kites and, on 16 October 1908, had successfully built and flown the British
Prominent showman and aviation pioneer, Samuel Franklin Cody
(1867-1913)had worked with the British Army on experiments with man-lifting
kites and, on 16 October 1908, had successfully built and flown the British
Army Aeroplane No 1, making the first officially verified powered flight in the
United Kingdom. In 1910 there were a number of prizes on offer, offering both
prestige and in some cases large sums of money; among them was the Michelin Cup
and £500 endurance prize for the longest flight observed over a closed circuit.
Cody built an experimental biplane in Britain during 1910 and won on 31 December
1910 the Michelin Cup for the longest flight made in England during 1910
with a flight of 4 hours 47 minutes.