Brooklands to the first aviator who flew round the track before the end of 1907.
It was soon clear that the little 9 h.p. J.A.P. engine of his biplane was powerful enough only for taxying, so he hired a 24 h.p. Antoinette.
On June 8th, 1908, the new engine enabled him to claim later that he had made the first aeroplane flight by an Englishman in England. Roe’s achievements were too late to win the £2,500.
When claims for the distinction of making the first British powered aeroplane flight were considered officially by the Royal Aero Club 21 years later, it was decided that his early efforts were only hops and not proper sustained flights; the committee accepted the claim of Moore Brabazon who, in May, 1909, flew a distance of 500 yards in his Voisin.
Engine: 1 x 24hp Antoinette
Wingspan: 9.14 m / 30 ft 0 in
Length: 7.01 m / 23 ft 0 in
Height: 2.1 m / 7 ft 2 in
Take-off weight: 295 kg / 650 lb
Empty weight: 159 kg / 351 lb
Seats: 1
All Aero 