Frank Goodden

Frank Goodden
Born 3 October 1889
Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Died 28 January 1917 (aged 27)
Hampshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Flying Corps
Rank Major

Major Frank Widenham Goodden (3 October 1889 - 28 January 1917) was the chief test pilot for the Royal Aircraft Factory located at Farnborough, Hants., Great Britain, a position to which he was appointed by 1915.[1]

In the late summer of 1916, reports had filtered back to the Factory that the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 was involved in a series of spinning accidents and that the type's was acquiring a reputation as a dangerous aircraft. To disprove this, Goodden deliberately spun an F.E.8 three times in both directions from an altitude of no more than 3,500 ft and recovered by applying what has since become the customary control inputs.[2]

On 28 January 1917, Goodden was killed in a crash at RAE Farnborough while flying one of the first prototypes of the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, when it broke up in flight. At the time of his death, Goodden was one of Britain's most experienced pilots. Inspection found that the wings had suffered failure in downward torsion. Plywood webs were added to the compression ribs, curing the trouble and were standardized on all later S.E.5s and S.E.5as.[3][4]

He was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.[5]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Mason 1992, p. 32.
  2. ↑ Mason 1992, p. 47.
  3. ↑ Bruce 1968, p. 78.
  4. ↑ Maynard, John. "Think of the Risks..." Aeroplane, Volume 34, Number 3, No. 395, March 2006, p. 31.
  5. ↑ "Goodden, Frank Widenham." Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Retrieved: 26 July 2011.
Bibliography
  • Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War, Fighters, Volume Two. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1968.
  • Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.

See also