Ancient gliders powered via catapult

[Craig B]

My aunt, with a small modification, would be my uncle.

With the "simple addition of a rudder" your aunt would be your uncle? Do I have the honour of addressing some intelligent aquatic creature?

 

[Soapy Sam]

That artifact proves that Egyptians had flight the way an ancient jar of wheat proves that Egyptians had pizza bagels.

Next week in the National Enquirer:- "Ancient Egyptians were Jewish Italians."

 

[MRC_Hans]

The simplest of his gliders might have worked after a fashion, with a small modification, as the source above indicates.

Adding a horizontal and vertical stabilizer may seem a small modification, but it is actually a crucial omision in the design. Also, to the best of my judgement, the wing area is insufficient to carry a person at the speeds realistic for the construction.

The important steps in designing a useful aircraft were:

1) Designing a wing that created enough lift. Achieved by the Otto Lilienthal (glider) and the Wright brothers, and a few others.

2) 3 axis control. Invented by the Wright brothers.

3) For sustained flight, a sufficiently light and powerful engine. Achieved by the Wright brothers and several others.

Pertaining to flight, Leonardo da Vinchi had important insights far ahead of his contemporaries, but he was nowhere near a practically useful design.

Hans

 

[MRC_Hans]

With the "simple addition of a rudder" your aunt would be your uncle? Do I have the honour of addressing some intelligent aquatic creature?

The important thing is not adding a rudder. The important thing is realizing that a rudder is needed.

Hans