Greatest contribution to aviation

[Professor Brensec]

I thought I was right - I distinctly remember the French bit and the Balloon bit.
But obviously it wasn't patented or thought to be useful (obviously there was no flight, so why would it be necessary).

As for the F86. Walsh or Welsh (I'll have to try and find the site dedicated to him) was a test pilot also, at the place that became known as 'Edwards' (where Yaeger was also) he broke the barrier in F86 test flights.

I'll post the story when I find it.

[Woodlouse2002]

Remember that R.J.Mitchell not only designed the Spitfire but also designed the Schneider cup racers that won the trophy for Britain.

Also don't forget Sidney Camm designer of the Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest. Surely he's worth a mention?

Also Barnes Wallis. He was the creator of the swing-wing concept. So with out him there would be no F14, no Tornado and no F111.

I could go on. But i won't.

[Oz]

All of these people have contributed a lot to aviation. But as mentioned before, the Wrights started it. Without them, Lindbergh, Earhart, and RJ Mitchel wouldnt have been able to achieve incredible feats. The Wrights inspired them, and every aviator and designer.

RJ Mitchels contribution to the RAF and Britain as a whole was very important. But the impact he had lasted for about a dozen or couple more decades. His Spit and other airplanes did bring victory to England during WWII, but in contribution we should try to point out the person whos work and creations will always influence man. Apart from simply being the first to create an airworthy craft, another Wright Bros' plane was modified, sold, and flown off a Navy ship, being the first American plane to do this (if i remember correctly..) This triggered an interest in carrier-borne airpower, although would be taken more seriously in the pacific.' Because of the Wrights, Lindbergh and Earhart and every aviator were inspired to do incredible things with a machine called the airplane. Frank Whittle, whose jet engine revolutionized aviation had a magnificent impact on the future..but Whittle created the jet engine for the airplane.

Final point being - Without the Wrights, there would be no future accomplishments. They started it

[Felix/FFDS]

One thing about the Wrights - while they're accepted as the first to accomplish powered flight with a controlled landing, Other than their first Flyers, they weren't as successful later on as was Curtiss and his developments.

As to who developed the jet engine - Whittle or the Germans - remember - the He178 flew on 27 AUG 1939, whilst the Gloster E.28/39's first "hops" were on 7 APR 1941.  HOWEVER, Whittle's experimentation with the gas turbine began in the mid 30's and if I remember reading correctly, there was a German mission that visited the Power Jets facilities and an imprudent government official actually spouted off details of Whittle's work, leading me to believe that there was some "cross-pollination" between Whittle's work and that of the Heinkel concern.  So I would give the nod to the development of the practical turbine to Whittle.

[Professor Brensec]

Oz,

I understand the importance of the Wrights contribution in that it proved the possibility and hence, the viability of powered flight. But they didn't invent the 'concept'. It goes back literally centuries (as stated to at least DaVinci) in terms of it being realiswtically possible.

So, althought their 'invention' made developments to follow possible, as you say, because the 'concept' was already well and truly alive and being seriously developed by many around the same time (and before), this is why we are saying that it would have been a reality within a short time after their first flight.

I still feel I have to go with the parachute bloke (whoever history decides is the one responsible).
I mean, if we want to get right down to it, what is more of a contribution to any pursuit than the preservation of life (in the order of 'countless 1000's) whilst the pursuit is being enjoyed or used for the betterment of mankind?

[Professor Brensec]

Regarding my 'meanderings' about the bloke who is acknowledged as the one who first flew faster than sound "officailly'.
I found this request from someone putting together a memorial for him.
I remebered where I saw the story about him when i read this. it was a 'Pearl Harbour' account of some kind.

Goerge S. Welch is one of the blokes who shot down the Zeros at Pearl harbour (upon whom the characters in the movie are loosely based. he flew P40's and P51's in the Pacific.

