Edward Teshmaker Busk
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Edward Teshmaker Busk, London Electrical Engineers RE(T) (8 March 1886 - 5 November 1914) was an English
pioneer of early aircraft design, and the designer of the first full-sized efficient inherently stable aeroplane.
He was the son of Thomas Teshmaker Busk (1852–1894) and Mary Busk née Acworth (1854–1935), of Hermongers, Rudgwick
, Sussex. After attaining First Class Honours in Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge
in June 1912 he became Assistant Engineer at the newly formed Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, later the Royal Aircraft Establishment
. Here he devoted much of his time to the mathematics and dynamics of stable flight.
In the early years of powered flight inherent stability in an aircraft was a most important quality. Busk took his theories into the air and tried them out in practice. In 1913 this work was used in the R.E.1 (Reconnaissance Experimental), claimed as the first inherently stable aeroplane, and resulted in the development of the B.E.2c.
The remarkable feature of this design was that there was no single device that was the cause of the stability. The stability resulted from detailed design of each part of the aircraft, with due regard to its relation to, and effect on, other parts in the air. Weights and areas were so arranged that under most conditions the machine would tend to right itself.
Busk was killed on 5 November 1914 while flying a B.E.2 which caught fire at Laffans Plain (now Farnborough Airfield), near Aldershot. He was buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery
with full military honours.
His genius and his courage were recognised by the posthumous award of the Gold Medal of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, and amongst the many letters of condolence received by his mother was one from King George V.
His youngest brother, Hans Acworth Busk (b.1894), was reported missing on 6 January 1916, last seen flying a heavy bombing aeroplane against the Turks at Gallipoli. They were both survived by their mother, by sister Mary Agnes Dorothea Morse (1888–1960) (author of "E.T. Busk, a pioneer in flight") and by brother Henry Gould Busk (1890–1956).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
pioneer of early aircraft design, and the designer of the first full-sized efficient inherently stable aeroplane.
He was the son of Thomas Teshmaker Busk (1852–1894) and Mary Busk née Acworth (1854–1935), of Hermongers, Rudgwick
Rudgwick
Rudgwick is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England located six miles west of Horsham on the north side of the A281 road. The border between Surrey and Sussex runs through the northern part of the village....
, Sussex. After attaining First Class Honours in Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
in June 1912 he became Assistant Engineer at the newly formed Royal Aircraft Factory, Farnborough, later the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
. Here he devoted much of his time to the mathematics and dynamics of stable flight.
In the early years of powered flight inherent stability in an aircraft was a most important quality. Busk took his theories into the air and tried them out in practice. In 1913 this work was used in the R.E.1 (Reconnaissance Experimental), claimed as the first inherently stable aeroplane, and resulted in the development of the B.E.2c.
The remarkable feature of this design was that there was no single device that was the cause of the stability. The stability resulted from detailed design of each part of the aircraft, with due regard to its relation to, and effect on, other parts in the air. Weights and areas were so arranged that under most conditions the machine would tend to right itself.
Busk was killed on 5 November 1914 while flying a B.E.2 which caught fire at Laffans Plain (now Farnborough Airfield), near Aldershot. He was buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery
Aldershot Military Cemetery
Aldershot Military Cemetery, is a burial ground for military personnel, or ex-military personnel. It is located in Aldershot Military Town, Hampshire...
with full military honours.
His genius and his courage were recognised by the posthumous award of the Gold Medal of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, and amongst the many letters of condolence received by his mother was one from King George V.
His youngest brother, Hans Acworth Busk (b.1894), was reported missing on 6 January 1916, last seen flying a heavy bombing aeroplane against the Turks at Gallipoli. They were both survived by their mother, by sister Mary Agnes Dorothea Morse (1888–1960) (author of "E.T. Busk, a pioneer in flight") and by brother Henry Gould Busk (1890–1956).
Memorials
- Busk Crescent, Farnborough.
- The Busk Memorial, R.A.E. Farnborough, a small lily pond and fountain with memorial plaque.
- Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick.
- The Busk Studentship in Aeronautics at Cambridge University