John Stringfellow Should Be Alongside Wright Brothers

If ever a person’s name suited their future career then, John Stringfellow, certainly fell perfectly into that category.

His contribution to the world of aviation is hardly known outside of the small Somerset market town of Chard where he lived, worked and died.

Inventor and aircraft designer John Stringfellow from Chard in Somerset, UK.

In his area of expertise, he has been very much superseded in history by the Wright brothers some 60 years after his initial and vital success in powered flight.

For he invented a steam powered plane that made the very first powered flight in 1848 within a disused lace mill in the town.

A plane literally looking like it was lashed together with string, wire, wood and silk called the ‘Bat’ due to its curved wing shape.

A bronze likeness of John Stringfellow’s ‘Bat’ that made the first powered flight in 1848.

A Talented Engineer

John Stringfellow who was born in Sheffield, 1799 later moved to Nottingham and ended up living in Chard, a talented engineer making maker of bobbins and carriages for the lace making industry.

In collaboration with an inventor and scientist William Henson.  The pair were awarded British patent 9478 in 1842, for an aerial steam carriage, known simply as ‘The Aerial’ and was hoped could carry lots of people aloft.

The Aerial by John Stringfellow and William Henson both from Chard in Somerset, UK.

Stringfellow and Henson learned from their failed attempts outside in the wind and rain. Plus at times even under cover of night as some locals laughed at the multiple attempts they made to make it fly.

Eventually a 20foot wingspan version of his first craft was tested outside. But the fabric’s wetness and additional weight of his own design ‘light weight’ steam engine was just not light enough! Although it was certainly light weight engine for the time.

Flight Testing Was Done Just Out Of Town

Being as it was under-powered did not help the plane’s aerodynamics in its flight testing at Bewley Down also known as Bala Down to the west of the town.

Testing problems persisted. One flight was halted as the engine vibrated so much that it destroyed and shock the delicate aircraft to pieces.

John Stringfellow”s Bat design an early image from the Chard Museum.

With Henson leaving shortly after for America, Stringfellow stayed and persevered.  Developing his ‘bat’ design which in the end went on to give him that first powered flight success.

Henson did not live to see manned flight. He continued designing a variety of gadgets from safety razors to breech-loading cannons for the American Civil War.

However, in the end John Stringfellow went on to make a 20metre powered flight in the local lace mill where he worked.

The Bat by John Stringfellow from Chard in Somerset, UK.

His job was in fact an engineer, but he had developed a great interest in flight.

He would have been aware and studied the work that Sir George Cayley had done.  With his understanding of how birds flew and other areas around the theory of flight. Cayley’s un-powered glider with his grandson onboard did go on to fly in Yorkshire in 1853.

Stringfellow Was Invited To London

Following the formation of Royal Aeronautical Society in the 1860’s Stringfellow was invited to design a plane that could be flown at the Crystal Palace in London. The first aeronautical exhibition was held there in 1868.

The tri-plane designed by John Stringfellow for the Royal Aeronautical Society event in London.

He designed and exhibited a triple wing plane.

Worried about hurting either visiting royalty or members of the public, an after-hours test flight was arranged.

With society members present the tri-plane was launched one evening off a wire.  It then flew freely for around 30metres inside the giant glass edifice.

Several examples of his designs at the Chard museum.

Although, Stringfellow never got to see powered manned flight he died and was buried in Chard in 1883.

His contribution in building and designing the first powered flight plane was and should be much wider known. And not just restricted  around an English west country town.

Inventor and designer John Stringfellow won a cash prize with his engine.

The steam engine design itself that was used in the plane was well regarded and won a cash prize of £100 at the Crystal Palace exhibition.  Having an engine with the best power to weight ratio in the exhibition.

Later, this engine was  bought by an American aviation pioneer Samuel Langley for experimental work.

 Even Made An Early Battery

He designed and made an early dry cell battery way back in the 1830’s. He was also a keen photographer.

Inventor and aircraft designer John Stringfellow also made an early dry cell battery.

 And, in those days it meant you had to mix and make up all the chemicals necessary for the processes. And no doubt he was probably an excellent chemist too!

Inventor John Stringfellow remembered in Chard but not in the wider world!

I for one am almost ashamed. I have lived and worked for over 30 years just 30 miles away from Chard, and I never knew of the innovation he contributed to early aviation.

Certainly I would recommend a visit to the Chard Museum to learn about a man whom should be up there alongside the Wright brothers too.