Early AviationEarly Aviation1783 - 19141783 - 1914

Chapter OneChapter One

Early AviationEarly Aviation

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci– Designed several flying machinesDesigned several flying machines– Based on flapping-wing like birdsBased on flapping-wing like birds– Called ornithopterCalled ornithopter– Used legs, arms, and one design used head to Used legs, arms, and one design used head to

power and control aircraftpower and control aircraft

OrnithopterOrnithopter

BeginningBeginning

Aerostation, levitation, or ballooningAerostation, levitation, or ballooning Montgolfier (Joseph & Etienne)Montgolfier (Joseph & Etienne)

– Defined problem as one of heat applied to airDefined problem as one of heat applied to air– Started with small modelsStarted with small models

Notified Bureau of Commerce of Notified Bureau of Commerce of experimentsexperiments

Built full-scale balloonBuilt full-scale balloon– TetheredTethered– Refined filling and releasing techniquesRefined filling and releasing techniques

First Balloon AscensionFirst Balloon Ascension

Set for 4 June 1783Set for 4 June 1783– Coincided with district assembly meetingCoincided with district assembly meeting

Construction of balloonConstruction of balloon– Wooden frameWooden frame– 4 fabric panels (rag paper)4 fabric panels (rag paper)– 1,800 buttons and seams sown1,800 buttons and seams sown– Ropes covered and reinforced balloonRopes covered and reinforced balloon

FlightFlight Hot air balloons were called “montgolfiere”Hot air balloons were called “montgolfiere”

First FlightFirst Flight

CompetitionCompetition J.A.C. Charles worked on a hydrogen balloonJ.A.C. Charles worked on a hydrogen balloon French Academy of SciencesFrench Academy of Sciences

– Awarded grant for development of balloonAwarded grant for development of balloon– Ticket sales underway to underwrite experimentsTicket sales underway to underwrite experiments

Wanted tight sealant to hold hydrogenWanted tight sealant to hold hydrogen– Dissolved rubber in turpentine and poured over Dissolved rubber in turpentine and poured over

silk taffeta fabricsilk taffeta fabric– Exterior decorated with red and blue stripesExterior decorated with red and blue stripes– Balloon smaller than Montgolfiere balloonBalloon smaller than Montgolfiere balloon

Only 12 feet in diameterOnly 12 feet in diameter

Competition - CharlesCompetition - Charles Hydrogen problemHydrogen problem

– Required 900 cubic feet of hydrogen for balloonRequired 900 cubic feet of hydrogen for balloon– Previously produced in small amountsPreviously produced in small amounts– Produced own hydrogenProduced own hydrogen

Oak barrels filled with iron filingsOak barrels filled with iron filings Poured vitriolic acid over filingsPoured vitriolic acid over filings Copper tube carried hydrogen to balloonCopper tube carried hydrogen to balloon

CompetitionCompetition Ascension set for Paris on 27 August 1783Ascension set for Paris on 27 August 1783 Balloon rose quicklyBalloon rose quickly

– 1,500 feet in 2 minutes, disappeared in clouds1,500 feet in 2 minutes, disappeared in clouds– Obscured most of flight from viewObscured most of flight from view

Fell to ground north of ParisFell to ground north of Paris– Less than one hour flightLess than one hour flight– Balloon burst due to its steady pressure while Balloon burst due to its steady pressure while

rising through thinning airrising through thinning air– Frightened peasants attacked balloonFrightened peasants attacked balloon

22ndnd Montgolfier Balloon Montgolfier Balloon AscensionAscension

Brothers convinced Ministry of Finance to Brothers convinced Ministry of Finance to assume financial responsibilityassume financial responsibility– Scheduled for 12 Sep 1783Scheduled for 12 Sep 1783– Paper lined interior and exterior of balloonPaper lined interior and exterior of balloon– Rain washed off paper covering envelopeRain washed off paper covering envelope– CancelledCancelled

Built another balloon within weekBuilt another balloon within week– Used brightly covered, varnish-coated taffetaUsed brightly covered, varnish-coated taffeta– Had cage carrying a sheep, duck, and roosterHad cage carrying a sheep, duck, and rooster– 19 Sep 1783 set for launch19 Sep 1783 set for launch

22ndnd Montgolfier Balloon Montgolfier Balloon AscensionAscension

Rose to 1,500 feetRose to 1,500 feet– Gusty winds tilted balloon, allowing hot air to Gusty winds tilted balloon, allowing hot air to

escapeescape– Traveled more than 2 milesTraveled more than 2 miles– Animals landed safelyAnimals landed safely– King watched flight with field glassesKing watched flight with field glasses– Considered great successConsidered great success

First Manned flightFirst Manned flight Manned & tetheredManned & tethered

– Etienne was firstEtienne was first– Kept secret because of promise to fatherKept secret because of promise to father– Did not publicize experimentDid not publicize experiment