If you knew Maj. George S. Welch, Pearl Harbor hero and first man to unofficially traverse the speed of sound, it is IMPERATIVE that you contact me. We are planning to dedicate a permanent memorial in his honor at or near Edwards AFB. We are not looking for donations. But, your help and assistance in providing information about Welch will be most gratefully appreciated. If you flew with him, knew him, saw him, we would like to know about it. We would also like copies of any photos, letters, correspondence you might have. Please feel free to email me at any time. I will then provide you with my phone number and address. You may also receive email from Welch's two surviving sons of whom I am in contact with. Thank you for your time. Vern Koenig

Ahhhhhhhh!!!! - Finally, I found it!!
Read this  http://home.att.net/~historyzone/Welch2.html
It's a bit long but very interesting. Goes into how the fact that the barrier had been broken was 'kept secret' by the airforce so their X-1 project wouldn't be ridiculed as pointless etc.
Also it does explain that although the X-1 broke the barrier in level flight first. The x-1 was not a fighter aircraft, it could not take off on its own or carry armamment etc.
A good read.

[visitor]

Also it does explain that although the X-1 broke the barrier in level flight first. The x-1 was not a fighter aircraft, it could not take off on its own or carry armamment etc.
A good read.

Though originally designed for conventional ground takeoffs, all X-1 aircraft were air-launched from Boeing B-29 or B-50 Superfortress aircraft. The performance penalties and safety hazards associated with operating rocket-propelled aircraft from the ground caused mission planners to resort to air-launching instead. Nevertheless, on January 5,1949, the X-1 #1 Glamorous Glennis successfully completed a ground takeoff from Muroc Dry Lake, piloted by Chuck Yeager. The maximum speed attained by the X-1 #1 was Mach 1.45 at 40,130 feet, approximately 957 mph, during a flight by Yeager on March 26, 1948. On August 8,1949, Maj. Frank K. Everest, Jr., USAF, reached an altitude of 71,902 feet, the highest flight made by the little rocket airplane. It continued flight test operations until mid-1950, by which time it had completed a total of nineteen contractor demonstration flights and fifty-nine Air Force test flights.

Just something interesting!

X

[Hagar]

Brensec & X. This book entitled "Aces Wild: The Race for Mach 1" might interest you.

http://www.addall.com/Browse/Detail/0842027327.html

Various books on the subject here. http://www.chuckyeager.org/htm_docs/books.shtml
As I remember from a old film on Yeager & the other test pilots at Edwards AFB, Yeager was quite a character & a bit of a rebel. He was really not fit for flying that day after falling off a horse. Not sure how true this is.

[WebbPA]

My vote goes to Charles Lindbergh because his accomplishments showed the viability of commercial air travel and opened up the industry.  It wasn't just the famous flight, it was the [i]effect /i] of the famous flight.

I would have agreed with DaVinci if he had ever gotten anything off the ground.

The reasons (IMHO) DaVinci failed were lack of a lightweight power plant and the unknown Bernoulli Principle.  Once Daniel Bernoulli discovered the fluid equation we just had to wait for lightweight power to be invented, which was inevitable.

Somewhere between DaVinci, a brilliant dreamer, and the Wright brothers, who put it all together, Daniel Bernoulli figured out how to make a wing work.

[BFMF]

As I remember from a old film on Yeager & the other test pilots at Edwards AFB, Yeager was quite a character & a bit of a rebel. He was really not fit for flying that day after falling off a horse. Not sure how true this is.

You must be referring to the movie 'The Right Stuff', right?

loved that movie

[Sock]

Hagar:
Yeager did fall off a horse the night before be broke the barrier and broke his rib.

[Rifleman]

The reason that the Wright bros are glorified so highly isn't just that they actually accomplished the task which they set out to acheive, its the fact that they catalogued and recorded all their activities with witnesses wherever possible..........Proof, my friends, thats what they showed......there were others who were running the same race, but they overlooked this one very important detail.

[BFMF]

[quote]Hagar:
Yeager did fall off a horse the night before be broke the barrier and broke his rib.

[Hagar]

What's the title on the book? I would love to read it!

Do you guys ever bother checking out the links I spend all my time finding for you? LOL

[BFMF]

[quote]
Do you guys ever bother checking out the links I spend all my time finding for you? LOL