Cody, Samuel Franklin

Cody, Samuel Franklin (1862-1913), airman, b. Texas, USA.

'Colonel' Cody, as he was often called, made the first flight by airplane in England. It was in an airplane he designed himself at Farnborough, Hampshire, on 16 December, 1908.

That first flight was of only 1391 feet (424m) but in September 1909 Cody flew for over one hour at about 656 feet (200m) over Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet and the countryside nearby.

He was killed on 7 August, 1913. He was flying a new airplane when it broke up in the air near Aldershot.

See John R. Hulls Rider in the Sky: How an American Cowboy Built England's First Airplane