FIRST PLANE BUILT AND FLOWN IN IRELAND FOUND!
by Joe Rogers
The 'Portlaoise Plane' is the first aeroplane to be manufactured and flown in Ireland. It was created in 1912, survived two world wars, went missing for 40 years, only to be rediscovered at a 'Museum for Firsts' in East Sussex alongside Malcolm Campbell's famous Bluebird K3 in which he created the world water-speed record on Lake Maggiore in 1937.
During a recent holiday in the south of England I joined a party of enthusiasts on a visit to Filching Manor Motor Museum, Jevington Road, Near Polegate, East Sussex. At the start of the tour, over coffee in the Medieval Manor, the proprietor, Karl Foulkes-Halbard, explained that his museum exhibits were rather extraordinary in that without exception they were all record breakers, winners or historical firsts of one type or another.
And what a magnificent collection we were then privileged to see and, amazingly, there among Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird K3 in which he took the water-speed record on Lake Maggiore on 1st September 1937; several Campbell cars; Fangio's very own racing car; a selection of other cars including Bugattis, Mercedes and a Formula 1 winner; various record-breaking motor cycles and boats was the exhibit that really set my pulse racing. In the collection was the 1912 Portlaoise Aeroplane on which my father, William Rogers, had worked, the FIRST Plane to be manufactured and flown in the now Republic of Ireland by Aldritts of Portlaoise or Maryborough as it was 100 years ago in 1912.
What a thrill it was for me to see the massive wings with the two main spars in each wing consisting of rather large round bamboo poles to which a total of 15 cross-members or ribs of a lightweight timber are attached - the canvas covering having long since gone. The fuselage too, minus its outer covering of course , is in remarkably good condition, complete with tail assembly, cockpit, seat, rudder bar and pedals. The complete aircraft including both large wings and fuselage well preserved after 100 years and would be easy to restore to its original condition.
As I come from Portlaoise this was a wonderful sight to behold. I remember as a schoolboy at CBS Tower Hill seeing daily a propeller over the entrance to the old Aldritt works, corner of Railway St & Tower Hill. My father (William Rogers) told me to what it related and now I've seen the aircraft to which it belonged, a craft powered by an engine also designed by Aldritts, the history-making flight recorded as having taken place over the Great Heath of Maryborough.
Karl Foulkes-Halbard recalled the aeroplane arriving on a big lorry from Portlaoighise, as he termed it, about 35 years ago to their then abode at Crowborough, between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, Sussex. His late father, Paul Foulkes-Halbard, had a keen interest in early aviation, and in answer to questions from the party, Karl reckoned that they had actually saved the plane and he would personally love to restore it, time and money permitting, and all other on-going restorations completed.
The party wondered, as indeed I did, as to why this rare craft which had put Portlaoise on the map as the birthplace of Southern Irish aviation, had not been restored there and put on show as a memento of bygone achievements.
Joe Rogers
related video: The Portlaoise Plane
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