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Rigger's Notes

 - British WW1 Aircraft

Front cover to Steve Buster Johnson book, Riggers' Notes for British WW1 Aircraft


This book is a photographic facsimile of the notebook compiled by Flt Sgt G Slater in 1916 and used in educating Royal Flying Corps air mechanics at Thetford, Norfolk (later called RAF Thetford / Snarehill) the subtle art of aircraft rigging. The nine types described in detail (drawings and text) are the MF Long Horn & Short Horn, FE2b, BE2c, DH1, DH2, Avro 504, Bristol Scout and Vickers FB5.

Thanks to Ian Brotherston who has permitted me to digitise a WW1 rigging notebook that has been in his possession for many years, I have constructed an electronic version of the notebook by photographing every page as well as publishing the contents of the notebook in paperback and Ebook format with Amazon / KDP. You may view the .pdf file for free by using the pdf viewer below or you can purchase your own copy of the notebook's contents in paperback or Ebook format from the Amazon on-line book store. The book can be printed in most countries so the postage is reasonable.

 

Note:  Though it will work on a smart phone, for best performance it is recommended that you view the pdf file below on a computer or laptop / notebook.​

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Air Mechanic 2nd Class (Rigger) G Slater was posted to the No 12 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron based at Thetford Aerodome in November 1915. Thetford (aka Snrehill, Norfolk) was used for basic flight training for pilots and observers, including night flying. Slater's role as a rigger included the training of junior riggers and he compiled a comprehensive notebook detailing the rigging for nine (9) specific types of British aircraft, The Maurice Farman Longhorn and Shorthorn, the Royal Air Force Factory FE2, the Royal Air Force Factory BE2c, the De Havilland DH1 and DH2, the Avro 504, the Bristol Scout Type C and the Vickers FB5 'Gunbus'.

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