Postcard of the Month: May 2022

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Aircraft Trials on Clymping Beach

This photograph, probably of a postcard, shows an early aircraft upturned on the beach at low tide. This is one of a series of pictures, possibly by White, showing various incidents during the trials carried out in 1910 with a powered flying machine designed by Jose Weiss of Houghton (1859-1919). He was a well-known landscape painter of the time who also designed and built gliders. One of his gliders achieved the first significant flight in the UK from Amberley Mount in 1909. For more on this event see our Houghton video.

The trials at Clymping were less successful, although elements of Wiess’ designs were incorporated in other early aircraft which did fly.

The photo was taken by an unknown photographer, sourced from an online auction.