The Aerial Wheel Monoplane was an experimental British aircraft built during 1912 in order to compete in the Military Aeroplane Competition which was to be held at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain in August of that year.
[1] His idea was in effect a wheel where only the rim revolves, using a pair of twelve-foot diameter hoops each of which would be free to rotate while being held in place by bearings mounted on a cradle of struts.
The aircraft that was built was of canard configuration, with swept wings that changed section and angle of incidence considerably between the roots and wingtips: deeply cambered inboard, and changing to a flatter section with upswept tips, producing wash-out to enhance stability.
It was supported by struts running back from the lower leading quadrant, and a pair of long skids trailing from the fuselage were fitted to stop it keeling over and damaging the wings.
Data from Lewis, P British Aircraft 1806-1914 p. 39 (linear dimensions scaled from drawing)General characteristics