THE R.E.P. MONOPLANES.--First came the curious and highly interesting experiments of 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910. 1910-1911, the World's Distance Record breaker was produced; after it, the "European Circuit," all with R.E.P. engines. In 1913-14 came the French military type with Gnome engine and finally the "parasol," 1915.
THE MORANE: First the European Circuit and Paris-Madrid type. Then the 1912 types, with taper wing and modern type wing. The 1913 types, the "clipped wing," flown by the late Mr. Hamel, one of the standard tandem types now in use. About the same time came the "parasol." 1914-15 came a little biplane like a Nieuport, and the "destroyer" type with a round section body, flown by Vedrines.
THE VOISIN.--1908, the first properly controlled flight on a European aeroplane was made on a Voisin of the type shown with fixed engine. Then followed the record breaker of 1909 with a Gnome engine. In 1909 also the only Voisin tractor was produced. 1910 the Paris-Bordeaux type was built; 1911 the amphibious "canard" and the "military" type with extensions, and the type without an elevator. 1913 came the type with only two tail-booms and a geared-down engine, which developed into the big "gun" machine with a Salmson engine.
THE HANRIOT AND PONNIER MONOPLANES.--In 1909 came the first Hanriot with 50 h.p. 6-cylinder Buchet engine, and in 1910 the famous "Henrietta" type with E.N.Vs. and stationary Clergets. 1911 came the Clerget two-seater entered in French Military Trials, and 1912 the 100 h.p. Hanriot-Pagny monoplane which took part in British Military Trials. Sister machines of the same year were the single seater with 50 h.p. Gnome and the 100 h.p. Gnome racer with stripped chassis. In 1913 the Ponnier-Pagny racing monoplane with 160 h.p. Le Rhone competed in the Gordon-Bennett race, doing about 130 miles in the hour. The 60 h.p. Ponnier biplane was the first successful French scout tractor biplane.
THE WRIGHT BIPLANE.--The first power flights were made, 1903, on a converted glider fitted with 16 h.p. motor. The prone position of the pilot will be noted. By 1907 the machine had become reasonably practical with 40 h.p. motor. On this the first real flying in the world was done. In 1910 the miniature racing Wright was produced; also the type with a rear elevator in addition to one in front. Soon afterwards the front elevator disappeared, and the machine became the standard American exhibition and school machine for four years. In 1915 a machine with enclosed fuselage was produced.