Dunne D.1

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D.1 and D.4
Type	Experimental aircraft
Manufacturer	Army Balloon Factory
Designed by	John William Dunne
Maiden flight	July 1907

The Dunne D.1 (later rebuilt as the D.4) was an experimental aircraft built in the UK in 1907. It was a biplane glider of highly unorthodox design, being entirely tailless. Two chevron-shaped wings of equal size were braced together with conventional struts. The upper and lower wings were fitted with elevons controlled by a lever on each side of the pilot's seat. Assembled in great secrecy at the Army Balloon Factory, it was taken to Blair Atholl by a team of Royal Engineers to be tested in July. It flew in this form piloted by Col J. E. Capper and was later adapted to be powered by two Buchet engines. To assist in take-off, a wooden ramp was built, but during a test in October, the aircraft slipped sideways off it and was severely damaged.

The D.4 took the wing cellule designed for the D.1 and added a gondola beneath it that contained wheeled undercarriage and a 25 hp (19 kW) engine turning two pusher propellers. In this form, the aircraft flew at Blair Atholl in December 1908.

[edit] References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 347. 
• Lacey, G. W. B. (June 17 1955). "History and Secrecy (letter)". Flight: 852. 

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