Breguet's pre-1914 Challenge #134

[Aquilius]

Ladies & Gentlemen,

here comes Breguet's pre-1914 Aircraft ID Challenge #134!

I had something different in mind quite a while, but maybe it is not that bad to encourage some other people with something that might be a little bit easier to find. We had a few easy challenges recently, running a couple of days. Let's see how long this will last.

What do we have here? And please tell us a bit about.

The Scoreboard remains:

23.60 Rbailey
18.20 Varese2002
16.80 aerohydro
12.20 Aquilius
8.20 Rod_Filan
8.00 richard B
7.30 matte_kudasai
6.00 Cruze
6.00 Flamingo
6.00 YavorD
5.50 Airarticles
**************
(those above this section must wait 12 hours before answering,
those below - and everyone else - may answer immediately)
**************
3.30 berman
3.00 Lodzermensch
3.00 joegertler
2.00 sobrien
2.00 Doc
1.10 Froggy
1.00 paolomiana
1.00 sodium
0.40 Wind In The Wires
0.20 Willi Von Klugermann
0.20 EricGoedkoop

Subjects of previous Challenges can be found at: Breguet's Pre-1914 Aircraft Challenge

The rules of engagement:

1. The thread title must be "Bréguet's Pre-1914 ID Challenge #......".
2. The score board, link and rules must be copied to the beginning of each thread, so that we know where we are. The score board and the correct answer to the challenge must also be placed at end of each thread.
3. The flying object must have been dreamt up before 1914 (no limit backwards in time ....).
4. There are no limits to the flying object for the pre-1914 series. There is no ruling that it must be flown, or completely built.
5. Machines which exist only as 'paper', that is absolutely no material has been cut to construct it, are excluded from this ID Challenge.
6. The picture / drawing must show as much of the flying object as possible, but views showing the machine 'incomplete' are possible (with discretion).
7. Challenges which depict a machine already earlier presented are disqualified.
8. If there is any doubt as to the eligibility of a flying object for the challenge details should be PM'd to Breguet BEFORE the object is submitted.
9. Once someone has got 5 correct answers under their belt they belong to the ROYALTY. Once they belong to the ROYALTY they must wait 12hrs after the posting of the new challenge before they can post an answer.
10. To be eligible for correct ID an answer must include at least one characteristic of the aircraft that helped in its identification.
11. The first person to ID the challenge correctly gets to post the next challenge. If this can not be done for any reason Breguet himself will post the next challenge.
12. If a ROYALTY gives the correct answer too early, the challenge is over, he gets no point but has to post the next one. In lieu of the fact that the "novices" have in effect been "cheated" of their "exclusive" time that next post should be a relatively easy one. Anyone repeating the correct answer at the right time gets neither a point nor the right to post the next challenge.
13. The final arbitrator in relation to questions about the rules will be Breguet.

Good luck!


Aquilius

[Rod_Filan]

Aeroplane du Capitaine Ferber no.IX

I believe piloted by M. Legagneux in this photo.

...tractor dihedral biplane with triangular wingtip rudders and bicycle gear in tandem.
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Cheers

[Rod_Filan]

Originally Posted by Aquilius

And please tell us a bit about.

• Bamboo construction
• 50 hp Antoinette
• 400 kg total weight

On September 22, 1909 at Boulogne, while preparing for a cross-channel attempt, Capitaine (Louis) Ferdinand Ferber, b.1862, was killed on this machine when after a half-hour flight it overturned after striking a mound during his landing. Ferber ended up under the engine but was successfully extricated from the wreck and appeared to have suffered no ill effects. However, a short while later he complained of pain and was taken to the field's ambulance shed.

'I was foolish,' he told those who were with him there. 'I was flying too low. It was my own fault and it will be a severe lesson to me. I wanted to turn round, and was only five metres from the ground.' A little after this, he got up from the couch on which he had been placed, and almost immediately collapsed, dying five minutes later.

And... looking at the horizon of the challenge photograph, I'd say it was taken at Issy-les-Moulineaux, likely in 1908.
-
Cheers

[Rod_Filan]

This I think is Capitaine Ferber flying the no.IX because the pilot appears to be wearing a typical army chapeau.
-
Cheers

[Varese2002]

I already thought that I was far too late to come up with this one. Ferber was one of the great early French pioneers, who unfortunately came to grief in the midst of his developments. He was a meticulous experimenter, scientific and methodically. He had problems with his aviation work with the French Navy upper brass, who would not allow him to do the risky development and flying.



This interesting picture shows Ferber in Navy uniform in his mostly bamboo plane. Notable are the light construction of the pilot seat and the devices for steering the plane.

Another picture shows Ferber doing propeller tests in a sort of test vehicle.



Cheers

Kees

[richard B]

In "Fliegende Kisten" von Günter Schmitt :

" Ferber IX built by Levavasseur had the designation Antoinette III too "

[Varese2002]

This picture is another beauty, showing Ferber in civilian clothes (and protecting hat) at the bamboo handle bar of his Type IX Biplane. Amazing bamboo construction.



Cheers

Kees

[Aquilius]

Many answers and right at that! Thanks for your input!

This is the Ferber Biplane No.IX also known as Antoinette III.

It was built by Antoinette and later probably renamed by the company to fit in the chronology. I have the note Ferber joined Antoinette as a designer, though wiki tells he became director of the Antoinette company then.

Otherwise apart from the engine I haven't found many mentions of the Gastambide and Levasseur company in connection with this design.

Ferbers known flights in his Aeroplane No.IX (9)

July 22, 1908 : At Brest, Ferber flew 10, 30, 50 and 120m.

July 25, 1908 : Flew 300m.

Sept 05, 1908 : Flew for 2 mins., and on the 19th, flew for 230m.

Sept 19, 1908 : Flew 500m. The machine was renamed the Antoinette III.

June 13, 1909 : At Juvisy in a Voisin, Ferber flew 5 km. in 5 mins. and 30s.

Sept 15, 1909 : At Boulogne, Ferber covered 9.65 km. in 9 mins. in a cross-country flight.

Sept 22, 1909 : At Boulogne, Ferber was killed when his machine overturned in rolling into a ditch preparatory to attempting a cross-channel flight.

More can be found here: The Pioneers : An Anthology : Captain (Louis) Ferdinand Ferber (1862- 1909)


Rod was first with the correct answer, safely after 12 hours.
So he deserves the credit and may bring in a new challenge!

The Scoreboard after challenge #134 - Ferber Biplane No.IX / Antoinette III - is:

23.60 Rbailey
18.20 Varese2002
16.80 aerohydro
12.20 Aquilius
9.20 Rod_Filan Congratulations!
8.00 richard B
7.30 matte_kudasai
6.00 Cruze
6.00 Flamingo
6.00 YavorD
5.50 Airarticles
**************
(those above this section must wait 12 hours before answering,
those below - and everyone else - may answer immediately)
**************
3.30 berman
3.00 Lodzermensch
3.00 joegertler
2.00 sobrien
2.00 Doc
1.10 Froggy
1.00 paolomiana
1.00 sodium
0.40 Wind In The Wires
0.20 Willi Von Klugermann
0.20 EricGoedkoop


Thanks for playing!



Aquilius