WORLD POWERWORLD POWER

Progress in FlightProgress in Flight

Civil War Balloons– First use by Union, but not very successful– Telegraph sent messages from balloon to ground– Mostly private owners/operators that volunteered services and

equipment– First 2 years of war then disbanded due to lack of interest and

accidents– South appreciated use, but no resources– No military balloon activity, 1863-1890– England, Germany, Spain, Russia, Italy and Japan had all

established programs by 1884Spanish-American War Balloons

1 balloon in army at start of war

Directed artillery fire at the Battle of San Juan

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHTProblems

Develop lift Build “lighter than air” aircraftLight materials, hot air or hydrogen1 cubic foot of air weighs roughly 28 grams (~ 1 ounce) ...air heated to 180 degrees weighs about 21 grams1 cubic foot of air in a hot air balloon can lift about 7 grams, that's not much, and this is why hot air balloons are so huge -- to lift 1 pound, you need about 65 cubic feet of hot air (4x4x4)Helium available by 1905, but not used until after 1935

Sustain liftDrop weightMaintain fireHydrogen

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHTProblems

Control flightUp or down to find wind in ~ the right directionStill problem for balloonsProblem lasts for almost 100 years1783 to at least 1885

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHTDirigibles Shape Changes

Dirigibles are rigid and hold their shape…blimps are not rigid and require gas to hold their shapeJean-Baptiste Meusnier

French general; suggested shape of football, several compartments and passenger car

Henri GiffardSmall steam engine w/ propeller on cigar shaped balloon; 1852

Renard and KrebsElectric motor; limited range because of weight and battery life, 1884

Internal Combustion EnginePaul Haenlein

German engineer, coal gas from balloonMore gas used, less available for lift

Non-rigid and RigidAlberto Santos-Dumont

15 small, blimps w/ gas engines, 1898Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin

Improved for public useInterested during American Civil WarDr. Wolfert applied gasoline engine, 1896Schwartz, Austrian engineer, constructed rigid airship, 1897Zeppelin built/flew first rigid airships, 1900

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Heavier-than-Air FlightInternal Combustion EnginePaul Haenlein

German engineer, coal gas from balloonMore gas used, less available for liftUsed ~ 250 cubic feet of gas per hour replaced by air

Dr. Karl Wolfert applied gasoline engine, 1896

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Scientific StudyGeorge Cayley (1857)

Built whirling-arm device to measure force on a lifting surface

Built gliders

Proposed fixed wings for lift and a separate system to give power

Proposed wings in front w/ tail and wings in shallow “V” made it easier to keep wings level in flight

Identified “lift”, “drag”, “thrust”, and curved upper surface on wings

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Scientific StudyHiram Maxim

Built huge airplane weighing 7,000 pounds

360 horsepower steam engine

Wing area more than 4,000 sq feet

2 rails, one to support it, other to keep it from rising more than a couple of inches, “test vehicle”

Actually flew, but lost control and was damaged

Gave up experiments, claiming propulsion and lift were solved problems

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Unpowered FlightJohn Montgomery

Invented new glider (1905) that could do sharp dives and turns in 20 minute flight

Otto Lilienthal

Started gliding school in 1890s

Could soar, sometimes reaching heights greater than his starting point

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Powered FlightWilliam Henson and John Stringfellow

Designed airplane (1842); practical design, 150 ft wingspan, 2 6-bladed propellers, powered by a 25-horsepower engine

10 foot model (1848) w/ superb light weight steam engine, may have flown 120 feet

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

Powered FlightDr. Samuel Pierpont Langley

First worked on models with rubber bands

Constructed (1857) whirling-arm device to measure air pressure against moving surfaces

Built planes that flew (1896) 1/2 and 3/4 of mile, steam

In 1903, built airplane, but never got it launched, unknown if it would have flown

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

American Developments in AviationThe United States was slow to realize the military significance of aviation.

First official recognition was the creation of the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps, 1907 (1 officer, 1 enlisted)Then, Aviation Section of the Signal Corps, July 1914 (60 officers, 260 enlisted)The airplane, invented in 1903 by the Wright Brothers, was destined to change established procedures of war

American Developments in AviationThe Wright Brothers

Had access to the knowledge about flight gained by others before them

However, this knowledge was often wrongLived at a time when first practical motor (engine) had been developedPossessed a combination of attitudes and aptitudes

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

American Developments in AviationThe Wright Brothers’ First Powered Plane

Biplane with a wingspan of 40 feet, 4 inches21 feet long and 8 feet high605 poundsDec, 1903Kitty Hawk, N.C.

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

American Developments in AviationGlen Curtiss

Light, powerful gasolinemotorcycle enginesW/ Alexander Graham Bell built several airplanes, first ailerons and first seaplane

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHTEuropean Developments in Aviation

– Igor SikorskyRussian born2 unsuccessful helicopter-likemachines, 1909-19101st successful 4-engineairplane, 1913

Fully enclosed cockpitLanding gearTandem pairs?Separate

PROGRESS IN FLIGHTPROGRESS IN FLIGHT

Worldwide Developments in AviationBy the end of 1911, aviation had grown and spread

353 pilots in France57 pilots in Britain46 pilots in Germany32 pilots in Italy27 pilots in BelgiumThe United States ranked sixth in the world with only 26 pilots

Powered FlightCharles Manly

5-cylinder, fixed-radial, water-cooled engine, 52 horsepower, 125 pounds

One of most efficient engines up to WWII

PROBLEMS OF FLIGHTPROBLEMS OF FLIGHT