Manned & untetheredManned & untethered– Rozier & LaurentRozier & Laurent– 21 Nov 178321 Nov 1783– Lasted 25 minutesLasted 25 minutes– 5 miles5 miles– Benjamin Franklin was official observerBenjamin Franklin was official observer

Hydrogen Balloon DevelopmentHydrogen Balloon Development New developmentNew development

– Altitude controlAltitude control– Used valve and secondary opening which pilot Used valve and secondary opening which pilot

could release pressurecould release pressure

1 Dec 17831 Dec 1783– Robert & Charles flew balloonRobert & Charles flew balloon– Paris to Nesle (17 miles)Paris to Nesle (17 miles)– After landing, Charles ascended solo to 9,000 ftAfter landing, Charles ascended solo to 9,000 ft– Recorded scientific observationsRecorded scientific observations– Frightened Charles, never to fly againFrightened Charles, never to fly again

Military AviationMilitary Aviation NapoleonNapoleon

– Assigned confiscated balloon to Republican armyAssigned confiscated balloon to Republican army– Trained to work in pairsTrained to work in pairs– Observers of enemy troop positions and Observers of enemy troop positions and

movementsmovements– Proved valuable for information about enemyProved valuable for information about enemy– Disbanded in 1799Disbanded in 1799

International AviationInternational Aviation First balloon ascension outside of FranceFirst balloon ascension outside of France– 25 Feb 178425 Feb 1784– Italy with Andreani, Gerli, and GerliItaly with Andreani, Gerli, and Gerli

Other manned flight in 1784Other manned flight in 1784 IrelandIreland ScotlandScotland EnglandEngland United StatesUnited States

Blanchard & JeffriesBlanchard & Jeffries Made 2 “aerial voyages”Made 2 “aerial voyages” 11stst - London to Kent on 30 Nov 1784 - London to Kent on 30 Nov 1784

– First informal airmail deliveryFirst informal airmail delivery

22ndnd – England to France – England to France– First flight over major body of waterFirst flight over major body of water– Jeffries studied power of ascending/descendingJeffries studied power of ascending/descending

Use of oars/wings for steeringUse of oars/wings for steering Meteorological conditionsMeteorological conditions Threw everything out of balloon to cross channelThrew everything out of balloon to cross channel

United StatesUnited States Edward Warren (13 years old)Edward Warren (13 years old)

– First manned tethered flight in U.S.First manned tethered flight in U.S.

BlanchardBlanchard– First manned free flight in U.S. on 9 Jan 1793First manned free flight in U.S. on 9 Jan 1793– Philadelphia to rural New JerseyPhiladelphia to rural New Jersey– 15 miles15 miles– Continued to fly until his death in 1809Continued to fly until his death in 1809

Suffered heart attack in balloon in 1808Suffered heart attack in balloon in 1808 Died one year laterDied one year later

Exhibition FlyingExhibition Flying Charles Green – English balloonistCharles Green – English balloonist

– Used coal gas instead of hydrogenUsed coal gas instead of hydrogen– Readily available, less time to inflate/less acidicReadily available, less time to inflate/less acidic– Invented draglineInvented dragline

Used near ground to slow speed of ascent or descentUsed near ground to slow speed of ascent or descent

– 1836 – set world distance record of 480 miles1836 – set world distance record of 480 miles London to Duchy of Nassau GermanyLondon to Duchy of Nassau Germany

Wise, Gager and La MountainWise, Gager and La Mountain– 1859 set world distance record1859 set world distance record– St. Louis to Henderson, NY (809 miles)St. Louis to Henderson, NY (809 miles)– Record lasted until 1900Record lasted until 1900

Crossing the AtlanticCrossing the Atlantic Popular challenge in mid 1800sPopular challenge in mid 1800s

– John Wise pursued dream for decadesJohn Wise pursued dream for decades

First successful Atlantic CrossingFirst successful Atlantic Crossing– 10 Aug 197810 Aug 1978– Double Eagle IIDouble Eagle II– Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry

NewmanNewman

Military Aviation DevelopmentsMilitary Aviation Developments AustriaAustria

– Venice 1849Venice 1849 Launched unmanned balloons carrying bombsLaunched unmanned balloons carrying bombs

– Paris under siege in 1870 - 1871Paris under siege in 1870 - 1871 Carried passengers, mail, and propagandaCarried passengers, mail, and propaganda

United StatesUnited States– Civil War (North)Civil War (North)

Developed aerial reconnaissance techniquesDeveloped aerial reconnaissance techniques 1861 – directed artillery fire during siege of 1861 – directed artillery fire during siege of

WashingtonWashington Coal barge “Custis” converted to balloon carrierCoal barge “Custis” converted to balloon carrier Disbanded in 1863Disbanded in 1863

