Branson salutes pioneer of flight (From Gazette & Herald)

Branson salutes pioneer of flight

FLAMBOYANT Sir Richard Branson re-enacted the first ever fixed-wing flight at the weekend - 150 years after Sir George Cayley, the pioneer of aviation, flew his aircaft at Brompton Dale, near Scarborough.

Following a fly-past by the Red Arrows, Sir Richard's flight was heralded by one of his own Virgin 747s which had made a special detour to Brompton en route from Amsterdam to Heathrow and circled the crowded dale several times to salute Cayley.

Then it was the turn of Sir Richard, donning a frock coat and playing the part of Cayley's coachman, who was given the job of flying the original glider which promptly crashed after making a 100-yard flight. The coachman, John Appleby, instantly resigned his job saying he had been engaged to drive horses and carriages, not to fly.

As 3,000 people at the anniversary celebration watched in rapt attention, Sir Richard, 52, set off from the top of a steep hill, aided by a special team in the bunjee-jump-style launch.

The airline boss's first attempt failed to get off the ground, but the second saw him fly 150 yards at a height of 15ft for about ten seconds.

The original glider paved the way for the Wright Brothers' historic powered flight in 1903.

"I was determined to help put the original flight back on the map where modern aviation was born - at Brompton," said Sir Richard.

"It was really exhilarating. I can fly! I have never flown a plane or glider before and, after the first attempt, I didn't expect to get off the ground but it was a wonderful experience."

Sir Digby Cayley, the present holder of the baronetcy, played Sir George and members of the Cayley family acted out the roles of their ancestors.

It later emerged that it is hoped to establish a scholarship in Sir George's honour for young aeronautical engineers, and to have a sculpture made to permanently commemorate his achievements, sited in the village.

In addition to being credited with being the 'father' of aeronautics, Cayley was the inventor of the spoked wheel for cycles, the safety curtain used in theatres, caterpillar tractor tracks, and as an engineer dug out the sea cut between Hackness and Scalby to take pressure off the River Derwent and avoid flooding - a scheme which came into its own in last August's floods in the area.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Kent visited the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington to mark the anniversary. She was accompanied by her brother, Sir Marcus Worsley, of Hovingham.

Updated: 09:34 Wednesday, July 09, 2003