Happy Birthday Powered Flight!
First canard design? (Photo: Richard de Crespigny)
Today, the 17th December 2013 marks the recognition of 110 remarkable years of revolutionary technology, intrepid exploration and inspirational leaders who (in Bert Hinkler’s words) have “flown the ships off the oceans”.
It’s 110 years today since Wilbur Wright flew the Wright Flier for 12 seconds, flying just 36 metres (half the A380’s wingspan), watched by brother Orville and sister Katherine and NO press. (Katherine was probably the third person and first women to fly a powered aircraft.)
Impatient (but wonderfully dutiful wife) Coral in front of the Wright Flier at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at Washington (Photo Richard de Crespigny)
… a most basic cockpit. Roll control via wing twisting …. (Photo: Richard de Crespigny)
It’s 110 years since the first powered flight, 109 years since Rolls-Royce produced their first car, 44 years since Neil Armstrong landed on the moon and 34 years since the first commercial fly by wire aircraft (Concorde) took to the skies.
It’s 110 years of contributions by my forebears, uncles, father, son – and your forebears.
High technology in an industry that boasts the world’s best safety systems and safety records.
Follow your passion Sam Harris, work hard, reach for the stars and come fly with me! (Photo Richard de Crespigny)
Thank you to the inspired and inspirational who have achieved (I think) the most remarkable and impossible! We should all be so very proud of our team efforts!
A view through the Head Up Display in the A380 simulator at Airbus in Toulouse. (Photo Richard de Crespigny)
Read this great summary from The Australian Newspaper 21 Dec 2013
