The Humphreys Biplane, aka the Humphreys Waterplane, aka the Wivenhoe Flyer was designed by Jack Humphreys, built by a firm of shipwrights called Forrestt and Co. and launched on the River Colne, which runs past Wivenhoe in Essex. It was tested in 1909, but the efforts to start up the engine caused the machine to rock so much that water entered the coracle-type hull – and the machine, with Humphreys on board, sank. Salvaged, further tests took place, but the craft was never able to exceed 12 knots, and never left the water.

The fifth aircraft produced by Humber was a British version of a biplane designed by Frenchman Roger Sommer, and derived essentially from the Farman III of 1909.

Two Roger Sommer biplanes were completed towards the end of 1910. One of the latter carried the first official air mail in India. This event was part of the Universal Postal Exhibition held in Allahabad in India during February 1911. During the exposition, the French pilot Henri Pecquet, on February 18, flew across the Jumna river from Allahabad to Naini Junction, in all some 8km / 5 mi with 6500 letters. Four days later, a ‘regular’ service for the duration of the exhibition was opened by Pecquet and Captain Walter G Windham, the aircraft that they used again being the Humber-Sommer biplane.

Engine: Humber 4-cyl, 50 hp
Wingspan: 13.92 m / 45 ft 8 in
Wing area: 47 sq.m / 505 sq.ft
Length: 12.19 m / 40 ft
Payload: 91 kg / 200 lb
Max speed: 56 kph / 35 mph
Seats: 2