Aviation in Britain Before the First World War- the work of Samuel Franklin Cody in Airship, Kite and Aircraft Aeronautics 1903 - 1913 RAE-O142, between 1903 and 1913

Aviation in britain before the first world war- the work of samuel franklin cody in airship, kite and aircraft aeronautics 1903 - 1913 s f cody surrounded by kites in his workshops at alexandra palace in london. The largest kites at the back of the picture would have been used as man carriers by attaching them to a basket. It is likely that some of the smaller kites would have been used to lift the heavy cable that the man carrier ran up and down on. Cody gave many performances of his wild west shows at alexandra palace after moving to britain from america in 1889. His workshops at alexandra palace were used to produce kites as well as backdrops for his productions. His design for a kite which could easily carry a man to a height of over 2500 feet and remain stable in the air was purchased by the war office, for use by the royal engineers balloon section when wind speeds prevented the use of observation balloons. Date: between 1903 and 1913.