In April 1911 a Voisin biplane, came to Farnborough ostensibly for repair. Reconstructed from the crashed Duke of Westminster’s Voisin pusher biplane, it emerged as the B.E.1 (Bleriot Experimental No.1) tractor biplane, designed by F. M. Green and de Havilland.
The BE.1 first flew on New Year’s Day 1912.
The B.E.1 was recipient of the first official airworthiness certificate awarded in the UK.
Engine: 1 x 60-h.p. Wolseley, later 60-h.p Renault
Wingspan: upper-11.79 m / 39 ft 8 in, lower-34’11.5″
Length: 9.02 m / 30 ft 7 in
Weight all-up: 1700 lb
Max. speed: 95 km/h / 59 mph
Seats: 2
All Aero 