Benton
J.F. Benton
Contents
History
Known as John Frederick Benton, Fredrick Franz Johannes Benton was born 26 September 1882 in Corowa, New South Wales, Australia, the son of Johann Heinrich Christian Jörss and Wilhelmina Sophia Catharine Jörss (neé Oldorff), and was an electrical engineer living in Pinkney's Green on the edge of Maidenhead common. There, he experimented with kites which he used to raise aerials and even advertisements. A steam-powered winch was used to raise a large man-lifting kite on which he made flights of up to three hours.
Determined to build his own powered aircraft, he persuaded William Allen (born June 1861 in Maidenhead, Berkshire), a local camera maker, to give up his camera business and put his skills to use in aviation with his friend. They rented a 35 acre field from Walter Spackman of Manor Farm, Chalvey, near Slough, Buckinghamshire from 19 June 1911 and erected a hangar in which to construct their aeroplane, many of the parts of which they manufactured in a small engineering works in Sewage Meadow, Green Lane, Maidenhead.
The result was the B.I, a large double biplane powered by a 35 h.p. water-cooled NEC engine, incorporating various innovations which Benton patented. It only achieved a few short hops but an improved version, the B.II, was developed. This was entered as No.31 in the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Race which commenced on 22 July 1911 but the design was no more successful and the entry was scratched.
Benton’s next design, the B.III, was a tractor biplane. This was also powered by a 35 h.p. NEC and flew more successfully. This model went through rapid stages of development as the B.IV through B.VII, all of which flew successfully between 1912 and 1914.
William Allen died in June 1914 and John Benton then went into partnership with William's widow, Sabina Rose Allen, concentrating their efforts on the Green Lane Engineering Works. At the outbreak of war Benton began a campaign to sell his B6 and B7 designs, contacting the RFC, the RNAS and the French and Russian governments, but to no avail. One machine remained at Chalvey in the hangar until it was finally scrapped in 1919.
John Frederick Benton died 9 February 1958 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Company References
- Air Britain Archive, 1999/1 (Air-Britain Publications)
- https://www.ancestry.com/
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.I | 1911 | Pro(n) | 1 | 1S, 1E pusher biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.II | 1911 | Pro(n) | 1 | 1S, 1E pusher biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.III | 1912 | Proto | 1 | 1S, 1E tractor biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.IV | 1912 | Proto | (1) | 1S, 1E tractor biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.V | 1912 | Proto | (1) | 1S, 1E tractor biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.VI | 1912 | Proto | (1) | 1S, 1E tractor biplane | 1,2 | ||||
| B.VII | 1912 | Proto | (1) | 1S, 1E tractor biplane | 1,2 |
Project References
- British Aircraft Before The Great War, Michael H. Goodall and Albert E. Tagg (Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2001)
- Air Britain Archive, 1999/1 (Air-Britain Publications)
Production Details and Type Description
Single seat, two bay biplane with equal span wings and open frame fuselage. Lateral control was by single acting ailerons and control in pithch by variable incidence wings, covered by patent 24945/1910. The four-wheel sprung undercarriage was also covered by patent, 12375/1911. The aircraft was powered by a single NEC 35-50 h.p. powerplant driving twin pusher propellers.
One aircraft only - no c/n or registration
Details as B.I.
One aircraft only - no c/n or registration
Single seat, two bay trator biplane with equal span wings, with wing warping, and fabric covered fuselage. A conventional (for the time) skid and wheel undercarriage was fitted. One NEC 35-50 h.p. powerplant.
One aircraft only - no c/n or registration
Progressive modifications of the B.III. For the B.VI Benton developed a system of hinged trailing edges to the wings to provide camber changing flaps. The final development was the B7 which had a reduceable wing, the surface area of which could be reduced by up to a third in flight.
Total Benton Production3 (4)
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- Added Type details.