Ernie Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Forget about the Wright guys, and the Frenchie Clément Ader, what about the flying scot Percy Pilcher in 1899? ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 7 hours ago, Tim Kearsley said: He's certainly persistent, this guy. I just wish he'd persist somewhere else frankly. I thought this was supposed to be a welcoming forum where views can be aired and debated (within bounds of the rules) freely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 I do wonder why aeronautics wasn’t corrupted to Airnautics - the reason often given for the widespread adoption of the word airplane being that the “aero” prefix sounds old fashioned to US ears. What do I know though - I still enjoy referring to radio frequency receiving apparatus as wireless… On the subject of heavier than air flight, I’m firmly in the Sir George Cayley camp. Derek Piggott’s flight in the replica of his machine adds great weight to his claims and proves that there was a reasonable measure of aerodynamic stability and control inherent in the design. Cayley stated that a form of internal combustion engine needed to be developed before heavier than air flight could be sustained but didn’t live long enough to take advantage of the Otto Cycle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 1 hour ago, Ernie said: Forget about the Wright guys, and the Frenchie Clément Ader, what about the flying scot Percy Pilcher in 1899? ernie Pilcher never flew anything other than hang gliders he was influenced by the success of German - Otto Lilienthal who flew his hang gliders from about 1891. The Chinese were using man carrying kite at least as far back as 559 AD when the then emperor was using them as an amusing way to execute condemned prisoners. One prisoner, Yuan Huangtou, who survived a flight of about 1.5miles had his execution reprieved by the Emperor but was sent back to prison where he starved to death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Why do Nestle call their chocolate bars Aero ? Do they fly off the shelves ? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Is that why they were called Huang Gliders? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC57 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 8 minutes ago, john stones 1 - Moderator said: Why do Nestle call their chocolate bars Aero ? Do they fly off the shelves ? ? Presumably they’re sold as Air bars in the USA then are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kearsley Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 2 hours ago, Lima Hotel Foxtrot said: I thought this was supposed to be a welcoming forum where views can be aired and debated (within bounds of the rules) freely. That's exactly what I was doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 33 minutes ago, Tim Kearsley said: That's exactly what I was doing. No, you were being abusive. BACK ON THREAD: I doubt there is much of a general public desire to see model flying on TV outside of segments on magazine style shows as mentioned above or the single example of the Battle of Britain FPV dogfight used as pop historical illustration, which only resulted in a rain of foam and the Germans coming across as much more competent modellers. Really, who wants to watch a programme about middle aged grumps playing with toys in a field? I do that, and I don't. Possibly a broadcast FPV race series would be popular with the wider public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 2 hours ago, john stones 1 - Moderator said: Why do Nestle call their chocolate bars Aero ? Do they fly off the shelves ? ? No, they charge for the air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 The DRL series seems quite popular with the non-modelling public... fast, spectacular racing in exotic locations with lots of crashes ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 2 hours ago, john stones 1 - Moderator said: Why do Nestle call their chocolate bars Aero ? Do they fly off the shelves ? ? It's because there plain chocolate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 55 minutes ago, Lima Hotel Foxtrot said: No, you were being abusive. BACK ON THREAD: I doubt there is much of a general public desire to see model flying on TV outside of segments on magazine style shows as mentioned above or the single example of the Battle of Britain FPV dogfight used as pop historical illustration, which only resulted in a rain of foam and the Germans coming across as much more competent modellers. Really, who wants to watch a programme about middle aged grumps playing with toys in a field? I do that, and I don't. Possibly a broadcast FPV race series would be popular with the wider public. Now, I don’t watch much television anymore. But I read with quite a bit of interest, last year?, about a dating program where the prospective mates marched on naked. Oooooo I lusted. But, never hearing more, I assumed it failed to amuse. Watching a FPV race series on an empty stomach would challenge. Say 4pm, I’m always busy then. Middle age grump, signing off and proud. As the wife of a much missed moderator on this forum said “not chasing skirt down the pub, but in a field in the middle of nowhere with his like minded mates” Guilty as charged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) 18 hours ago, John Stainforth said: The Americans use horizontal and vertical stabilizer for tailplane and fin, respectively. The former are at least as correct and accurate as the latter. Incidentally, when I have used the term "undercarriage" in America, Americans generally think this is very quaint. They use "landing gear". Not so sure about the 'stabilizing' characteristics of a tailplane or fin given the definition of 'to stabilze'......make or become unlikely to change, fail, or decline. I've been in a few aeroplanes in bumpy weather where there wasn't much stabilisation in either pitch or yaw. Edited January 11, 2022 by Cuban8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) 13 hours ago, Lima Hotel Foxtrot said: No, you were being abusive. BACK ON THREAD: I doubt there is much of a general public desire to see model flying on TV outside of segments on magazine style shows as mentioned above or the single example of the Battle of Britain FPV dogfight used as pop historical illustration, which only resulted in a rain of foam and the Germans coming across as much more competent modellers. Really, who wants to watch a programme about middle aged grumps playing with toys in a field? I do that, and I don't. Possibly a broadcast FPV race series would be popular with the wider public. BoB Model Squadron was a travesty and did our hobby very little good IMHO. Yes, it was all