Aviation: An Historical Survey from Its Origins to the End of the Second World WarIn this classic account, Charles Gibbs-Smith traces the story of aviation from the invention of the kite in China to the beginnings of the jet age. In particular, the book gives a lovingly reconstructed account of the experiments, disasters and successes in many countries which culminated in the achievement of a genuine flying machine by the Wright brothers in the United States. A large part of Gibbs-Smith's story also covers the early years of aviation before 1914. This period, rich in eccentric characters and extraordinary efforts, laid the foundation for future progress. The second edition of Gibbs-Smith's authoritative text, out of print for many years, is here republished with a number of new illustrations. It will delight a new generation of aviation enthusiasts. |
Contents
SPACE | 4 |
Dreams myths and devices | 13 |
The seventeenth century | 23 |
Copyright | |
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achieved Ader aerial Aerodrome aerodynamic aerofoil aeroplane ailerons aircraft airliner airscrew airship Antoinette Antoinette IV aviation balloon biplane bird flight Blériot bomb bomber box kite Britain British built Cayley Chanute Chanute's construction control in roll crashed Curtiss dihedral elevator engine Europe European Farnborough Ferber fighter Figure flap flew flies flight control flown flying boat flying machine four-engine France French full-size fuselage German glider hang-glider Hargrave helicopter Henry Farman invented Issy Junkers Kill Devil Hills kite Langley later launched lift Lilienthal man-carrying man-lifting kites metres miles military monocoque monoplane motor October ornithopter Orville parachute passenger patent Pilcher pilot pioneers powered aeroplane powered flight practical propeller propulsion published rocket rotor rudder Science & Society seaplane Society Picture Library speed steam successful surfaces tail unit tailplane takeoff tandem-wing tested tractor transport triplane undercarriage Voisin Wilbur Wright wing area wing warping Wright brothers