| Bill Frost
William (Bill) Frost (28 May 1848 � March 1935) was an amateur aviator, who, some believe, made the first manned flight by a heavier-than-air aircraft.
Bill Frost was a carpenter who was born, died and lived most of his life in Saundersfoot a village on the Pembrokeshire coast of South Wales. His father was John Frost and his mother Rebecca Frost. Sometime in the 1890s he was taken with the idea of building a flying machine. Despite his poverty he managed to construct the "Frost Airship Glider", and performed a first flight on or about 24 September 1896. It is estimated to have covered about 500 metres in the air before making a forced landing in some bushes. During the night following the flight a violent storm destroyed and scattered the flying machine. The event was witnessed but not recorded - save in local memories. Although a poor working man, Frost had applied for a patent which was accepted and registered in London on 25 October 1894 under number 1894-20431. Unable to pay renewal fees, he allowed the patent to lapse four years later. |
