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Old December 14th 03, 11:13 PM
The Enlightenment
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"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
k.net...

"robert arndt" wrote in message
m...


http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb.../APN/312130537

p.s. At least the GW No.21 replicas built by two different

historical
societies, in two different nations, at two different times, with

two
different pilots (one of which was a Luftwaffe pilot) flew easily.


No faithful replica of a Whitehead craft has ever been built or

flown by
anyone anywhere.


As I understand it this is only in the matter of the engines.
Whitehead/Weisskopf used steam engines. These apart from the expense
of replicating them also pose a safety hazard. On the occasion of the
first flight that very plausibly took place the vehicle crashed in
avoiding a 3 story building and the steam severely scaled the stoker.
Whiteheads aircraft also carried 2 people.

His engines are interesting. He developed an 18hp aluminum steam
engine. It would be interesting to compare this to the Wrights cast
Iron petrol engine which because of its primitive state may very well
have had a lower power to weight ratio.