Military Aviation DevelopmentsMilitary Aviation Developments

ExplorationExploration Andree’s North Pole attemptsAndree’s North Pole attempts

– 11stst attempt – 1896 attempt – 1896 Unfavorable winds delayed launchingUnfavorable winds delayed launching Gas leaked outGas leaked out Abandoned attemptAbandoned attempt

– 22ndnd attempt – 11 Jul 1897 attempt – 11 Jul 1897 Expedition disappearedExpedition disappeared 1930 expedition discovered bodies 500 miles from pole1930 expedition discovered bodies 500 miles from pole Diaries helped piece events togetherDiaries helped piece events together

Dirigibles/AirshipsDirigibles/Airships DirigibleDirigible

– Non-rigid frameNon-rigid frame– Balloon with sufficient power to overcome the Balloon with sufficient power to overcome the

resistance of airresistance of air– Aircraft that can be directed or steeredAircraft that can be directed or steered

AirshipAirship– Dirigible balloon that has semi-rigid or rigid Dirigible balloon that has semi-rigid or rigid

internal frameinternal frame

Dirigibles/AirshipsDirigibles/Airships Henri Giffard (24 Sep 1852)Henri Giffard (24 Sep 1852)

– First dirigible flightFirst dirigible flight– Used 3-horsepower steam engine (350 lbs)Used 3-horsepower steam engine (350 lbs)– Flew 6 MPH and 17 milesFlew 6 MPH and 17 miles– Demonstrated directional and horizontal controlDemonstrated directional and horizontal control

Paris World’s Fair in 1878Paris World’s Fair in 1878– Made large balloonMade large balloon– Lifted 52 passengers aloft at one timeLifted 52 passengers aloft at one time

Dirigible DevelopmentDirigible Development Albert Santos-DumontAlbert Santos-Dumont

– Designed dirigiblesDesigned dirigibles– Used slight nose-up angle for added liftUsed slight nose-up angle for added lift– Used 3.5 horsepower air-cooled gasoline engineUsed 3.5 horsepower air-cooled gasoline engine

Henry Deutsch de la MeurtheHenry Deutsch de la Meurthe– Offered 100,000 francs as prize for roundtrip Offered 100,000 francs as prize for roundtrip

Aero Club in France to Eiffel Tower and backAero Club in France to Eiffel Tower and back 7-mile route in less than a half hour7-mile route in less than a half hour Ground speed of at least 14 MPHGround speed of at least 14 MPH

– Dumont won prize on 3Dumont won prize on 3rdrd try try– Brazil awarded additional 125,000 francsBrazil awarded additional 125,000 francs

Airship DevelopmentAirship Development Count Ferdinand von ZeppelinCount Ferdinand von Zeppelin

– Retired German army officerRetired German army officer– Developed large rigid airship with multiple gas Developed large rigid airship with multiple gas

compartmentscompartments– Dominated airship developmentDominated airship development

David SchwartzDavid Schwartz– Designed 2 all-metal airships (1897)Designed 2 all-metal airships (1897)– Structurally unsound, launched and crashedStructurally unsound, launched and crashed

Major ParsevalMajor Parseval– Drachenballoon (Kite balloon)Drachenballoon (Kite balloon)

Tethered/Used for observation and reconnaissanceTethered/Used for observation and reconnaissance

U.S. DevelopmentU.S. Development Thomas BaldwinThomas Baldwin

– First tried pedal-powered dirigibleFirst tried pedal-powered dirigible UnsuccessfulUnsuccessful

– Built “California Arrow” airshipBuilt “California Arrow” airship Used 10 HP Curtiss motorcycle engineUsed 10 HP Curtiss motorcycle engine Only airship to achieve flight at 1904 World’s FairOnly airship to achieve flight at 1904 World’s Fair

– Sold 1 improved dirigible to Army with 20 HP Sold 1 improved dirigible to Army with 20 HP engineengine

– Father of the American DirigibleFather of the American Dirigible– One of his students was Billy MitchellOne of his students was Billy Mitchell

ExplorationExploration Walter WellmanWalter Wellman

– Chicago journalistChicago journalist– Led 2 land-based North Pole expeditionsLed 2 land-based North Pole expeditions– Polar airship expeditionsPolar airship expeditions

First since Andree’s disappearance in 1897First since Andree’s disappearance in 1897

– 19061906 Never launched, engine problemsNever launched, engine problems

– 19071907 Made first motorized flight, but did not reach poleMade first motorized flight, but did not reach pole

– 19091909 Did not reach pole – vessel towed airship to baseDid not reach pole – vessel towed airship to base

ZeppelinsZeppelins Count von ZeppelinCount von Zeppelin

– Recognized military requirement for airshipsRecognized military requirement for airships Capability for long-range flightCapability for long-range flight Fly in bad weatherFly in bad weather Drop bombsDrop bombs

– 77thth Zeppelin inaugurated passenger service Zeppelin inaugurated passenger service