Editing Percy Pilcher (section)

==Death==
[[Image:Pilcher monument.jpg|thumb|Monument near [[Stanford Hall, Leicestershire]] at the point where Pilcher crashed his glider (the monument is actually located just across the county boundary in [[Northamptonshire]])]]
[[Image:PercyPilcherBrompton01.jpg|thumb|upright|Funerary monument, [[Brompton Cemetery]], London]]
On 30 September 1899, having completed his triplane, he had intended to demonstrate it to a group of onlookers and potential sponsors, including the eminent Member of Parliament [[John Henniker Heaton]], in a field near Stanford Hall.  However, days before, the engine crankshaft had broken and, so as not to disappoint his guests, he decided to fly the ''Hawk'' instead.  The weather was stormy and rainy, but by 4&nbsp;pm Pilcher decided the weather was good enough to fly.<ref>'Mr Leicester'. 2008. The Rise and fall of Percy Pilcher. Leicester Mercury Saturday 2 February pp 16–17.)</ref> The canvas on the wings of the ''Hawk'' had become saturated by rain; unbeknown to Pilcher, this caused the fabric to contract putting excessive strain on the [[bamboo]] frame: Whilst in mid-air, the tail snapped and Pilcher plunged 10 metres (30&nbsp;ft) to the ground: he died two days later from his injuries, having never regained consciousness, with his triplane having never been publicly flown.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burkeman |first=Oliver |title=Soaring ambition |date=1 December 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/dec/01/theairlineindustry.g2 |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=29 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="GGPSP"/>

He is buried in [[Brompton Cemetery]], west London.