Archive Biography 

Horatio Frederick Phillips

1845-1926 

Horatio Phillips was born in London in 1845.  A man of diverse talents he experimented with hydrofoils, for which he obtained a patent in 1875 and established the concept that differently, cambered sections produce varying lift.  Upon this research the foundation of all modern aerofoil design was established.  A further nine years of experimentation culminated, in 1884, with Patent No.13768 "Blades for Deflecting Air".  In this patent a series of curved shapes, which were the precursor to the modern aerofoil, demonstrated the enhanced ratio of lifting power to drag that these curved shapes had over flat plates.  Phillips published the results of this valuable work in Volume 40 of Engineering in 1885. 

To enable him to conduct these experiments he designed and built a square section wind tunnel through which a current of high-speed air, produced by a steam injector system, was passed.  This system of generating a moving air mass by suction had many advantages over the earlier fan-generated wind tunnels.

Phillips continued his experimentation and constructed a large model that embodied his ideas.  The lifting surfaces on this model were a series of long narrow slots, curved in section and superimposed on top of each other in the fashion of a venetian blind.  This was tested in 1890 and Patent No. 20435 "Flying Machine" was granted.  In Aeronautics 1815 - 1891, published in 1893 by Griffith Brewer and Patrick Alexander the following resume of the patent was detailed.

"This invention is based upon a previous invention, No13768, AD 1884, by the same inventor, in which he described the use of blades having convex upper surfaces.  By giving these blades a rapid forward motion, a partial vacuum is formed above, thereby giving them a lifting power.  According to this present invention a number of these blades are placed one above the other in a frame, and two or more of these frames are attached to the upper part of a body which is propelled by apparatus not described or shown".

While Phillips was still in his early twenties he built and attempted to fly at Battersea, London, a machine designed to ascend vertically.  Two co-axial counter rotating propellers were driven by a small steam engine but the power produced was insufficient to lift the machine from the ground.

Phillips then built a series of unpowered control line models of box kite design which, having been launched by catapult; glided around a circular track that had been constructed at Norwood Park, not far from Crystal Palace.

To augment his earlier wind tunnel research, experiments were carried out with various aerofoil sections attached to a 50 foot revolving arm.  This large rotating test rig was driven by a 6-hp steam engine, which was of Phillips own design.

At Harrow in 1893, Phillips built a three-wheeled triangular chassis to which he fitted a frame enclosing fifty of his aerofoil sections.  Two paddle shaped pusher propeller blades were driven, via a bevel drive and chain, by a 6-hp steam engine; similar to the one used to power the revolving arm.  The flying machine, weighing 416 lb. (188.7 kg.), was tethered to a central pillar and ran around a 200 ft. circular wooden track.  Although there is no documentary evidence to substantiate the claim, it is reputed to have become airborne for one complete circuit of the track.

Between 1900 and 1902, at Crystal Palace, Phillips is reported to have built and tested several full size aircraft including two vertical take off designs but all these tests were unsuccessful.

In 1904 he produced the first design which he hoped would be capable of carrying a man. The craft, similar to his earlier test models, had 20 multiplanes and was powered by a 22-hp piston engine of his own design. This engine powered a two bladed tractor propeller. Complete with pilot the “Phillips Multiplane” weighed 600 lb.
(272 kg.) and although the lift generated seemed to be sufficient for flight it lacked the necessary longitudinal stability. This deficiency in direction control led to a series of mishaps when the machine was tested on Streatham Common and although it underwent several changes in design it failed to leave the ground.

Phillips returned to Streatham in the spring of 1907 with his Phillips Multiplane II. This design returned to the earlier 50-slat multiplane concept, however, this machine had only four aerofoil frames which, were mounted on a four-wheeled carriage. The pilot was positioned between the middle two frames on a rudimentary seat. Powered by the engine that had been installed in the twenty multiplane machine, it drove a single 7-ft tractor propeller. The total weight with pilot was about 670 lbs. (304 kg.). Several short hops were achieved including one of about 510 ft. (133 m.) which, if it had been officially credited would have qualified as the first powered aircraft to fly in Great Britain. There is evidence of another man carrying Phillips Multiplane this one
powered by a 6-cylinder engine, however, information on this machine is sparse.

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