Aviation in Britain Before the First World War- the work of Samuel Franklin Cody in Airship, Kite and Aircraft Aeronautics 1903 - 1913 Spectators surround the Cody Aircraft Mark III outside S F Cody's shed on Laffan's Plain near Aldershot. The Mark III was a smaller and lighter design than Cody's previous aircraft. It was built for the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race in July 1911, which offered a £10,000 first prize. The race, with 21 participants, started at Brooklands on 22 July and was won by Lt Conneau of the French Navy (entered under the pseudonym of Beaumont) in a Bleriot monoplane on 26 July. Cody suffered several mishaps and fell out of contention as a result. However he completed the 1000 mile course and received a great deal of publicity. Cody went on to win his second and third Michelin trophies in this aircraft. It was badly damaged on 3 July 1912 by Major H D Harvey-Kelly who hit a tree while landing.