In 1911 the British War Office announced their first Military Aeroplane Competition for aircraft to meet the requirements of the Air Battalion Royal Engineers. The formal requirements were published in December 1911. By the time the trials were held in August 1912, the Air Battalion had become the Military wing of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). It was held at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, and the competition was won by S. F. Cody with his Cody V biplane.