Early Aviation History

Historical black and white images of early aircraft and biplanes, capturing significant moments in aviation development before WWI.

CIRCA 1911 CURTISS PUSHER MODEL D ENGINE AND PROPELLER ARE MOUNTED BEHIND THE PILOT RESTING ON A TRICYCLE WHEEL UNDERCARRIAGE

A Handley-Page bombing plane named "Langley" is seen being prepared for launch in Elizabeth, NJ, in July 1918. This photograph, numbered 62331, was taken by photographer Nunser AU for Western Newspaper Union. It is classified as 017506 for official use only.

09/08/1925. Landing of Al Hoceima. Potez planes in line waiting for orders.

British Aircraft Pre-1914 Hubert Oxley's attempt at taking-off in the Roe IV Triplane down-wind, ended up in the sewage farm at Brooklands

Famous British Airman Out To Break Two New World's Long-Distance Records.Mollison and Scott's machines ready to start from Lympne Aerodrome.Mr. C.W.A. Scott, and Mr. J.A. Mollison, are attempting to break two world's records. Mr. Scott to Australia and Mr. Mollison to the Cape.The Australian record is 9 days, 2 hours 29 mins., and the cape record 5 days 6 hours.The present records are held by Mr. Bulter and Miss Salaman respectively. May 4, 1932. (Photo by Central News).

Photograph captured at the Standard Aircraft Corp. in Elizabeth, N.J., showcasing the manufacturing process of aircraft during World War One. This specific image depicts a side view of the H-3 tractor model. The photograph's purpose is exclusively for official use.

The Aeroplanorama Aviation Museum (1960-1967) established on the site of Schiphol Airport. Model of an autogiro, built by the Spanish aircraft manufacturer Juan de la Cierva y Codorníu (1895-1936).

This image depicts a Standard Scout Plane Type N, also known as N-314, at the School of Military Aeronautics, Langley Field, Hampton, VA. The photo was taken on February 10, 1918 and received by the C.O. of the School of Aerial Photography on June 5, 1918. The photograph is marked as not for publication and was censored by M.I.B. on September 3, 1918.

Mr G Hemel with passenger, Hendon, London, c1910s. Artist: Unknown

Description: Hospital machine. Eil Dur Elan. Location: British Somaliland Date: 1919 dh9, africa

Return of scout plane

Aircraft manufacturing at the Standard Aircraft Corp., Elizabeth, N.J. Captioned as "Kays and Figel-side- port view." This is photo number 27 from the series. Image received from Standard Aircraft Corp. on July 3, 1918. For official use only.

Poll photo collection. KLM Fokker Leeuwerik in Hull. Hull airport. Of the poll and anita for the three-way KLM Fokker F XII 'Leeuwerik' with registration number PH-AFL. August 1934. Great Britain, Hull

Front party of biplane Savary at Paris exhibition 1911.

Phönix C.I Dron, in Rinkaby . Airplane Phönix C.I Dront number 1384 in front of hangars on the airfield in Rinkaby. Two men in front of the aircraft.

Front view of a Caproni plane at the Aviation Experiment Station in Langley Field, Hampton, VA. This photograph, numbered 3432, was taken by the Signal Company and is part of their issued takes. The description indicates that it was taken during an aviation experiment at the station.

James Frederick Cane standing beside plane, 1929, New Zealand, maker unknown. Gift of the family of Captain James F Cane, 2015.

Passengers at Croydon go aboard an Imperial Airways air-liner bound for Paris. Date: 1926

Prince of Wales Flies to Copenhagen:The "Heracles" the giant air liner about to leave Croydon with the Prince on board.The Prince of Wales went by air to Copenhagen where H.R.H. opened the great British Exhibition. November 29, 1932. (Photo by Central News).

Landing of a hunting aircraft. .

Supermarine Seagull V (A2-8) takes of RAAF Base Richmond, as Hawker Demon A1-8 comes into (Note) Composite Photo-unfortunately Demon has been reverse as is evident by back-the-front number *****. May 25, 1936.

NC-4

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War Either the Cody aircraft mark IIE (Omnibus - so named because of its passenger carrying capabilities) written off in amongst some trees after the pilot Lieut. J N Fletcher crashed it whilst coming in to land or the mark III after it hit a tree whilst the pilot Major H D Harvey-Kelly was landing. There are several civilian and army onlookers stood around many of whom have arrived on bicycles. In the case of the IIE Cody was a passenger in the aircraft as he was teaching Fletcher to fly at the time. Cody broke his shin bone as well as being badly bruised and concussed, Fletcher was largely uninjured. Unfortunately Frank Cody was hurt in a cycling accident after seeing the crash and racing home to tell his mother. Father and son arrived at home in ambulances shortly after one another.

