Aeronautics In History
The first attempt at flight had been made centuries ago by a very famous inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci attempted to make a machine where a person would strap it around their body and pull the wings, but he unfortunately failed in doing so.
There were also other individuals who attempted flight. George Cayley(1773 - 1857), also known as the father of aerodynamics, created a glider model which has been designed with most elements of a modern day aircraft. Alphonse Penaud(1850 - 1880) created a rubber band powered planophore model, which gradually elevated to 131 feet in the air. This contraption would later be used to influence the Wrights' interest in flight.
The two individuals that the Wright brothers looked upon were Otto Lilienthal and Octave Chanute. Lilienthal was one of the first pilots in history, and the brothers attempted to continue his research on being stable with the wind. Chanute was more dedicated to the research of aeronautics. He also influenced the brothers, who also used his biplane glider design.
The Wrights were the first people in history to ever break the human bond with earth and be suspended in the air for a natural period of time. Their first successful flight took place on Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903 at 10:35. Ever since that flight, the brothers had improved and modified their airplane and engine design, making it more and more efficient every flight. Eventually, the rest of the world attempted to build flying machines like the brothers, but their designs were never as efficient as the Wright Flyer.
There were also other individuals who attempted flight. George Cayley(1773 - 1857), also known as the father of aerodynamics, created a glider model which has been designed with most elements of a modern day aircraft. Alphonse Penaud(1850 - 1880) created a rubber band powered planophore model, which gradually elevated to 131 feet in the air. This contraption would later be used to influence the Wrights' interest in flight.
The two individuals that the Wright brothers looked upon were Otto Lilienthal and Octave Chanute. Lilienthal was one of the first pilots in history, and the brothers attempted to continue his research on being stable with the wind. Chanute was more dedicated to the research of aeronautics. He also influenced the brothers, who also used his biplane glider design.
The Wrights were the first people in history to ever break the human bond with earth and be suspended in the air for a natural period of time. Their first successful flight took place on Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903 at 10:35. Ever since that flight, the brothers had improved and modified their airplane and engine design, making it more and more efficient every flight. Eventually, the rest of the world attempted to build flying machines like the brothers, but their designs were never as efficient as the Wright Flyer.