10/31/2008. The Short brothers Eustace, Horace and Oswald, started to build heavier-than-air machines in 1908, the first was a biplane glider derived from the Wright brothers concept. In 1909 Short Brothers was the first aircraft producer ever receiving a contract for quantity production, building six Wright biplanes ordered by the Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur, intended for use in the UK.

Designed by Horace the Short No. 1 also superficially resembled the Wright biplanes, but differed substantially in detail design, while it was powered by a car engine. In 1908, three attempts to fly the No. 1 were made by pioneer aviator Frank McLean, before it was damaged. Reportedly it was repaired and flown with a French Bariquand & Marre engine.