Crashed Caproni Ca. 36. Fédèle Azari (Italian, 1895 - 1930)

Germany, August 1922. Gliding in Germany. One of the aviators who, in tests in recent days, have managed to perform surprising flights with motorless airplanes.

Wright Brothers' Military Flyer of 1909. Photograph.

Aerial photograph of Curtiss JN-4 aircraft number C126, taken over open fields and the Bay of Quinte circa 1917.

Sir Herbert Samuel's second visit to Transjordan, etc. Col. Lawrence flying to el-Azrak. 1921, Jordan

A coacher with happy exit, 1909.

Aircraft and Balloons Used by Some of the Air Pioneers Who Were Contemporary With Samuel Franklin Cody. A painting of M Cockburn flying an aircraft along with inset painting of Cockburn himself.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A medium close up of a Native American in traditional dress at the controls of Cody aircraft mark II. The Native American is probably a member of one of the Wild West stage shows that toured this country and Europe. For many years Cody and his family put on Wild West shows featuring trick shooting and horse riding and later on produced two Wild West melodramas that toured the country Successfully for many years. The money that this generated was how Cody partly financed his aeronautical work. The Indian braves were apparently not so brave; when Cody started up the engine of the aircraft they bolted scared by the noise of the powerful engine and ended diving into the nearby Basingstoke canal in their attempts to escape! Cody built this aircraft in 1910; the previous aircraft had been in several crashes and was suffering generally from constant usage. The design of this aircraft followed similar lines to the previous one though the wingspan

Airplane in the air Aerial photography of aircraft Fiat BR-1 in the air.

Seaplane in a hall. .

Editors of Indian Newspapers inspecting a De Havilland 9 at Hendon Aerodrome, October, 1918.

German Aircraft Junkers F 13a at Ilug, 1923 Motivation: German Aircraft Junkers F 13A Civil Register D286 at International Aviation Exhibition, Ilug, in Gothenburg, 1923. Belongs to Old Malmen Collection. GM 982. From Air Force Museum's image archive.

Aircraft - Southern Cross Aviation. November 07, 1952.

Triplanet on an airfield at Malmen, 1910s . Aircraft Triplanet set up on airfield on the airfield on the ore. Front view.

An image of a Sopwith plane at Tours, Indre et Loire, France during World War One. The photograph shows the plane with Radio Set No.75 mounted on its side. Captured on January 20, 1919, this image is part of the collection of Sgt. W.S. Legge, S.C.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Maurice Farman biplane on the ground with a small group of handlers and mechanics.

Body of "America"

An image captured in January 1919 at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, showing a machine wrecked during a forced landing. The photograph was taken by a D. M. A. photographer for official use only and was not intended for publication.

The plane of the Wright brothers. 1903.

Aircraft s 5 after emergency landing on the field of Eastern Ryd's church aircraft's 5 after emergency landing on the field of Eastern Ryd's church.

Vintage photograph. Aeronca Champion Plane on a runway at Bendix Air Terminal

R.A.F. activities. Plane about to leave the ground, Ramleh Aerodrome. 1934, Israel, Ramlah

A diagram from 1908 showing a perspective view of the Wright Brothers' aeroplane. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first flight on December 17th 1903, covering 36 metres in 12 seconds. After five more years of development, they flew publicly for the first time, near Le Mans in France in 1908. Date: January 25th 1908

This photograph (No. 111-SC-26960) taken by photographer Sunber on April 15, 1918, showcases a De Haviland plane with bomb racks under the wings and air motors generating current for heat and light on the landing gear struts. It was taken at the Dayton-Wright Co. plant in Dayton & Moraine City, Ohio, a manufacturer of airplanes during World War I. This image is marked for official use only.

First World War (1914-1918). French three-seated aircraft in photographic mission protected by a Spad. Picture by E. Cournault. Drawing.

Le Bourget, France The return of Costes and Bellonte after their Triomphal Raid Air Paris-New-York, the landing of the plane , (French - Le Bourget , France Le retour de Costes et Bellonte après leur triomphal raid aérien Paris-New-York , l' atterrissage de l' avion). Crowd, aerodrome, plane, air transport, aeronautics, aviator, Transport , Sciences , Techniques, France, Le Bourget, the crowd in front of the aviators

Couple, man and woman are sitting in a plane dummy, 1920s, Germany, Europe

Ledis Germaine and E.P. Cains, Inventor, standing in front of an all steel plane, "Detroit" model, issued by C. Murray-Cains. Symbol Signal Corps photo taken in 1918. (Photograph ID: 111-SC-23000)

Voisin biplane, 1910

Harriman Hydroaeroplane

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Bristol-Prier Gnome-powered two seater monoplane on the ground.

