PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The Wright brothers just glided in 1903. They flew in 1908.
Old 27th May 2014, 11:38
  #31 (permalink)  
Haraka
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South East of Penge
Age: 74
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Wheels

Perhaps they knew they couldn't.
With wheels on skids, in rough pasture with an aircraft unstable in pitch and with marginal excess power available, the catapult and rail was maybe a better option for getting airborne within a reasonable distance in still air.
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