August 1911
The First Aeroplane ever to land on the Isle of Wight piloted by Robert Loraine.
These picture are taken from a leaflet in my possession, there is no date, author or publisher shown.
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In August 1910, during the Bournemouth Flying meeting, during which the Hon. C. S. Rolls was killed, Robert Loraine was caught in a heavy rainstorm while flying near the Needles.
His machine, a Henry Farman biplane, had no compass and visibility was practically nil, so he landed on top of the downs just east of the Needles.
Soldiers pushed his machine to a pit at the bottom of the north side of the Downs and just off the first green of the old Needles golf course, where it could remain relatively sheltered.
As his petrol was getting low, Loraine decided to refuel before taking off again, which meant that his French mechanic, Vedrines, who later became a celebrated pilot himself, had to cross to the mainland to fetch the special oil and petrol used by the 50hp 7 cylinder rotary Gnome engine.
A few days later soldiers again pushed his machine to the fairway to the third green on top of the downs from where he took off.
The group in the picture above from left to right:
P. C. Toomer, the local constable; Vedrines, with back to camera; Robert Loraine, wearing glasses, and Mr. McLennon, the Freshwater photographer.
Notes:
1) Robert Loraine was described as an actor/airman and the plane involved (or a similar one) was the first aeroplane to be fitted with Marconi wireless transmitting apparatus. This involved the use of a morse code key.
2) The Henry Farman biplane was made by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Bristol. The picture below apparently shows the plane in flight piloted by Henry Loraine:
3) The C. S. Rolls referred to was Charles Stewart Rolls of Rolls Royce fame.
Aircraft of the Isle of Wight: 1900 - 1919
6 September 2005