Recognition Sought for Aviation Innovator

More recognition is being sought for a previous Scarborough MP who was a major innovator in the world of aviation.

Sir George Cayley MP represented Scarborough in Parliament and also developed the world’s first manned, fixed-wing flight when he was in his 70s, 50 years before the famous flight by The Wright Brothers.

Sir George, also referred to as the “father of aviation”, sent a servant up on the maiden voyage in Brompton Dale in 1853.

Now Sir William Worsely of Hoveringham Hall, his distant great grandson, is calling for greater recognition for “one of our greatest Yorkshiremen”.  He commented “it is important that he is recognised. I think Yorkshire should be dead proud of him.”

Sir George’s glider at the Yorkshire Air Museum

The talented Victorian engineer’s achievements didn’t end there, he also invented self-righting lifeboats, the tension-spoke wheel, caterpillar tracks, seatbelts and small-scale helicopters.