Learning to fly in the U.S. Army

by E. N. Fales

It flew a mile in 1896, the first successful airplane to fly with a prime mover.

Lillienthal (Germany, 1894).—But omitting details regarding the early experimenters we will consider only that part of the history of aviation most important to the prospective aviator. We will confine ourselves to the sequence of gliding and power experiments begun by Lillienthal, carried forward by Chanute and brought to completion by the Wrights.

(Courtesy Jas. Means’ “Aeronautical Annual.”)

Fig. 2.—Lillienthal’s biplane glider in flight, 1894.

Note.—(a) Arched wings; (b) fixed tail; (c) method of balancing by swinging legs.

(Courtesy Jas. Means’ “Aeronautical Annual.”)

Fig. 3.—Chanute’s biplane glider, 1896.

Note improvement in rigidity by bridge-type trussing.