M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
CANDLER STELLA or MONOFOIL monoplane (Hilda Vale Rd., Farnborough, Kent)
This single-seat tractor monoplane, similar to a Bleriot, was being built in 1909-1910 for H.A. Wagstaff Candler of London. The construction was earned out by the Farnborough Aviation Works in Kent, assistance being provided by C.H.M. Alderson (q.v.). The Stella, also referred to as the Monofoil, was offered in an incomplete state to the Science Museum in 1926, but was not accepted.
Data
Span 30ft
Area 247 sq ft
Length 26ft
Weight 250 lb
ALDERSON monoplane (C.H.M.A. Alderson, Farnborough Aviation Works, Farnborough, Orpington, Kent)
Few details of this machine, reported built in 1910, can be traced. Alderson, who formed his company in 1909, had been actively interested in aviation since he experienced a balloon flight in France in 1880. In 1901 he assisted Thomas Moy with experiments with a model ornithopter and in 1905-1909, as a friend of Frederick J. Stringfellow, he assisted with the reclamation of the Stringfellow artifacts for donation to the Science Museum. A member of the Aeronautical Society and Aeronautical Institute and Club, he contributed to the building of the Candler Stella (q.v.) in 1909 at his works. In that year he appealed for funds to complete his aircraft, which may have referred to the Candler Stella, which was never completed.
However, in March 1910 The Times reported that Alderson had built a monoplane of 38ft wingspan with a 50hp four-cylinder engine. The weight without engine was 250 lb. In August 1910 Alderson visited Cumberland, where he had been born in 1854 and while there flew a Cody kite. At this time he was reported to be building a biplane to be named The Brae, of which nothing further was heard. Alderson died in 1929.
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Candler Stella
The Stella Monoplane was a single-seat tractor of the Bleriot type built at the beginning of 1910 by the Farnborough Aviation Works. Kent, for H. A. Wagstaff Candler of London. Span,36ft. Length, 26 ft. Wing area, 247 sq.ft. Weight empty, 250 lb.
Alderson Monoplane
The Alderson Monoplane was built during 1910 by the Farnborough Aviation Works, Kent.
Журнал Flight
Flight, February 26, 1910
MR. CANDLER'S "MONOFOIL."
I enclose a photograph taken a few weeks ago of a monofoil type of flying machine, which is in most respects similar to Bleriot's cross-Channel flyer.
I do not think the weight exceeds 250 lbs. without motor, &c., whilst the supporting surface will be about the same number of square feet. It is to be named "The Stella." The foils which can be seen suspended from the joists above on both sides of the carriage each measure 18 ft. span by 6 ft. fore-aft, thus together allowing for rounded tips, say 210 sq. ft. They are built up with about 1,000 separate lengths of wood; the fabric used is a green oiled calico, which is perhaps a novelty as regards colour; each foil required over 2,000 short sprigs for fixing this, the adjuster plus the steering tails at each end of same is similarly covered. Its fore-aft dimension is 3 ft. and span 12 ft., giving an additional supporting area of 36 sq. ft.
The main spars of the carriage frame are hollow, all struts arc pared to a cutting edge, thereby considerably reducing head resistance; every pains has been taken to gain efficiency in this way and all details have been carefully considered by the constructors - the Farnborough Aviation Works, Kent.
The body and foils suspended from the roof has nothing to do with the above, being a flying machine model now being constructed for Mr. C. H. M. A. Alderson. It is interesting to note that an old broken gliding machine, built entirely of cycle tubing brazed together, may be seen on the roof of the building. This was invented by Mr. Geo. Nichol, an enthusiastic experimenter, about 1900, and experimented with during the early years of this century. Each aerofoil had an elongated trail appendage; these were elevated or depressed alternately or together at the will of the operator, by means of levers worked from his cycle-saddle seat. Unfortunately, photographs of this machine in action were unobtainable, as the trial flights took place in the evenings after 7 p.m. I understand, however, a few photographs are in existence of its being put together on the field.
Mr. Thomas Moy, one of the best-known experimenters of the last century, constructed a small railway here, on which he conducted many scientific experiments bearing on wing machines. Records of these are, I believe, in the care of the proprietors of the Farnborough Aviation Works.
I hope to send you further photographs of the monofoil later.
H. A. W. CANDLER.