UPDATE 2009

I posted this back in October last year.

Although at the time there were not many replies I received some VERY interesting PM's and from one of them made a new and special friend. My frind wishes anonimity but suffice to say, he is a relative of this gentleman featured here.

Long live the special relationship between the USA and Great Britain.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

One hundred years ago this week (October 16th 1908) Samuel Cody made the first officially recorded powered flight.

I am lucky to live just a few miles from Farnborough, Hampshire, England.

Farnborough holds a leading position in the development of flight during the last 100 years.

Samuel Cody, born in the USA eventually died doing what he loved but as a British citizen, having assisted the military to develop what was to prove to be, a distinct advantage in the imminent Great War.

You are welcome to research and add to this forum about an important figure in world history.

Roger

Samuel Cody (Franklin Cowdery of Davenport, Iowa), born 1867, one of a family of five children. Cowdery's father, a Union veteran from the American Civil War, deserted the family in 1875.

Samuel adopted his name by the time he married in 1899 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Presumably to further his "Wild West Show" ambitions. He rode the same trails as Buffalo Bill and played the same roulette tables as Wyatt Earp.

With his wife Maud, he performed demonstrations of sharp shooting and horsemanship. He is known to have competed with Annie Oakley at sharp shooting.

more to follow:

Roger

Not being the world's greatest techie I would welcome a few pictures and graphics here;

Pictures of Cody/Airplanes etc welcome

Here is a one hundred year tribute (aircraft lovers mustsee)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Z2Vzwhlos

Roger

Hi Roger!

This was interesting, and I found a picture of the House of Commons where Cody sits with other Aviators, both English and French ones.