__NOTOC__ The Ferguson monoplane was the first

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

heavier-than-air craft to fly. The

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

was designed by

Harry Ferguson Henry George "Harry" Ferguson (4 November 188425 October 1960) was a British mechanic and inventor who is noted for his role in the development of the modern agricultural tractor and its three point linkage system, for being the first person ...

and built by his brother's company J.B. Ferguson & Company in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

Development

started as an Irish mechanic and while working with his brother Joe became interested in aircraft. Ferguson first flew his monoplane on 31 December 1909, the first flight of an Irish heavier-than-air craft. The monoplane was flown during 1910, including one flight of 2.5 miles (4 km), but was badly damaged in a heavy landing in December 1910.

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* {{refend 1900s British experimental aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1909 Single-engined tractor aircraft High-wing aircraft