Memories of a magnificent man of flight

JOHN McKIE

A unique collection of aviation memorabilia will be sold when the complete archive of Samuel Franklin Cody, the first man to fly an aeroplane in Britain almost 90 years ago, goes under the hammer later this month.

The archive, which has been kept in the Cody family since his death in 1913, will be auctioned at Sotheby's London branch on 24 January.

The material includes Cody's original flying helmet and outfit, the aviation plans he drew up and his diaries relating the experience of his early flights, as well as many of the contraptions he used to fly.

The sale also includes two massive Michelin bronze trophies for British aeronauts estimated at pounds 35,000-pounds 45,000, and a solid silver presentation model of The Cody Flyer worth pounds 40,000-pounds 60,000. The original engines used to power Cody's aircraft and the leather saddle used by Cody for riding displays are also on offer.

The archive was put up for auction by Cody's great-grandsons Peter, 41, and John, 46, who were unable to continue to house the huge array of objects in their homes at Farnborough, Hampshire. Farnborough was also the original working base Cody chose after his career as a cowboy, buffalo hunter and circus sharp-shooter. The Texan toured Britain with his Wild West shows before turning his attention to aviation, when his interest in kites came to the notice of the British Army. He then became designer and pilot for Britain's first power aircraft, nicknamed "The Flying Cathedral", on which Cody made the first flight over Britain on 16 October, 1908.

In 1912, Cody beat the best in Europe in a display competition of the Army's aircraft trials. However, another contest the following year, the Coastal Circuit of Britain, was to claim his life. The aircraft broke up and Cody was killed in the resulting crash. More than 50,000 people attended his funeral at Aldershot Military Cemetery.

Sotheby's aeronautica expert, Stephen Maycock, said:"There hasn't been an archive like it ever offered in the history of its field." Prospective buyers can view the archive from Monday until 23 January.