Multiplane flying machines
Phillips believed that multiple stacked wing planes (or "sustainers" as he called them), in "Venetian blind" configuration, offered advantages.
- His 1893 Flying Machine had 50 lifting surfaces and used his patented "double-surface airfoils" in such a way as to produce an aspect ratio of 1:152, providing great lift at the sacrifice of stability. As a test vehicle, it was not designed to be manned, but was used to test lifting capability. Its maximum load was found to be 400 lb (180 kg).[3]
- His 1904 Multiplane was a development of the 1893 test vehicle in a configuration that could be flown by a person. It had 21 wings and had a tail for stability, but was unable to achieve sustained flight. Its best performance was 50 ft (15 m).[4] A specially made replica of the 1904 machine appears in the opening sequences of the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.
- His 1907 Multiplane, which had 200 individual airfoils and was powered by a 22 hp (16 kW) engine driving a 7 ft (2.1 m) propeller achieved a 500 ft (150 m) flight on 6 April 1907. This was the first flight of its kind in England, although it was preceded by the Wright brothers by several years.[4][5]
Though successful, the 1907 model showed poor performance compared to more conventional contemporary types. This caused Phillips to end his attempts at manned flight.[6]