PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The Wright brothers just glided in 1903. They flew in 1908.
Old 27th May 2014, 20:36
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simplex1
 
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I looked up the synonyms for glide. remember folks, flying as we know it today did not have the terms we use today.
one of the synonyms for glide is: FLY
Synonyms are not words with the same meaning 100%.

The verb "to glide" is clearly explained in the dictionary
see: Glide - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

and means "to fly without engine power", "to descend gradually in controlled flight"

Regarding the meaning of "glide" in 1904-1905, it was the same as today.

Talking about the Wright brothers, a certain Amos I. Root wrote in January 1905:

"I shall have to apologize a little, friends, for giving a picture of the gliding-machine instead of a flying-machine" (Source: NOVA | Wright Brothers' Flying Machine | The First Reporter | PBS ).
Root made a clear distinction between gliding and flying.
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