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 Off-Topic / Debate / 18656
18655  |  18657
Subject: 
Re: Historical fudging...
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Wed, 18 Dec 2002 13:44:07 GMT
Viewed: 
1973 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Pedro Silva writes:

> >  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?

  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 also be attached prominently to airplane
history.  If not, then his invention might simply qualify as a modification
or derivation of the first working motor-glider.

Anyway, here's a news source that obviously records the Wright brothers as
the inventors:  http://www.theonion.com/onion3847/history_3847.html

     Dave!



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Historical fudging...
 
(...) Santos-Dumond was a rich brazilian living in France since the late 19th century; he was a passionate of air-gizmos, and developed numerous baloons and blimps before attempting to build an airplane (first version from 1901, IIRC - at the very (...) (24 years ago, 18-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Historical fudging...
 
(...) 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 (...) (24 years ago, 17-Dec-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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