The Roe I Triplanes
[Monochrome photograph of the Roe I Triplane]
In Autumn 1908 Alliott Verdon Roe completely revised his ideas and undertook the construction of a triplane based on the French Goupy design but incorporating his own method of control which he patented in January 1909.
Construction was completed at Lea Marsh, London in April and power was provided by a 9 hp (7 kW) JAP air-cooled engine.
Initial attempts to fly the aeroplane started in May 1909, progressing slowly so that by July 23 he managed to fly some 300 ft. (90 m) at a height of 9 ft. (2m).
Roe flew the triplane at the Blackpool Airshow in October 1909.
A second machine was also built.
Roe II Triplanes
[Monochrome photograph of the Roe II Triplane]
In January 1910 Alliott Verdon Roe and his brother Humphrey formed A. V. Roe & Co. at Brownsfield Mill, Manchester. The first machine built there was a new version of the triplane incorporating Alliott's latest control system ideas which increased the wing and tail incidence simultaneously. Powered by a 35 hp (26 kW) Green engine, it first appeared at the model aircraft show
at the White City, Manchester, on March 4, 1910, where it was named Mercury.
For flying, Roe moved Mercury to Brooklands aerodrome, where he had leased one of the sheds.
Unfortunately, the new control system was not successful and Roe evolved an improved version.