Mayfly is first purchase of British naval aviation fleet

A century of British naval aviation history began with an order in 1909 for His Majesty's Airship 1. The Mayfly emerged from Vickers two years later. Read more about the Royal Navy's first 100 years as an avaion power in our feature on a Century of Fleet.

"At last our leviatan of the air has emerged from the interior of its hiding place." is how Flight described the Mayfly in our 27 May 1911 issue.