Pilots, Planes and Pioneers

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hile the Wright brothers may have been the first to make a sustained, controlled flight, they were just two among hundreds of brave men and women who helped to give the world its wings during the earliest days of aviation. Their Flyer was but one of many historically important aircraft. Below are brief descriptions and photos of some of the most important people and planes, and where available resources and links where you can find more information. In some cases, contributors have supplied expanded histories and biographies. Those are listed at the right and linked below.

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Albert F. Zahm built the first scientific wind tunnel in America in 1901 at Catholic University, where he was a professor of mathematics and engineering. It was 40 feet (12.2 meters) long and 6 feet (1.8 meters) square, and probably predated the Wright's 6-foot (1.8 meters) wind tunnel by several months. With this tunnel he made several significant discoveries concerning air friction that led to the standard cigar-shaped fuselage still employed by aircraft designers. He was one of the founding members of the Aero Club of America and in 1906. helped convince the Club to endorse the Wright brothers and their work. From 1910 through 1913, Zahm served as an expert witness for Curtiss in the patent suits the Wrights had filed against him. In 1913-1914, he was contracted by the Smithsonian to reopen and run  the Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory and helped to create a national laboratory for aeronautical research. The National Advisory Council on Aeronautics (NACA, later NASA) was partly due to his efforts. In 1914-1915, he worked briefly as the chief engineer for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, then managed the U.S. Navy's aerodynamics lab from 1916 to 1929. In 1929, he was offered the  "Guggenheim Chair" at the Library of Congress and ran their aeronautical division until he retired in 1946. Although his contributions to pioneer aviation were many and notable, unfortunately he is best remembered for his antagonistic relationship with the Wright brothers. In addition to helping Curtiss in the "patent wars," he also directed the  rebuilding of the 1903 Langley Aerodrome in 1914 and wrote the 1914 Smithsonian report declaring the 1903 Langely Aerodrome to be the first airplane "capable" of flight. In later years, he was involved with Stella Randolf in her effort to promote Gustave Whitehead as the first to fly successfully.

For an expanded history of the Langley Aerodrome and and Zahm's part in the 1914-1915 test flights, see The Wright/Smithsonian Controversy.
 


Albert Francis Zahm.

Zahm's 1901 wind tunnel at Catholic University was capable of generating an airstream up to 25 mph (40 kph).

Some of the shapes tested by Zahm in his tunnel during his studies on skin friction.

Zahm in a "headless" Curtiss Model D. Note that the head (front elevator) has only recently been removed. The supports for it are still in place.

The interior of the wind tunnel at Catholic University.

Albert Zahm (middle, seated) talks with Glenn Curtiss in front of the Langley Aerodrome after it was rebuilt in 1914. Charles Manly is in the cockpit.

 


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