Subject:
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Re: Historical fudging...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Tue, 17 Dec 2002 22:44:46 GMT
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Viewed:
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409 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Ronald Vallenduuk writes:
> > Oh dear,
> >
> > we wouldn't want the americans to be beaten at something, now would we...
>
> Impossible! We're the greatest nation in the country!
>
> Actually, I think the real test of an invention's precedence comes in its
> fecundity. It's all well and good that the ancient Greeks developed the
> principle of the steam engine, but if it wasn't used, then it's irrelevant
> except as a novelty of history.
So... by today's standards, the Wright Bros. invented the *Motor-glider*,
and brazilian inventor Santos-Dumond invented the *Airplane*. I only say
this cuz' the WB control system *was not used in subsequent Airplanes* - I
mean, it is not practical to bend metal wings everytime the plane must take
a curve!
IIRC, Santos-Dumond invented the modern controls for airplanes in 1906,
where the manche is connected to movable flaps on wings' edges; so if his
invention was the most "fertile" one, why shouldn't HE be given credit instead?
Brazilians do consider him the inventor of the airplane... :-P
Pedro
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Historical fudging...
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| (...) That's why you make composite wings ;-) Actually, current research is moving away from the "ugly" or "dirty" flaps to wings that flex. Less drag, more control. -- Tom Stangl ***(URL) Visual FAQ home ***(URL) Bay Area DSMs (22 years ago, 18-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Historical fudging...
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| (...) That's a good question. It seems to me that he should get greater recognition, but would he have built the control system if the Wright brothers hadn't invented the motor-glider? If he would have, then there's no question that his name should (...) (22 years ago, 18-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Historical fudging...
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| (...) Impossible! We're the greatest nation in the country! Actually, I think the real test of an invention's precedence comes in its fecundity. It's all well and good that the ancient Greeks developed the principle of the steam engine, but if it (...) (22 years ago, 17-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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