| History:
The first attempts to design an airplane were undertaken in the nineteenth century; in particular, the airplane was designed by Russian engineer A.F. Mozhaisky. However, even one of the designs could not lift into air. The reasons were: too much weight and non adaptability of engines (steam machines) available at that time to aviation conditions, non-availability of flight theory and in this connection, aircrafts were designed haphazardly by several pioneers of aviation, who lacked engineering experience.
Flyer, designed by Wright brothers (Orville and Wilbur) was the first aircraft, which could take-off from ground and complete a horizontal flight in USA. First test flights were conducted on December 17, 1903. “Flyer” was in air for 59 seconds and traveled 260 meters. The Wright brothers were officially credited with the invention of the powered controllable aircraft, which is heavier than air, and which completed test flight using an engine.
Their flying machine looked like a “Duck” type biplane - pilot was positioned in the lower wing and directional rudder at the back and altitude rudder in the front. Two-spar wings were covered with thin unbleached muslin. Engine of the “Flyer” was four stroke engine with starting capacity of 16 horse power and weighed just (or the on the whole, if to estimate from the modern point of view) 80 kg.
Flying machine had two wooden propellers. Instead of wheel chassis, Wright brothers used take-off catapult, consisting of pyramidal tower and wooden guiding rails. Drive of catapult was accomplished with the help of falling massive load, connected to airplane through a cable through system of special blocks. |
