caption death_date image_size nationality article_title birth_date known_for employer name
edward purkis frost 1922 200px english edward purkis frost
 1842 aeronautic experiments aeronautical society edward purkis frost
edward purkis frost

edward purkis frost -lrb- 1842 -- 1922 -rrb- was an english pioneer of aviation .
he built ornithopters and became president of the aeronautical society .
e.p. frost lived at west wratting hall in cambridgeshire and became a justice of the peace .
frost began studying flight in 1868 and built a large steam-powered flying machine with both fixed and flapping wings from 1870 to 1877 .
frost had intended to have a 20-25 hp steam engine but the actual engine with 5 hp was not powerful enough to lift the ornithopter from the ground .
the experiment cost frost # 1000 .
in collaboration with several colleagues he started another large similar craft in 1902 with an internal combustion engine .
it lifted from the ground in 1904 .
a wing from this craft is displayed in london 's science museum .
frost had been a member of the aeronautical society since 1875 and became its president from 1908 to 1911 .
