Carlyon
C.H. Carlyon
Contents
History
Christopher Howard Carlyon (b. 24 Mar 1888 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales – d. Sep 1947 Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales) and moved to Pontycymmer at the age of three. At 13 he followed his father and elder brother into Ffaldau Colliery, becoming a time-served carpenter.
It is believed that he began work on the glider in 1904, building it in a shed he built 400 feet up a mountain near Bridgend called Coedcae. His plan was to build a flying machine to glide across the Garw Valley at its narrowest point of about half a mile. However and after several tests on the slopes below his shed, it and the shed were destroyed by a violent storm in 1910.
Demoralised that his flying machine was destroyed before he could do a full-fledged flight, Carlyon never returned to the project. Soon afterwards he went to war in France and was badly injured. He returned home dogged by depression and died aged 59 from war-related injuries.
Retired engineer Thomas Merlin Maddock lived in the same Valleys house as Carlyon on Meadow Street, in Pontycymmer. He spent a decade researching Carlyon’s plans, building scale models and, in 1913, began a full size replica with the intention of flight. Sadly, Merlin Maddock died in May 2015 before the project could be completed.
Company References
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glider | 1910 | Pro(n) | 1 | 1S biplane glider | 1,2,3,4 |
Project References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-21366975
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Forgotten-aviation-pioneers-aircraft-to-take-to-the-air-once-more/
- https://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=3949
- The Sailplane and Glider, Volume 1 No. 21
Production Details and Type Description
Single seat biplane glider of 22 ft. wingspan, fitted with mid-gap control surfaces. A single-rudder tail was attached by four booms connected to the upper and lower mainplanes, the monoplane tailplane being attached to the lower booms and strut braced to the upper. The undercarriage consisted of a pair of long skids, each bearing a pair of wheels.
Total Carlyon Production1