Manuel 1929 Biplane

The very basic Manuel glider was an all wood two bay biplane without stagger, sweep or dihedral.

The tail surfaces were carried on a horizontally orientated flat girder formed from two long wooden members joined by four cross struts and diagonal wire bracing.

The horizontal tail was all-moving and a rhomboidal rudder was attached to a slender triangular fin.

The pilot sat, exposed, ahead of the lower wing on a short platform with the same width as the fuselage girder and extending a little behind the trailing edge.

[1] The first flight was at RAF Hawkinge in Kent, where Corporal Manuel was stationed, on 5 May 1929.