"robert arndt" wrote in message
om...
"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...
"robert arndt" wrote in message
om...
The model aircraft that led to the aeroplane:

http://www.amars.hpg.ig.com.br/plantas/planoph.html

Rob

This was only one of the progenitors and scarcely the most advanced.

George Cayley laid a lot of the groundwork which was taken up by
pioneers such as Henson, Stringfellow and Lillienthal

Henson was experimenting with gliders and lightweight steam engines
in the 1840's and published his patent (no. 9478) in 1842. This
described
a machine with bamboo spars and diagonal wire bracing. The surface of
the
planes was to amount to 4,500 square feet, and the tail, triangular in
form
was to be 1,500 square feet. The driving power was to be supplied by a
steam engine of 25 to 30 horse-power, driving two six-bladed propellers.

John Stringfellow flew his first steam powered flying machine in 1848
and
his triplane of 1868
is on display in the Early Flight Gallery of the National Air & Space
Museum,
Washington, DC

Otto Lilienthal's work is of course seminal and laid much of the
foundations
of what is noiwadays referred to as aerodynamics. In particular his
analysis
of different wing constructions and aspect ratio, wing shape and
profile,
based on his experiments were invaluable to those who followed.

Keith

The Planophore (1871) flew farther and longer than the Wright Flyer
and was more stable. Langley, Chanute, and the Wrights all
acknowledged Penaud's accomplishments.

Sure it did but it was a model powered by a rubber band.
A machine capable of carrying a man is a rather more advanced
device and while it may have flown longer than the Wrights first flight the
they assuredly beat its record fairly quickly.

Nobody is denying Penaud certainly did good work but he was one on many.

Got something else to say? (Of course he does... he ALWAYS does)


This is a discussion group old boy, of course other people have
something to say.

Keith