100th Anniversary of Powered Flight

[ToddP]

What an amazing 100 years it has been. I'm working at the fire station today so I'm not able to go flying, but I plan to watch the Wright Flyer reproduction fly on C-Span this morning. Apparently there wasn't enough wind this morning so they're shooting for 2:00 EST. Locally the EAA chapter is doing a flyover of the city at noon led by a couple of stearman...probably about 50 planes. Personally I set a goal of soloing in my gyro by today and reached that, so I'm pretty happy.

What will the next 100 years bring?

[Screw]

I don't know if it "aired" or not, but the Neil Bortz Radio show out of Atlanta was doing a national broadcast today from Dayton, Ohio.

I called in to recognize Rick Urash who was the designated pilot to represent the State of Geargia in the flag ceremony today. He was my flight instructor. ;D

Prior to getting on the air I heard Neil state that, "The three greatest feelings known to man was:"

1. Great Landing
2. Great Orgasm
3. Great Bowel movement

All of which could be acheived at the same time in a "Night Carrier Landing."

Of course, I know a CFI out of Macon, Ga. Steve McGowan.

While on the air, I quickly noted that all three of the affore mentioned feelings could also be achieved in a properly excuted Gyroplane Ride.

Neil laughed and stated that he had never been up in a gyro, so I offered to arrange a ride for him and even offered to pay for it.

Neil thanked me for the call and hung up.

I guess he didn't want that ride ???

WTF

[ToddP]

I just finished watching the discovery channel special about the Wright flyer. They've had countless engineers and pilots with thousands of hours working towards trying to recreate what the Wright Brothers did. They've managed to fly it a little but they have not come close to what the Wright Brothers achieved. Pretty interesting stuff.

[Heron]

Watching the Brazilian News last night I've got a little ticked off by the way they presented the "failed" attempt.
They presented the film were Santos Dumont flew for the second time and it was conisdered the first documented flight ever (taxi, take off and landing)
I wish someone would clarify the situation with documents and cut this crap about who did what and when.
And stop smiling about . . .
I still believe the Flyer will never fly.
Anyway for their contribution to aviation my congrats to The Brothers for their lifetime achievement!
Thanks
Heron

[barnstorm2]

Here is a good to the point story:

Peter Jakab Article (http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,61525,00.html?tw=wn_techhead_12)


Here is the down and dirty: ;D

Peter Jakab, chairman of the aeronautics division at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington and a Wright brothers expert, says such claims are preposterous.

By the time Santos-Dumont got around to his maiden flight the Wright brothers had already flown numerous times, including one in which they flew 24 miles in 40 minutes.

"Even in 1903 the airplane sustained itself in the air for nearly a minute. If it's not sustaining itself under its own power it's not going to stay up that long," Jakab says.