Breguet's Pre-1914 Challenge #215

[Rbailey]

Aguilius has it. While not the first plane designed by a woman (Todd's 1906 machine, for which she did not have a engine),it is the first to fly - at least,in the US. Miss Todd had an interesting career and was well known at the time. She deserves more attention.

The following comes from a 1910 aviation magazine:

"First Aeroplane Built by a Woman.

Early this spring Miss E. L. Todd, who has been
experimenting for a number of years with models,
and organized the Junior Aero Club, had a biplane
built by Wittemann Brothers. Work on this, trials
and alterations have continued all summer, until
a few days ago it was given its first flight, with
Masson. Paulhan's mechanic, as aviator. Both
times it was taken out it flew very well. It was
found the controls were not balanced, and caused
too much exertion in their operation.
The striking features of the Todd machine are:
wings curved from the center outward like a bird's
wings; in soaring, planes quite far apart, which
necessitates heavier struts and increase In weight,
mounted on tall skids, with the result of making
the apparatus set well above the ground. The
spread is easily over 40 ft., with surfaces 6 ft. 6 in.
fore and aft. The front control is a single surface
similar to Captain Baldwin's. In the rear there
is a rigid stabilizing plane, and behind that, hinged
at its rear edge, is a hinged control working in conjunction with the front control. Underneath the
rear plane is a vertical plane. The skids are
of Farman type, with two 28 in. wheels mounted on
an axle. Curtiss-type ailerons are placed between
the main planes, hinged to the front strut. The
engine is an eight cylinder 60 h. p. Rinek, driving
a propeller 7 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. The engine is
mounted on the lower plane. Shoulder braces operate
the ailerons and the balance of the control
is practically Curtiss style."

There is also an interesting article with pictures in the New York Times: A WOMAN INVENTOR WHO PLANS---AND EXPECTS---TO FLY; Miss Todd and The C... - Article Preview - The New York Times


The scoreboard at the end of Challenge #214: The E. Lillian Todd biplane of 1910.

37.20 Rbailey
34.00 aerohydro
31.10 Varese2002
21.50 Aquilius
11.20 richard B
10.70 Rod_Filan
7.30 matte_kudasai
7.30 YavorD
6.70 ermeio
6.50 Airarticles
6.00 Cruze
6.00 Flamingo
6.00 Lodzermensch
5.00 sobrien
**************
(those above this section must wait 12 hours before answering,
those below - and everyone else - may answer immediately)
**************
4.50 Doc
3.30 berman
3.00 joegertler
2.40 Wind In The Wires
2.00 AnYun
2.00 sodium
1.10 Froggy
1.00 paolomiana
1.00 ulpilot
0.20 Willi Von Klugermann
0.20 EricGoedkoop

Over to you, Aquilius.
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