Airliner "Ayanami" Succeeds...Covering 9.230 Kilo-meters, Yokohama Palac-Tansui-Yokohama, the airliner "Ayanami" of the Nippon Koku Yuson Kaisha, succeeded on her first test flight, in the time of 37 hours and 17 minutes, was taken at Yokohama harbour at 3;20 P.M. today, on her return. November 27, 1940. (Photo by The Domie News Photos Service).

A rather fine model aircraft at the seaside - possibly an entry into a Birdman/Flugtag-style event, where daredevils launch improbable flying machines off the end of a pier/jetty/quayside into the sea. Date: circa 1920s

Airplane. Charles Reid (British, 1837 - 1929)

Seville, 02/14/1936. Tablada air base. Arrival in Seville from Camaguey of the Cuban aviator Antonio Menéndez Peláez.

Harry B. Brown

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A medium close up of Cody as passenger in Cody aircraft mark II with a Native American in traditional dress at the controls. The Native American is probably a member of one of the Wild West stage shows that toured this country and Europe. For many years Cody and his family put on Wild West shows featuring trick shooting and horse riding and later on produced two Wild West melodramas that toured the country successfully for many years. The money that this generated was how Cody partly financed his aeronautical work. The Indian braves were apparently not so brave; when Cody started up the engine of the aircraft they bolted scared by the noise of the powerful engine and ended diving into the nearby Basingstoke canal in their attempts to escape! Cody built this aircraft in 1910; the previous aircraft had been in several crashes and was suffering generally from constant usage. The design of this aircraft followed similar lines to the previous o

Image of various types of airplanes used during World War One. The photograph was taken in 1919 and is part of the Photographs of American Military Activities collection. The image carries the symbol AU and the description notes the airplane types. Image number 11768, photographer unknown.

Herbert Samuel at Amman. 1921, Jordan

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Henri Farman pusher biplane on the ground with a pilot sat in the cockpit and a mechanic stood next to it.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War- the work of Samuel Franklin Cody in Airship, Kite and Aircraft Aeronautics 1903 - 1913 Cody Aircraft Mark III passes over Brooklands race track, possibly at the start of the 1911 Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Race.

Front view of a Handley-Page bombing plane built by the Standard Aircraft Corporation in Elizabeth, NJ. The photograph was taken in June 1918 and is labeled for official use only.

1920S Smiling Woman Aviator Turning Float Biplane Propeller Wearing Leather Flying Clothes Goggles And Helmet

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Supermarine Stranraer. Stranraer Mark I, K7295 BN-L, of No. 240 Squadron RAF based at Stranraer, Ayrshire, landing on Loch Ryan.

Mobile Truck Exhibition - Nantes (Electrical Tools). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Clarke glider upside down on the ground. A man is stood next to the glider. The image is rather grainy.

BELGIUM--During weather like this, flying is temporarily suspended. This is one of the Vultee L-5 planes in the Liaison Squadron, commanded by Capt. Fred A. Campbell, 2822 Nebraska Ave., Tampa, Fla., sitting under the heavy, winter snow.

A photograph taken in 1918 showing a Hanriot Dupont H.D.3 C2 aircraft with a Salmson 270 H.P. engine. The aircraft is a two-seater pursuit plane and can reach a speed of 128 miles per hour at 6508 feet. It can climb to 16500 feet in 25 minutes. The crew consists of a pilot and gunner. The aircraft has fixed guns and twin flexible guns. Its endurance is 2 hours and 30 minutes with full consumption. The notes of the photograph indicate its identification number as 020250-0.01.

Orville Wright (1871-1948), flight pioneer, flying a motorless glider aeroplane at Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, U.S.A. Date: November 4th 1911

Airplane with hall.

One Of The Wright Brothers Flying Glider By The Ocean And Spectators On Beach Below Kitty Hawk North Carolina Usa

View of glider flying as a kite, Wright Brothers, (Orville and Wilbur)

Biplane at Wigram, Christchurch., 1920s to 1930s, New Zealand, by Roland Searle.

