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Introduction
Aircraft
Evolution
& • The airplane is the part of everyday life.
History of Flight
Aircraft Evolution & History of Flight
• The airplane transformed life in the 20th
century & this continues.
• The airplane did not just happen.
• The laws of flight did not come easily- it has
evolved over the past 2500 years.
• “Pushpak” Viman in Ramayana.
• The laws of flight were harnessed in Dec 1903.
• Heavier than air, powered & human carrying
machine executed successful sustained flight.
Aircraft Evolution & History of Flight
• All air supported vehicles are known as
aircraft.
• They are also known as flying machines.
• The invention & development of the airplane
are one of the three most important
developments of the 20th century
• Other 2 developments: electronics & atom
bomb.
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• 17 Dec 1903: Orville & Wilbur Wright brothers
became the first to fly the first successful
flying machine.
• First Successful flight: sands of Kill Devil Hill
near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, at 10:35 AM
on 17 Dec 1903.
• Wright Brothers did not know that their
invention would dominate the course of 20th
century- technically, socially & politically.
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First Successful Flight Wright Brothers

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Wright Brothers: AeroEngine First Successful Flight

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Pre-Wright Era Idea of Flying through the Air

• There were no successful airplane designs. • You will look at the sky
• Hence no successful demonstrations of • Watch the birds
airplane performance. • And try to emulate the birds.
• But there were plenty attempts. • You will design wings out of wood or feathers.
• Strap to arms & legs.
• Climb to rooftop & jump off.
• Flapping wings wildly.

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• After few attempts, you would conclude that Ornithopter

there had to be better way.
• Mechanical Mechanism with wings that would
• The people who performed this were known
flap up & down known as “Ornithopter”.
as tower jumper.
• In the year 1486 to 1490, Leonardo da Vinci
designed numerous such Ornithopters.
• It has no aerodynamically redeeming value.
• Up to now, no human-powered ornithopter
has ever successfully flown.

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Modern Configuration of Flying Machine

• It was first pioneered by Sir George Caylen in • Cayley is responsible for conceiving and
England in 1799. advancing the basic idea that the mechanism
for lift and thrust should be separated.
• It has:
• With fixed wings moving at an angle of attack
– Fixed wings
through the air to generate lift
– A fuselage
• and separate propulsive device to generate
– A tail with a separate mechanism for propulsion thrust
• He recognized: the function of thrust was to
overcome aerodynamic drag

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