Details

Object type

reproduction glider

Title

Bat, Mark II

Artist/Maker

Ian Adams maker

Steven Cassells maker

Pilcher Glider Reproduction Project maker

David T Wilson maker

Quentin Wilson maker

Place Associated

Scotland, Ayrshire, Prestwick International Airport, Spirit AeroSystems, Building 59 (place of manufacture)

Date

1997 - 2007

Materials

wood, textile, metal

Dimensions

overall: 2463 mm x 7315 mm x 5625 mm 25219 g

Description

Percy Pilcher (1867–99) was an Englishman working as an assistant lecturer in the Naval Architecture Department of the University of Glasgow. He was intrigued by the prospect of manned flight and built his first prototype glider in Scotland in 1895. He developed three more and was able to glide for up to 750 feet in demonstration flights. In 1898 he developed a prototype tri-plane with a screw propeller powered by a small oil engine. However, he never flew the tri-plane, as he crashed a glider during a demonstration flight near Market Harborough in September 1899 and died shortly afterwards of his injuries.

This is a replica model of the Bat which he built in 1895. It can be seen in Riverside Museum. It was conceived and built by the Pilcher Glider Reproduction Project: David Wilson, Steven Cassells, Ian Adams and Quentin Wilson, sponsored by Spirit AeroSystems, British Aerospace and BAE Systems (Aerostructures and Regional), the Clow Group and Autodesk.

Credit Line/Donor

Sponsored by Spirit AeroSystems, British Aerospace and BAE Systems (Aerostructures and Regional), the Clow Group and Autodesk. Conceived and built by the Pilcher Glider Reproduction Project: David Wilson, Steven Cassells, Ian Adams and Quentin Wilson. (See attached notes for complete list of acknowledgements and thanks.)

ID Number

T.2008.23

Location

Riverside Museum Bridge