05/31/2011. The single-seat Archaeopteryx was a striking tail-less design with pterodactyl wing but retaining a normal rudder. It was designed and built at Attenborough, Beeston (near Nottingham, Nottinghamshire), UK, between 1926 and 1930 by the brothers Richard Francis Turney and Richard John Turney Granger, with some assistance from C.H. Latimer-Needham.

Powered by a 32 hp Bristol Cherub I engine the Archaeopteryx first flew at RAF Hucknall, some 8 mls (13 km) north of Attenborough, in October 1930, but was not registered (as G-ABXL) until June 3, 1932.

The aircraft was deregistered on December 1, 1946 and eventually became part of the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden Aerodrome, near Biggleswade. Registered again as G-ABXL on February 17, 1971, it was occasionally flown at Old Warden. On April 2, 2002, the aircraft was reregistered to John Richard Granger of Attenborough.

Span: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Length: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
Wing area: 102 sq.ft (9.48 sq.m)
Empty weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
Loaded weight: 612 lb (278 kg)
Max speed: 95 mph (153 kmh)
Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 kmh)
Stall speed: 37 mph (60 kmh)