Whitehead Little Known Aircraft (Project ?)

[hesham]

Hi

of course we know Mr. Gustave Whitehead,and we spoke before about some of his airplanes,
the No.21 & No.22,and I knew he had a series of gliders appeared in Century 19 as I heard,and
he built a helicopter in 1911,but in my files,this designer had a Project for aeroplane,I don't know
if it was a patent or not,never materialized,who has more Info about that ?.


http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4480.msg234220.html#msg234220
http://www.aerofiles.com/_wh.html

 

[Stargazer]

What I have about this machine:

"Multi-rotor (24? 60?) type of 1911 consisting of open, tubular framework carrying two rows of 6' lifting screws on either side of central frame."

Mention in a 1911 Aeronautics article of a "Gyroscopic Monoplane" could be the same aircraft, a typo, or the indication that a second, distinct machine was built using the same gyro device.

 

[hesham]

Thank you my dear Skyblazer,

and for a Project from this designer,we need an early Aeronautical Journal.

 

[Stargazer]

and for a Project from this designer,we need an early Aeronautical Journal.

Won't be easy. I've only identified three types positively:

• The 1901 twin-tractor powered glider claimed to have flown prior to the Wright brothers (Otto Timm built and flew a replica)
• The 1906 Gyroscopic Biplane constructed with financial support by Stanley Y. Beach, which did not fly.
• The 1911 multi-rotor type.

 

[hesham]

Those new for me (1901 & 1906),thanks.

 

[Stargazer]

Those new for me (1901 & 1906),thanks.

I think you know the 1901 machine. It was called "Number 21" and was claimed by Whitehead to have flown before the Wrights.
Otto Timm built a flying replica of it in 1937 designated "Whitehead No. 21 B" for the 1938 movie "Men with Wings".

Another replica of the same airplane was built by Andy Kosch in 1986.

 

[Stargazer]

Here are photos of the 1906-1908 "Gyroscopic Biplane", said to have been completed but not flown. Also called the "Beach-Whitehead" (after Stanley Y. Beach, who gave his financial support to the project) it was a single-seat biplane with 50hp 5-cylinder Whitehead engine located under the fuselage between the wheels, belt-driving two 8-foot tractor propellers. It had a pointy-nosed, V-shaped, boat-like fuselage and used a gyro device.