Vintage Wings - Goupy No.2 Biplane - 1909

*** Vintage Wings ***

Goupy No.2 Biplane - 1909

Ambroise Goupy and Mario Calderara designed and built this unusual (for that time) aircraft in France in 1909, at the Bleriot factory.
Even when part of the design was influenced by Bleriot (that can be seen in the front fuselage section and landing gear) the Goupy No.2 is significant for two major and influential advances in aircraft design: it was the first tractor configuration biplane to fly and the first biplane to feature staggered wings, features that would very soon become the norm in aircraft design. Some other features that would not be typical of aircraft in the years to come would be its biplane tail unit, and the whole-chord wingtip ailerons fitted to both upper and lower wings. The uncovered wood box-girder fuselage, typical of early aircraft, was later covered.
Also the choosing of the engine was peculiar, featuring a "half radial" (fan design) 7 cylinder J.A.P. unit delivering around 29 Hp.
It first flew in March 1909, and the following year was displayed at the Paris Salon. It flew competitively at the 1910 Reims air show, and made exhibition flights at British aviation meets at Burton and Doncaster, piloted by Emile Ladougne.

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