With the help of Forrestt's boatyard, construction by Humphreys of the biplane started in 1908 near Wivenhoe on the River Colne, Essex.[1] With a span of 45 feet it was a sesquiplane biplane with a single-seat hull. The biplane had a 350NaN0 JAP V8 air-cooled engine which drove two counter-rotating propellers.
The biplane was launched on 3 April 1909 but it turned turtle and sank due to an accident. Recovered and tested again, The Times reported in April 1909 that a further trial was abandoned when the gearing between the engine and the propellers failed.[2] In May 1909 it did manage to skim the water at speed of 12 knots but failed to overcome the drag in the design and failed to fly.