A full size replica of Henri Coanda's experimental airplane has been made in Craiova. The replica of the Coanda 1910, the original airplane designed, built and flown by Romanian aviation pioneer Henri Coanda in 1910, appeared at the Oltenia Air Show, held in Craiova over the weekend. The Romanian Aeronautical History Association built the Coanda 1910 replica with the help of local firm Policolor-Orgachim and it will be exhibited at future air shows and events.

Coanda's original was considered by some as the first jet powered airplane, although others dispute the claim. But whatever the verdict, the enclosed fan jet-like single engine was unique at the time. Henri Coanda exhibited his airplane at the Salon Aeronautique de Paris 1910. The Coanda 1910 was a two seat, single engine biplane, weighing just over 400kg, but there is disagreement over whether it ever actually flew.

In the following years, Coanda designed various more conventional propeller powered airplanes in Britain and France, but he continued to be attracted by the new and the novel. He even produced a design for a type of flying saucer, however, a working design was never built or tested. Henri Coanda died in 1972 and is now rightfully considered as one of the first wave of aeronautical pioneers, who laid the foundations for the exponential advances in aviation technology in just over 100 years.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

(photo source: ARPIA Craiova)