John H. Campbell wrote:
Good point about Otto and Gustav. "Birdflight as the basis for
Aviation" is
in reprint and evidences the fascination of those brothers with
soaring
flight. The quote I liked came early in their program:
"We returned home, after these experiments, with the conviction that
sailing
flight was not the exclusive prerogative of birds" - Otto Lilienthal,
1874.
However, their devices were hardly sailplanes (either in performance,
control, or launch means), more like parachutes.


Thanks for sharing this John. I found this quote which I think is
perfect for those of us who yearn to get into the air as Spring
approaches:

"With each advent of spring, when the air is alive with innumerable
happy creatures; when the storks on their arrival at their old northern
resorts fold up the imposing flying apparatus which has carried them
thousands of miles, lay back their heads and announce their arrival by
joyously rattling their beaks; when the swallows have made their entry
and hurry through our streets and pass our windows in sailing flight;
when the lark appears as a dot in the ether and manifests its joy of
existence by its song; then a certain desire takes possession of man.
He longs to soar upward and to glide, free as the bird, over smiling
fields, leafy woods and mirror-like lakes, and so enjoy the varying
landscape as fully as only a bird can do."
Otto Lilienthal

I need to read this book!