British Military Trials were held in August, 1912 at Larkhill, Wilts, to select the most suitable aircraft for use by the what, when organized was to become the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). In a split decision Samuel Cody won the 5,000 pound prize and the Farman biplane also known as the Bristol Tractor Biplane got the first contract.

This real photo postcard was taken Aug 1912 at Larkhill. It shows Samuel Franklin Cody the winner and crew. It is believed to have been inscribed on the back shortly after Cody's death in 1913 by what appears to have been a close friend.

This image of the Airship Gamma II and a Bristol Boxkite over Stonehenge was believed to be taken that day by photographer T.L.Fuller of Amsbury, a local photographer that photographed many of the early aviators and airships flying in and out of Larkhill between 1910 and 1914 when all flight operations were moved and the Field shut down.

This image was popular with both visitors and Aviation enthusiasts alike. First sold as a real photo postcard by the Photographer L. Fuller of Amesbury, this image was reproduced a number of times, both before, and during the war and was popular with the troops.

I would like to thank Rod Filan at http://www.earlyaviator.com for his assistance in identifying the airship as the Gamma II.

In March 2006 the log book for the Gamma describing the trials was sold on ebay for about 500 pounds sterling. It it my hopes that the next owner will share some some better pictures and a transcript of the text relating to Larkhill and the trials. Alas it will most likely vanish into a personal collection and be lost for a lot more years.