The 1948 Stinson Flying Station Wagon as a seaplane has a gross weight of 2,500 1bs. which is 100 1bs. Heavier than the landplane. It uses Edo model # 2425 floates. It takes off in 1570 to 1860 feet, depending upon the type of propeller. April 14, 1950. (Photo by Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp.).

An aerial view of Langley Field Aviation Experiment Station in Hampton, Virginia. The photograph shows a Standard Scout Machine - Type M aircraft on the side of the runway. The photo was taken on February 10, 1919, and was released by W.C.D. to Photo Elv. on February 28, 1918.

Avv. Azari Fedele - illeg - Milano. Fédèle Azari (Italian, 1895 - 1930)

Lieutenant Torrey H. Webb, a U.S. army aviator, inaugurates the New York to Boston air mail service on June 11, 1918. During the initial flight, the plane carrying 272 lbs. of mail briefly got stuck in soft earth while landing in Sangus, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. Nobody was injured, and the entire trip took 3 hours and 20 minutes. (Official use only: 19583 89366)

Madrid, 10/2/1919. ABC Air Service. Placing the copies of this newspaper on the airplane that, piloted by Captain Collier (x), and with ABC photographer Zegrí as a passenger, took them to Ciudad Real and Seville.

Poll photo collection. National Aerial Jource Holland. A Koolhoven FK-46 lesson plane nicknamed 'cow or cowbest' because of its docile flight behavior of the National Aerial Jource Holland in Amsterdam Schiphol with instructor and adspirant pilot, standing a meanician and two student pilots. 1933. Amsterdam, Rotterdam

The 'St Louis Robin' refuelling, c1929 (c1937). Artist: Unknown.

Planes in flight aviation meet, Belmont, N.Y.

Aircraft Heinkel HD 24, so-called 4, on the ground. Techniques in work at aircraft Heinkel HD 24, so-called 4, on the ground. Techniques at work at the planet.

Editors of Indian Newspapers inspecting a De Havilland 9 at Hendon Aerodrome, October, 1918.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War An unmanned Clarke glider in flight, note the ropes attached to the wing tips being held by men on the ground. The image is rather blurred.

With the Comte de Lambert, at the controls of one of his biplanes, at a French aviation meeting - possibly at Pau Date: 1909

The 'Oiseau Bleu' piloted by French WW1 air ace Charles Nungesser, with colleague Coli, before their attempt to fly the Atlantic : they will vanish at sea or in Maine. Date: 8 May 1927

Grumman Widgeon N708 and Fishery This is a test. Subjects: Transportation; Aircraft; Amphibious vehicles; Work of the Service; Service Personnel; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.

Front view of a Voisin aeroplane at the Aviation Experiment Station in Hampton, Virginia. The photograph, taken on September 18, 1918, shows the aircraft in clear detail.

Photograph of the 37-ton flying-boat 'Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris' during public trials on the Etang de Biscarosse in the Landes, France. This machine was claimed to be the largest flying-boat then built, with six engines and a design load of eighty passengers. It was designed for service between France, North Africa and South America. Date: 1935

Model plane, 1932. Creator: Unknown.

Airplane No. 5159 at Rich Field, Waco, Texas after a mishap landing during the operations of the Air Service Flying School. Photograph taken on September 20, 1918 and received from D.M.A. Photographer on November 5, 1918. This image is not for publication and is intended for official use only.

Passengers boarding one of the Junkers airliners of South African Airways, c1936 (c1937). Artist: Unknown.

City of Chicago aircraft refueling during the flight that set the world record of flight endurance on June 1930, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, year LVII, n 29, July 20, 1930.

Bayonne-Bierritz, 1910. Opening of the Bayonne-Biarritz airfield. King Edward of England (X) examining a Voisin airplane before beginning flights.

Bi-plane, Wigram gelatin silver negatives, black-and-white negatives

Arrival of the plane with the delegation of Governor A.H. Neijs for a visit to the Leprozerie Pelantoengan, 1931 photograph Arrival of the aircraft of the Royal Dutch-Indian Aviation Company with the delegation of Governor A.H. Neijs for a visit to the Semarang leprosy in Pelantoengan in May 1931. Loose photo in the folder with remembrance photos of the visit offered to Governor A.H. Neijs. Semarang photographic support Pelatoengan

The crazy night's flying board around 1915.fahrmanplan, which came to the fleet flight in 1914. In the bow, speedometer, hexagon with a needle. The faster the plane went, the more the pointer knocked out, 60-70-80 km / hour. The engine was a star engine that spun. Rudder on the pontoon that string on the water was operated with the foot. The planet was imported and the Thulin work parted on a license. The French engine went on castor oil.

of 4