Sir Arthur Murray LONGMORE

stevedrew · 30 November 2006, 03:34 AM

I am trying to discover whether A M Longmore's various exploits were the first ever...specifically:
AML was the first person to fly a seaplane to land on water (Medway river in Sheerness Harbour), flying a Short biplane (S27) fitted with torpedo shaped airbags fitted to the undercarriage skids. This was in November 1911. Can anyone tell me whether this was the first in England? Was it the first ever instance in the world? What was the exact date?
With LCDR Samson, AML also flew a Short Biplane fitted with airbags off a runway structure erected above the foregun turret of HMS AFRICA whilst at anchor in Sheerness Harbour sometime in Jan 1912. Was this the first takeoff from a ship (or was that Eugene Ely?). Was this the first takeoff from an improvised runway (as opposed to a flat top specialised aircraft carrier? Who was the first, Samson or Longmore? What was the S/No of the machine and the exact date?
AML also flew from HMS HIBERNIA from a similar structure whilst she was steaming at 15 knots. Was this the first whilst in motion? Date? Machine? S/No?
In Jan 1912, AML flew a single float monoplane fitted with airbags on the wingtips (Mr Wakefield's machine) off the water at Lake Windermere. Was this the first? What type of machine and what serial number? What was the exact date?

I know that's a lot in one string, but all related. If you can answer any or all of these for me, I'll be very grateful.

Thanks in advance.
Steve Drew

austin08 · 30 November 2006, 02:16 PM

Hey Steve,
Commander Oliver Swann took off in an Avro fitted with floats & succeeded in becoming airborne from water & presumably alighting again on 18/11/11. Raleigh claims Swann as the first in England to achieve this feat which sounds as though this had been achieved elsewhere.

stevedrew · 7 December 2006, 11:24 PM

Well, it seems that's a difficult one. Can anyone point me to where I can find this information? Book references, etc?

Steve

baclightning · 8 December 2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevedrew

AML also flew from HMS HIBERNIA from a similar structure whilst she was steaming at 15 knots. Was this the first whilst in motion? Date? Machine? S/No?

This description of a May 1912 naval review from R. Dallas Brett's History of British Aviation 1908-1914 sounds very much like the flight you describe, but says that Samson was the one making it, and that Longmore was there, but flying a different aircraft: