Roe I Triplane replica to commemorate 100th anniversary of first all British flight

On Sunday 12 July history will repeat itself on Walthamstow Marshes as Eric Verdon-Roe, grandson of flight pioneer Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe unveils a fully flyable replica of his grandfather's Roe I Triplane – the first all British aeroplane, built one hundred years ago.


A.V.Roe's original Roe I Triplane pictured in 1909 in front of the East London railway arches under which it was built.

The original Triplane, built with a British 9hp JAP engine, created history on 13 July 1909 when its short 'hops', officially became 'flights'. By 23 July it had flown 900ft and A.V. Roe was recognised by the Aero Club as the first Englishman to design, build and fly an all-British aeroplane.

The replica will be unveiled at the site of A.V. Roe's former workshop which he constructed underneath two railway arches on East London's Walthamstow Marshes, now part of the 26 mile long Lee Valley Regional Park. It was built by a team of ex-BAe Systems employees with the help of BAe Systems and the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Every attempt has been made to make the replica as original as possible, including obtaining a period JAP engine, and the Roe Heritage Group has been awarded a 'Centenary Certificate for Heritage Projects' by The Historical Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society. The replica was constructed in Manchester under the leadership of Mike Taylor and Peter Teagle.

Eric Verdon-Roe, the grandson of A.V. Roe who funded the project said: "I am delighted that the team have won this recognition; their determination to build an exact replica as possible of Alliott's Triplane has been fully vindicated. The quality of their workmanship is superb".

Mike Taylor explained: "After the celebrations of A.V.Roe's pioneering flight to be held at the Lee Valley Regional Park site, a series of trials will take place at RAF Woodvale, and if all goes well it is hoped that we will achieve short flights, thus emulating Roe's original achievement which was remarkable given the very low power of his 9hp engine".

The public are invited celebrate this historic anniversary of British aviation on 12 July where visitors can view the replica and a range of aeronautical and early industrial heritage exhibits. Eric Verdon-Roe, David Rowlands (former President of The Royal Aeronautical Society) and local historian Dr Jim Lewis will give short presentations.

Presentations and entry to view the replica and exhibits are free of charge. The event is sponsored by BAE Systems Plc and organised and supported by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.