145 years ago, a practical aircraft design.
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145 years ago, a practical aircraft design.
145 years ago, on this date, August 18th, 1871, a practical aircraft design was presented:
18 August 1871: Alphonse Pénaud demonstrated the first inherently stable airplane when he flew his model Planophore at a meeting of the Société de Navigation Aérienne at the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, France. The model airplane had a wing span of 18 inches (46 centimeters), a length of 20 inches (51 centimeters) and weighed 15.9 grams. The model was powered by a twisted rubber band which drove an 8 inch diameter (20 centimeter) two-blade propeller positioned at the tail in a pusher configuration.
At this demonstration, Pénaud’s Planophore flew 131 feet (39.9 meters) in 11 seconds.
The craft gained its stability from several features that later became common in aircraft design. The wings curved upward toward the tips, creating a dihedral effect. A horizontal stabilizer at the rear was mounted with a lower angle of incidence than the wings. Pénaud’s use of the twisted rubber band became a common feature of aircraft design models.
18 August 1871: Alphonse Pénaud demonstrated the first inherently stable airplane when he flew his model Planophore at a meeting of the Société de Navigation Aérienne at the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, France. The model airplane had a wing span of 18 inches (46 centimeters), a length of 20 inches (51 centimeters) and weighed 15.9 grams. The model was powered by a twisted rubber band which drove an 8 inch diameter (20 centimeter) two-blade propeller positioned at the tail in a pusher configuration.
At this demonstration, Pénaud’s Planophore flew 131 feet (39.9 meters) in 11 seconds.
The craft gained its stability from several features that later became common in aircraft design. The wings curved upward toward the tips, creating a dihedral effect. A horizontal stabilizer at the rear was mounted with a lower angle of incidence than the wings. Pénaud’s use of the twisted rubber band became a common feature of aircraft design models.
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I'll believe it, only when I see the actual YouToob video. 
I reckon I got a paper aeroplane to fly as far as that! - in 1962, from the 3rd story verandah at high school! - and all without a rubber band, too!
I reckon I got a paper aeroplane to fly as far as that! - in 1962, from the 3rd story verandah at high school! - and all without a rubber band, too!
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Intriguing. Thanks for that, evansb.
Around the same time, a chap, down here in Oz, by the name of Lawrence Hargrave had started thinking even a little further ahead than that.
A bit later, a steam-powered proof-of-concept model of his flew.
The Wright brothers, with whom he regularly corresponded, benefitted from his research.
Around the same time, a chap, down here in Oz, by the name of Lawrence Hargrave had started thinking even a little further ahead than that.
A bit later, a steam-powered proof-of-concept model of his flew.
The Wright brothers, with whom he regularly corresponded, benefitted from his research.
Lawrence Hargrave
Avoid imitations
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Not sure how much I believe in this, but here it is for what it's worth:
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megan,
Am I paying rent down there?
Nah.
A cardboard box up the back of the park does me.
I do get to fly my box-kites from time to time, though.
They haven't yet worked out how to charge me for the wind.
Am I paying rent down there?
Nah.
A cardboard box up the back of the park does me.
I do get to fly my box-kites from time to time, though.
They haven't yet worked out how to charge me for the wind.