there, smashed up models, political correctness and a lot of pure silliness. As for FPV racing as a spectator sport - I'm afraid I can't think of anything more boring and repetitive. There was a programme broadcast quite a few years ago about R/C aerobatics and followed the preparations of a competitor, I think for the UK or world champs. Don't remember the details, but recall it being very good and showing that part of our hobby/sport in a positive way that's usually reserved for much higher profile and £ swamped popular sports. Not sure if it's on YouTube, will have to check. Edited January 11, 2022 by Cuban8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Marcus Brigstocke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Angus Balfour ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 It was Marcus Brigstocke - I mentioned it earlier in the thread. I have to disagree about the Battle of Britain Model Squadron - I thought it was excellent and very entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC57 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Cuban8 said: As for FPV racing as a spectator sport - I'm afraid I can't think of anything more boring and repetitive. Apart from Formula 1 ?. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON CRAGG Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Cuban8 said: BoB Model Squadron was a travesty and did our hobby very little good IMHO. Yes, it was all there, smashed up models, political correctness and a lot of pure silliness. As for FPV racing as a spectator sport - I'm afraid I can't think of anything more boring and repetitive. There was a programme broadcast quite a few years ago about R/C aerobatics and followed the preparations of a competitor, I think for the UK or world champs. Don't remember the details, but recall it being very good and showing that part of our hobby/sport in a positive way that's usually reserved for much higher profile and £ swamped popular sports. Not sure if it's on YouTube, will have to check. So that's why the BMFA had a lot of enquiries, after BOBMS. The hobby is supposed to be fun, if not give up and take up watching paint dry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 On 10/01/2022 at 11:58, Cuban8 said: The airplane V aeroplane thing is not so clearcut. I have US aviation books that refer to our spelling, but they do date from the 40s and 50s so maybe its something that's developed over the pond in the last few decades? Odd how some Americanisms catch on here easily while others never do. Trunk for the boot of a car, sidewalk/pavement.....plenty of others if you think about it. In the USA they drive on the pavement ? Also what about parking on driveways and driving on parkways. Language is interesting, especially its variations. There used to be a full-size model of Percy Pilcher's hang glider at Stanford Hall near Loughborough. It's where he met his end doing a demonstration flight. It's very similar to the gliders the Wright brothers flew from Kill Devil Hill at Kitty Hawk so I guess that, whilst the Wrights were the first to fly a powered aircraft (a very short distance you can walk in a couple of minutes), all the early pioneers relied on the efforts and experiments of those who went before. Few (if any?) later designs used the canard design of the Wright Flyers and were quickly much more successful eg Bleriot's cross channel flight. There also used to be a vintage motor cycle museum there which is why I used to visit. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Stainforth Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 6 hours ago, Cuban8 said: Not so sure about the 'stabilizing' characteristics of a tailplane or fin given the definition of 'to stabilze'......make or become unlikely to change, fail, or decline. I've been in a few aeroplanes in bumpy weather where there wasn't much stabilisation in either pitch or yaw. I assure you that the sole role of the vertical and horizontal stabilisers (fin and tailplane) is to stabilise - that is, maintain and bring back the plane back to an equilibrium position. That does not cut out small bumps, because it takes a finite time for the plane to respond. (Though quite how a kestrel maintains an absolutely fixed position in bumpy winds is a wonder to behold!.) Modern airliners have a great margin of stability built in, particularly in pitch. This stability comes at the cost of an enormous downward load on the tailplane (horizontal stabilizer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Geoff S said: There used to be a full-size model of Percy Pilcher's hang glider at Stanford Hall near Loughborough. There is, but thats the wrong Stanford Hall Geoff! ? Its still there, according to their website, but its the Stanford Hall between Rugby & Market Harborough. https://stanfordhall.co.uk/family-history/collections (about half-way down the page, after the boring paintings... ) Anyone planning a visit (its a great day out) make sure you go to the right Stanford Hall, dont go to Loughborough ? ? ? Cheers Phil Edited January 11, 2022 by Phil Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Geoff S said: There used to be a full-size model of Percy Pilcher's hang glider at Stanford Hall near Loughborough. It's where he met his end doing a demonstration flight. It's very similar to the gliders the Wright brothers flew from Kill Devil Hill at Kitty Hawk so I guess that, whilst the Wrights were the first to fly a powered aircraft (a very short distance you can walk in a couple of minutes), all the early pioneers relied on the efforts and experiments of those who went before. Few (if any?) later designs used the canard design of the Wright Flyers and were quickly much more successful eg Bleriot's cross channel flight. Geoff It's a common misconception that the Wright's were the first to fly a powered aircraft. In 1894 at Balwyn's Park, Bexley Hiram Maxim demonstrated his "flying machine" that managed to leave the ground under it's own power albeit unintentionally. Maxim's aircraft weighed 3.5 tons & was powered by two steam engines. In France in 1890 Clement Ader experimented with a steam powered aircraft tethered to a central point. (First to attempt RTP flying !!?) During one sortie the machine broke the tether & flew briefly for about 50 or 60 ft. The Wright's achievement was to fly a powered aircraft under full control but unlike Maxim & Ader their aircraft relied on a catapult launch to assist take off, even the ones demonstrated in Europe several years after the success at Kitty Hawk. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 The Wright flyer on its first take off did not use any sort of catapult 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.