M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
MOON Moonbeam monoplane Nos.l and 2 (Moonbeams Ltd., Royal Pier Gates, Town Quay, Southampton)
Eric Rowland Moon managed the family marine business and, in 1909, began the construction of his first aircraft. This was of Demoiselle type, with a light steel tubular frame and tapered wings with warping control. The machine had been undergoing trials for some weeks and had flown by early June 1910, when Moon wrote to Flight. It is believed that the trials took place from fields near Fawley.
The second version may have used the same fuselage structure, but had a more substantial undercarriage with twin skids. A rigid wing with single-acting ailerons was used and the tail surfaces were changed to ones with straight edges.
The second machine flew more successfully than the first, from fields at Beaulieu, Ower and North Stonham, Eastleigh. Moon became a pilot in the RNAS after the outbreak of war.
Power: 20hp JAP four-cylinder air-cooled vee driving a 6ft diameter propeller.
Data
Span 24ft
Weight 260 lb
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Moon Moonbeam
The Moonbeam was a single-seat tractor monoplane designed and built during 1910 by Rowland Moon of Southampton, Hants. It resembled the Demoiselle, and was fitted with tapering wings mounted on a fuselage of steel tubing. The engine was a four-cylinder 20 h.p. J.A.P. with a 6 ft. propeller. Span, 24 ft. Weight empty, 260 lb.
Журнал Flight
Flight, June 11, 1910
THE "MOONBEAM."
Thinking it a matter of some interest, I enclose you photos of my aeroplane ("Moonbeam"). It is a monoplane, built rather on the lines of the "Santos," though of light steel tubing, planes having a tapering chord and a span of 24 ft. A 4-cyl. 20-h.p. J.A.P. engine is fitted, and a 6-ft. wooden propeller.
The machine is manipulated from a single wheel, which is mounted on a spherical trunnion, thus taking all control.
The machine weighs about 260 lbs., of which 160 lbs. is engine and propeller.
I regret not having a photo of plane during flight, although several satisfactory flights have been made.
The machine has been under trial for some weeks. It was made in my own shops at Southampton.
ROWLAND MOON.
