On this day 10 January 1912
Published: 10 Jan 2014
On this day 10 January 1912 First aircraft launch from a British warship
A flying-off platform was constructed over the foredeck and forward 12-inch (305 mm) gun turret of the battleship HMS Africa, and Lieutenant Charles Rumney Samson took off from it using an Improved Short S27 No38. The aeroplane accelerated down the 100ft ramp before leaving the trackway.