Re: No Doubt Who Completed This Census Return

Serena Blanchflower wrote:
<snip>I would be surprised if many aviators / balloonists of the day did
consider it their principal occupation; it was much more a hobby for wealthy men. My gt-grandfather was a balloonist, although rather later, the earliest reference I've been able to find to his flying was 1907, but I'm sure he continued to consider his occupation to be a Ship Owner.
Serena -
I'm interested in your grandfather's flying, as distinct from ballooning (although that is interesting enough), activities in 1907.
A.V. Roe built his Roe I biplane in 1908 which may have managed a few brief hops on it's own, but did not make a proper flight. The American S.F Cody, (who later took British nationality) is credited with building the first successful aeroplane in this country, which he designed with some assistance from the staff of the Farnborough Balloon Factory and flew first on 16th October 1908 on Laffham's Plain. A number of French aviators had made successful flights before this time as, of course, had the Wright brothers and the first three of the Aerial Experiment Association machines in the USA.

What was his name?

Yours Aye Andrew Sellon

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