Langley Aerodrome (1903)
The Aerodrome was a pioneering but unsuccessful manned, powered flying machine designed by astronomer Samuel Langley, who became interested in motorised flight. Langley was convinced that technology was available to construct an engine light enough and powerful enough to make heavier-than-air flight possible. He put his theories into practice by developing a series of unmanned, subscale, powered aircraft using steam engines of his own design. His most notable success came in 1896 when, for the first time in history, a winged-craft Aerodrome No. 5 flew a sustained flight under the power of its own engine. This success encouraged Langley to build a larger, manned version.
Seven year later, on October 7 and December 8, 1903, piloted by his chief assistant Charles M. Manly, the Aerodrome was catapult mounted on top of a houseboat on the Potomac River near Quantico, Virginia. On both occasions the Aerodrome crashed into the water - pilot Manly was recovered unhurt each time. Nine days later, the Wright brothers' Flyer took off from Kitty Hawk. After being rebuilt it occupied a place of honor in the Smithsonian museum until 1948 when the Institution welcomed home the original 1903 Wright Flyer from the UK's Science Museum. From then on, the Aerodrome resided out of view of the public for many years. Today however it is displayed at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia (pictures taken in 2015) |
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