Ernest Archdeacon and his propeller motorcycle
Archdeacon was a wealthy and well-educated Frenchman of Irish descent active in aviation, motor racing and, to a lesser extent, motorcycling.
His propeller driven motorcycle caused considerable sensation but was never intended as a production model - an Anzani-powered Buchet, it was built to test propellers. His machine achieved almost 80 km/h.
His exploits in aviation are the stuff of legend: he built gliders and aeroplanes, he was a hot-air balloonist, and he was instrumental in the advancement of aviation in France. He offered a prize for the first 1km flight around a circuit of 50,000 francs - the equivalent of 20 years salary for the average French worker.
Sources:
The MotorCycle magazine
Wikipedia
Bourdache pp 280, 281, 298, 306.
If you have a query or information about this pioneer French contraption please contact us
