Clout Mechanical Air-Ship
Early British unmanned helicopter that failed to lift off.
The Clout Mechanical Air-Ship was a British unmanned helicopter, created by George Clout, a tradesman from Durrington, West Sussex, in the early 1900s. Clout had reportedly spent thirteen or fourteen years studying aerial navigation by 1904, inspired by a toy helicopter. His design featured two large fan-shaped rotor blades that rotated by running along a circular steel rail. The fuselage was a trellis-like structure of oak and steel tubing, supporting the rail and a rudder assembly. Each rotor blade had three transverse trussed spars on its upper side. A 3.75 hp air-cooled petrol engine at the base of the rotor assembly drove, via a belt drive, propellers mounted above each rotor blade. These propellers each had two fan-shaped blades and a square canard surface positioned just ahead of them.
Clout acknowledged that the machine’s weight prevented it from carrying an occupant, but believed a version built with lighter materials like aluminium could. He envisioned a crewed aircraft controlled by the pilot shifting their weight. The machine debuted in 1903 and was tested in a field in Worthing, West Sussex, but failed to lift off. On 11 June 1903, Clout filed a patent for a "Mechanical Air-Ship," though the application did not progress. After failing to gain War Office support, he traveled to Montreal, Canada in November 1905, then to New York in early 1906, seeking capital to build a practical machine. In May 1906, ill health prompted his return to Great Britain, but he died en route and was buried at sea.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- unpiloted helicopter
- National Origin
- Great Britain
- Manufacturer
- George Clout
- Number Built
- 1
- Introduction
- 1903
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
George Clout, a tradesman, was reported in 1904 to have spent thirteen or fourteen years studying aerial navigation. Inspired by a toy helicopter, he designed and built a machine with two large fan-shaped rotor blades that rotated by running along a circular steel rail. The fuselage was a trellis-like structure of oak and steel tubing supporting the circular rail and a rudder assembly. Each rotor blade had three transverse trussed spars on its upper side. The air-cooled 3.75 hp petrol engine, located at the base of the rotor assembly, powered propellers above each rotor blade via a belt drive. Each propeller had two fan-shaped blades and a square-shaped canard surface positioned just ahead of it. Clout stated that due to the weight of its construction, the Mechanical Air-Ship could not support an occupant, but if built with lighter material such as aluminium, it could have. He anticipated that a crewed version would be controlled by the occupant shifting his weight.
Reader's Guide
The Clout Mechanical Air-Ship represents an early, if unsuccessful, step in helicopter development. Its design, featuring a circular rail for rotor rotation and a belt-driven propeller system, reflects the experimental nature of pre-World War I aviation. The machine was tested in a field in Worthing, West Sussex, in 1903 but failed to lift off. Clout submitted a patent application for a 'Mechanical Air-Ship' on 11 June 1903, but the application does not appear to have progressed. After failing to gain support from the War Office, Clout traveled to Montreal, Canada in November 1905 and then to New York in early 1906 to raise capital for building a practical machine. In May 1906, due to ill health, he decided to return to Great Britain but died en route and was buried at sea. The aircraft's legacy is that of a pioneering but grounded concept, highlighting the challenges of early helicopter design and the personal cost of pursuing unproven technology.
Did You Know?
- George Clout spent thirteen or fourteen years studying aerial navigation before building his helicopter.
- Clout died en route back to Great Britain in May 1906 and was buried at sea.
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