gnome

This was probably taken on the first day of the Sheepshead Bay military preparedness show. A contemporary account: "Tex Millman flying his fast little monoplane with a spread of only eighteen feet from tip to tip ran over from Hempstead Plains a distance of about eighteen miles arriving at the Speedway in sixteen minutes according to the announcer. Though he was not in the race competition Millman gave an exhibition flying several times around the track." books.google.com/books?id=AHjmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA331&l...

grace!

See also

Thanks, we'll add his full name, and remove the unfortunate punct.

This and the adjacent photo (see below) in the collection are of the same cutaway Gnome 9-cylinder rotary engine (proof stampings, wear marks and tool marks are identical in both photos). A view of the two photos at the largest resolution reveals a "Gnome Engine Company - 47 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W." manufacturer's plate, and a serial of "Engine No. 30767". Presumably, this was a British license-built / British affiliate manufactured Gnome et Rhône 9-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, I haven't the knowledge to describe the variant of engine with any further specificity. Hopefully, another can use the engine's serial number and origin to provide more information. Unlike a radial engine, which featured a fixed cylinder block with rotating crankshaft, the rotary engine's crankshaft remains stationary and the entire cylinder block rotates. Before being cutaway for use in training, it is likely this engine was used on an aircraft (or a number of aircraft) until it was deemed unfit for further rebuild. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome_et_Rh%C3%B4ne

Thanks again for the information! I have updated the description for both of the images.

This is the aircraft usually referred to as the Beachey-Eaton monoplane of 1915. In one of the photos the name Beachey can be seen on top of the wing (and no doubt underneath as well) It was in this one Beachey met his end in San Francisco that same year. I have always assumed that its name came from Lincoln Beachey being the basic "designer" (don't know his qualifications besides being a pilot), or at least giving clear instructions what he wanted and what it should look like. Eaton then being the builder of said aircraft. Beachey did likewise with those special designs made for him by Curtiss and others. Being possibly the pilot with the greatest income in USA at the time, I wonder if he ever paid for the aircraft he had customs built for him, or if the manufacturers simply wanted the advertisement..... Stig Stig