Gustav Weisskopf

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 02:40:55 GMT, "The Enlightenment"
wrote in Message-Id:
:

He had an horizontal tailplane and elevator, he had twin air[s]crews that
could bee varied to change direction and he had roll control via
weight shifting (not a good method but it works for hang gliders and
it worked for Lilienthaal.)

But what of the (arguably excessive) weight of Weisskopf's machine
which included a separate engine to power the wheels?

While his propellers are criticized for being inefficient it has to be
remembered that he accelerated his vehicle via engaging road wheels: a
method that must be near 100% efficient.

If the motor which powered the wheels were able to propel Weisskopf's
craft to flying speed (doubtful), it would have been forced to rely
upon those alleged inefficient propellers to sustain its flight.

I don't discredit the Wright Brothers, the thoroughness of their work
is excellent and they clearly had got it right by 1905.

By 1910 successful flight was going to be inevitable: the advances in
engine power to weight ratio meant that the power was finally
available to realize it.

It was Glen Curtiss, the motorcycle racer and engine builder, who won
aviation's first speed race at Reims, France, on August 29, 1909:
http://www.esparacing.com/Air%20Raci...ain%20menu.htm