Jubilee Hill
Note: For quite a long time I had this comment posted: "I cannot find a modern reference for JUBILEE HILL, so this map only shows my estimate of the position. If anybody can offer advice, this will be most welcome." In May 2020 Mr Graham Frost kindly came to my rescue, with a scan from an O.S. map and the map above now shows the correct position.
JUBILEE HILL: Early experimental gliding site
Operated by: Samuel F Cody
Note: Both pictures scanned from British Aviation - The Pioneer Years. Harald Penrose
Location: In Long Valley, probably S of the A323 and W of Rushmoor Road,
Period of operation: 1905
NOTES: As you might well appreciate, in researching this 'Guide', I have spent quite a lot of time looking at the history of Samuel F Cody. The American showman whom, we in the UK now mostly today claim as having made the first powered flight in the UK. He however never made that claim - and he was quite correct - it being a mis-judged hop ending in a bit of a crash.
Until reading British Aviation - The Pioneer Years, by Harald Penrose, first published in 1967, I had no idea that Cody had also designed and built a glider. And this was a most amazing aerial contraption to say the least.
To quote Harald Penrose: "Later that year, in a talk to the Aeronautical Society in London, Cody said, 'I do not want to be a sceptic but I am now becoming interested in the dynamics of flying machines, and the sooner, I think, that one's colleagues commence to build these machines lighter and larger, the sooner we shall have a machine that will fly. At the last meeting in July, I stated that I was building a gliding machine. I have now built it and am surprised at its success. It has 807 square feet of surface and weighs 116lbs." (51.5kg)
It appears that this glider was first demonstrated at CRYSTAL PALACE in front of Sir Hiram Maxim, with several 'pilots' taking part - being lifted aloft. It had a span of 51ft which was a quite extraordinary size for any kind of flying machine in those days, including designs being prepared for powered flight.
Harald Penrose then tells us: "A number of unpublished photographs of this unique glider show that it was modified considerably from day to day when flown from Jubilee Hill, Long Valley, Aldershot, and tried with and without forward elevators supplementing the tail, as well as ailerons tried above the top wing. Finally it was crashed by Cody's son Vivian in free fllght which ended in a stall and spin. He was crippled for a year "
What I think should also be borne in mind was that JUBILEE HILL was the most convenient gliding site to Cody's facility in LAFFAN'S PLAIN.
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