Avroplane

Avroeplane replica G-ROEI in the Duxford AirSpace hangar. Photo by Ian Bracegirdle

On 8th June 1908 Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe OBE made his first flight at Brooklands. To celebrate the first 'hop' the Brooklands Museum decided to build an airworthy replica of the Avroplane, Avroeplane G-ROEI. Work started in December 2006 by a team lead by Steve Green. The project was funded by Eric Verdon Roe, the grandson of Alliott Verdon Roe. The majority of the replica aircraft was made using original parts, though instead of using bamboo on the fuselage aluminium was used and modern fabric was used on the wings.

Images courtesy of Ian Bracegirdle

The replica was complete in time for the Brooklands Aviation Centenary celebrations in June 2008. The airworthy replica is capable of making short hops, similar to those made by the early pioneers of flight. The Avroeplane replica is fully collapsible so it can be transported to air shows and other events and the replica has an upgraded engine, a Great Plains flat-four engine which produces about 60hp.