Windham Monoplane at Doncaster racecourse.
During mid-October 1909 the first aviation race meeting took place at Doncaster racecourse that saw various flying events and races take place on a course roughly above the horse race course involving distance flying and timed races, this must have been something to behold given powered flight was very much in its infancy and many tens of thousands of people visited during the course of the event. Unfortunately the Aero Club of the United Kingdom would not sanction the event and another sanctioned aviation meeting was held at Blackpool at the same time that saw most of the British pilots of the day attend Blackpool rather than Doncaster. It begun on 15th October 1909 with wind effecting flying for part of just about every day, the last day was 26th October 1909 when fog and freezing conditions were a change of problem for the pilots. There were a number of aircraft damaged during the event over the course of ten days at Doncaster. Over the event the programme listed the entrants as being (though may have had others)..
Samuel Franklin Cody, using a bi-plane British Army Aeroplane No.1.
Ferdinand Marie Leon Delagrange, using a Bleriot XI (holder of Legion d'honneur).
Leon Molon, using a Bleriot XI.
Georges Prevoteau, using a Bleriot XI.
Roger Sommer, using a Farman.
Hubert Le Blon, using a Bleriot XI.
Capt Walter George Windham, using the Windham Monoplane with No.3 JAP engine.
Georges Saunier, using a Chauviere Monoplane but never flown.
Count John Van Der Burch, using a Bleriot.
Edward Mines, using a Mines self-build. By all accounts was an odd looking machine "meat safe, coffee stall, band box" were descriptions used. Pilot claimed it would travel at 4 MPH but when tested it never left the ground.
Louis Schreck, using a Wright Bi-plane, first variant on wheels.
Mr William Ballin Hindes entered his Bleriot but does not appear to have flown it himself.
In respect of the aeroplanes at the aviation meeting, there were a few that sustained damage. On the opening day of the meeting Friday, 15th October 1909 rain and wind was too great for any flying to take place. So that photographs could be taken of the aeroplanes the Windham Monoplane was one of four pushed out of a hanger and into the field when a strong gust of wind caught this aeroplane. Unfortunately the main frame snapped in half midway along it's length throwing out the pilot. The machine (pictured here in a Will's Cigarette card drawing) was built by the Windham Motor Body Co., at Clapham, London and was repaired following this incident.
Pilot - Captain Walter George Windham.
Walter Windham's life is well documented. He was born on 15th September 1868 and became known as "a guiding genius behind British aviation". Between 1884 and 1888 he sailed around the world four times, took part in the first London to Brighton Car Rally in 1896 and served as a King's Messenger between 1900 and 1909. He was the person who offered a gold cup to the first person to fly across the English Channel subsequently won by Louis Bleriot in 1909. He was the controller of the Doncaster air meeting in 1909 and two years later founded the first airmail services. He served Royal Indian Navy in the First World War and was knighted in 1923. Commander Sir Walter Windham died on 5th July 1942.