Cyril Ridley
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Lindenthal, Cologne, Germany
Cyril Burfield Ridley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 January 1895 Esher, Surrey, England |
| Died | 17 May 1920 (aged 25) Lindenthal, Cologne, Germany |
| Buried | 50°53′53″N 6°56′16″E / 50.89806°N 6.93778°E |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1920 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles / wars | World War I • Western Front |
Flight Lieutenant Cyril Burfield Ridley DSC (15 January 1895 – 17 May 1920) was a British World War I flying ace, who served in the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force, before being killed in a flying accident in 1920.[1]
Competitions
Cyril Burfield Ridley was born in Esher, Surrey, on 15 January 1895, the son of Douglas and Victoria Ridley. He attended Arundel House School in Surbiton, where he became a keen member of the school's Aero Club. In 1910, when aged only 15 he designed and built a man-carrying Chanute-type biplane glider, with a wingspan of 18 feet.[2][3] Ridley was also a builder of both powered and unpowered model aircraft, taking part in numerous events, often competing against his fellow Arundel Aero Club member Reginald F. Mann, and his teacher and Aero Club secretary, Robert P. Grimmer – who would go on to form their own model aircraft company in 1913, before moving on to a full size aircraft in 1915.[4]
- On 18 June 1910 he took part in the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association's Youths' Longest Flight and Stability Competition, which took place on Wimbledon Common. Mann won, with Ridley's monoplane glider coming third, winning him a bronze medal and five shillings.[5]
- On 7 June 1911 the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association held another competition, at the Sports Ground, Crystal Palace. In the Junior Duration Competition Ridley and Mann were tied for first place after three flights, with Ridley beating Mann in the re-fly by 34 seconds.[6]
- Ten days later, 17 June 1911, the South-Eastern Branch of the Aero Models Association held an open model flying meeting on Mitcham Common, where Ridley won the Distance Race, with a flight of 542 yards (496 m).[7]
- The month following, on 29 July 1911, at the South-Eastern Branch of the Aero Models Association's monthly model flying competition, again on Mitcham Common, Mann took the prize for duration, with Ridley winning the distance prize.[8]
- On 5 July 1911, the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association held a competition for the Wakefield Gold Challenge Cup, awarded for powered models. Points were awarded for shortest take-off, duration and stability. Ridley came sixth.[9]
- On 12 August 1911, the Kite and Model Aeroplane Association held the second annual competition for the Gamage Silver Challenge Cup at Greenford Bridge, which was won by Ridley's "Ridleyplane No. 60" twin-screw monoplane, with a flight distance of 1,681 feet 10.5 inches (512.64 m).[10]
- On 17 February 1912 the Kite And Model Aeroplane Association held a distance and duration competition for hand-launched models on Wimbledon Common, though none of the four competitors (including Mann) were able to surpass Ridley's records of 560 yards (510 m) and 61 seconds.[11]
- On 8 June 1912, during the second annual contest for the Model Engineer Challenge Cup at the Aviation Ground at Northolt Junction, Ridley was again competing against Mann, as well as Charles Richard Fairey, and though his rubber-powered monoplane did not make the longest flight, Ridley was judged overall winner based on efficiency.[12]
- On 27 July 1912, Ridley took part in the third Gamage Cup competition at Greenford, but came third and thus lost his title to the winner; R. B. C. Noorduyn of the Rotterdam Model Aero Club.[13]
After leaving school Ridley worked for the Sopwith Aviation Company[4] as an aeronautical engineer. While still working at Sopwith's, he learned to fly, and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2474 after soloing a Maurice Farman biplane at the Hall School, Hendon, on 20 February 1916.[1]
