What The

[hawkeye2an]

Ran across this picture and never seen anything like it. Would love to know more about it.
Source: Some It's Just As Well: Photo (tumblr.com)

 

[SaparotRob]

It's definitely a cool picture.

 

[davparlr]

The bicycle is there in case he has a flat tire??? Well I guess its a motor bike.

 

[fubar57]

I remember seeing a photo of a British biplane that was used in the desert. It had all sorts of spare parts strapped to it including a propeller. The reason for this was, so says the caption, was, in case the aircraft went down in the middle of nowhere, they could fix the problem and then continue on. Not much desert traffic in the 1920s I guess

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

American college student doing the traditional summer tour of Europe?

 

[SaparotRob]

That is one serious radiator. Or sound tower.

 

[Snautzer01]

Amazon no so prime delevery of an ordered motorcycle. Cool pic.

 

[Airframes]

maybe it's an Aerial motorbike .................... yep, I've got me coat !!

 

[bdefen]

Great way to haul a dirt bike!

 

[NVSMITH]

Obviously a WW1 E&E (escape and evasion) kit

 

[Wurger]

Just mail delivering. No wonder the shipping across the sea is so expensive.

 

[tyrodtom]

In WW1 both sides used aircraft to drop off agents behind the lines to spy.
Maybe they're providing this one with a little added mobility.
Looks like a Mercedes engine, but I can't ID the aircraft.

 

[WARSPITER]

Actually, in World War One there was a significant shortage of motorcycle tyres. Therefore despatch riders would take their bike and message by plane to the
airfield nearest to the message destination and ride from there to conserve the bike tyres.

Also the pic shows the first aircraft air conditioner to keep the pilot cool (engine got quite hot) as with the bike etc bolted on the plane couldn't get to the
cooler air levels.

P.S. The above is a pile of the proverbial but it looked right at the time. Anyone else finding it reasonable should make an appointment to receive some
heavy duty medication (and no, it didn't work for me either - thus this post).