"Steve Hix" wrote in message
...

Sigh...

According to *you*:

In article . net,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

Yes, I probably should have mentioned that Ader had not equipped his
craft
with any kind of flight control system, so this was obviously not
controlled
flight.

Ergo the simile: Ader's gadget compared to an inflated inner tube,
drifting downstream.

Need any further clarification?


Sigh... Not I, but I think someone does.


McNicoll:
"In 1890 Clement Ader's "Eole" rose from level ground under it's own power
and traveled some 50 yards or so at an altitude of about one foot before
settling back down. Since Ader had not equipped the craft with any kind of
flight control system, this was obviously not controlled flight, but it was
the first time a manned heavier-than-air machine took off from level ground
under its own power."


Hix:
"It fell a bit short on the 'controlled' part, though."


McNicoll:
"Yes, I probably should have mentioned that Ader had not equipped his craft
with any kind of flight control system, so this was obviously not controlled
flight."


Had you followed the thread a bit closer, you might have observed that I DID
say that Ader had not equipped his craft with any kind of flight control
system, so this was obviously not controlled flight.