Post by Les on Apr 10, 2022 16:27:42 GMT
1913 a Mr Richard Mond aquired Coobebank estate.
He was a Chemist and Industrist .
having seen the wright brother demenstrate flying on the Isle of Sheppy at Shrts site.
This lead him to ab intrest in aviation.
so when Prince Serge de Bolotoff approtched him about using a field on the Estate to build and fly aircraft
Mr Mond agreed and backed him up.
Prince Serge de Bolotoff had already built a triplane but while testing it at brookland it fell apart dur to
taxi in it across roughsh ground.This was the Voisin triplane.
Mr Mond had several wooden hangers built near the Mansion.
So the de Bolotoff company of Sevenoaks was registered.
The recruiting for workers and test pilots began.
Lieutenent Olechnovitch became the chief test pilot he was also from Poland.
The Triplanes wer built and tested and administration of the company was done in the Mansion.
The company only lasted 5 years,but how many was made is not recorded.
Im 1915 there is a report that there was a plane crash at Bessels Green that is believed to be one of the
Voisins but again no record of it.
1919 have not sold many if any aircraft also that year a viosin byplane recorded as G-EAKC powered by a
200hp curtiss 8 cylinded water cooled engine.had 2 seats.
Mr Mond and the Prince parted company
Eleven years later the airfield was used by Alan Cabhan and Campbell Black for their air shows.
G-EAWS owned and built by Tom Worsell that was powered by a 10hp singer car engine flew it from the field.
during WWII it was used to dump crashed aircraft both British and German.
the Mansion was turned into a school with extra classrooms added
He was a Chemist and Industrist .
having seen the wright brother demenstrate flying on the Isle of Sheppy at Shrts site.
This lead him to ab intrest in aviation.
so when Prince Serge de Bolotoff approtched him about using a field on the Estate to build and fly aircraft
Mr Mond agreed and backed him up.
Prince Serge de Bolotoff had already built a triplane but while testing it at brookland it fell apart dur to
taxi in it across roughsh ground.This was the Voisin triplane.
Mr Mond had several wooden hangers built near the Mansion.
So the de Bolotoff company of Sevenoaks was registered.
The recruiting for workers and test pilots began.
Lieutenent Olechnovitch became the chief test pilot he was also from Poland.
The Triplanes wer built and tested and administration of the company was done in the Mansion.
The company only lasted 5 years,but how many was made is not recorded.
Im 1915 there is a report that there was a plane crash at Bessels Green that is believed to be one of the
Voisins but again no record of it.
1919 have not sold many if any aircraft also that year a viosin byplane recorded as G-EAKC powered by a
200hp curtiss 8 cylinded water cooled engine.had 2 seats.
Mr Mond and the Prince parted company
Eleven years later the airfield was used by Alan Cabhan and Campbell Black for their air shows.
G-EAWS owned and built by Tom Worsell that was powered by a 10hp singer car engine flew it from the field.
during WWII it was used to dump crashed aircraft both British and German.
the Mansion was turned into a school with extra classrooms added