It is impossible to imagine the modern world without planes and flights. One of the most important assets among the inventions of mankind, the flying machine was born thanks to the frantic desire of man to have wings behind his back. Surely our ancestors dreamed of soaring in the sky. Admiring the birds and spreading their arms, they imagined themselves next to them. Even a child sincerely believes in the existence of fabulous flying devices, truly envying the heroes of magical stories. Dreams came true only after millennia - when a sufficient amount of scientific knowledge was accumulated. The experience gained in the course of many unsuccessful attempts made by the creator of the world's first aircraft and his predecessors has come in handy today.
Maholet: the beginning of the journey
Even in the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci was convinced that a person, having overcome air resistance, has every chance to take to the air. Huge wings can help him in this. Calculations and a detailed study of bird flights prompted him to create such an apparatus as a flywheel. Leonardo da Vinci tried to bring to lifean idea inspired by an ordinary dragonfly.
The fact that the air environment is often called the “fifth ocean” has been heard by many, but not everyone can give an explanation for such an eloquent epithet. The history of aeronautics and aviation remembers that among the enthusiasts who wanted to conquer the unknown airspace, there were many captains of sea ships. Perhaps they also sought to explore unexplored spaces, but, putting aside romance, it is worth noting that the sailors had great knowledge in complex technical devices, they knew how to manage large frigates. If necessary, they could easily repair or build a new ship. Therefore, the experience of professional sailors was useful in the process of creating the first self-propelled devices above the ground.
Modern civil and military aviation, whose history is rich in many experiments, has gone through feelings of admiration and disappointment, loss of life and new opportunities.
The appearance of the first gliders
At the beginning of the 19th century, the first non-powered gliders appeared. Imitating birds, the inventors gave their creations a similar shape. However, the first aircraft could not gain a foothold in use, because the desire to lift up incredible inventions for that time did not succeed.
They were pushed off the cliff, rolled down the hills, dispersed with the help of horses, but no matter how hard the creators tried, they did notmanaged to become the authors of the first implemented project in the history of air business, which later acquired the name "aviation".
History remembers in 1857 the first sailor Jean-Marie Les Bris, who managed to lift a glider into the sky, overcoming a 100-meter height. "Albatross" (as he called his technical miracle), depending on the direction of the wind and the density of air masses, had a chance to fly about 200 meters.
Success of Mozhaisky
Russian aviation can be proud of the fact that the admiral of the tsarist fleet was able to design the first aircraft equipped with a steam engine that took off from the surface of the earth with a person on board. The Creator gave him a promising name - "aircraft projectile." The dimensions of the aircraft of that period were impressive: the length of the wings was about 24 meters, the fuselage was about 15 meters. Alexander Mozhaisky - the creator of the world's first aircraft - could not complete the job. But his developments became fundamental in the further development of aeronautics.
Merit of the American Wright brothers
Having a sense of the proximity of success, the best inventors around the world relied on the experience of previous discoverers. Without giving up and being in a continuous search for a suitable idea, they tried to create a lighter flying machine and were confident in the need to supply it with a more powerful engine. However, not everyone thought about the control of a winged device. The main goal was just to take off. Such hindsight cost the life of Otto Lilienthal. In 1896 his glider overturnedexposure to a sharp windy gust, and the apparatus crashed from a height. Therefore, not only famous aircraft designers deserve attention, but also those who were able to submit to the first aircraft.
The Wright brothers, inventors from America, were able to master the most important skills of piloting and maintaining the balance of an aircraft in the air harbor. The advantage of their design was a confident engine running on gasoline. Despite the fact that the aircraft did not much resemble a modern aircraft, it rather looked like a flying bookcase, it weighed about 300 kg. At the beginning of the 20th century, the first successful tests of the Flyer took place. After staying in the air for 12 seconds, the Wright brothers gave the green light to the man to explore the skies.
Aviation in Russia: the beginning of the 20th century
The next few years the whole world was shocked by the success of the Americans, thanks to which aviation continued its path of formation. History mentions flashing newspaper headlines, a bird's-eye view of a film shot by a Parisian cameraman, and specialized publications dedicated to aviation achievements. However, the testers of the first aeronautic machines were rightly called daredevils. Russian aviation, according to its representatives, was an uncomfortable and unsafe occupation. For example, in the notes of the famous pilot of that period, Boris Rossinsky, there are essays and memories of flights. Among the unpleasant moments during the flight, he especially remembered smoking oil. The smoky, caustic smoke made it impossible to fully breathe, as a result of whichthe pilot had to apply ammonia to his nose from time to time.
In addition, the lack of brakes forced the aviator to jump out of the cockpit on the move.
Creation of Sikorsky - Russian hero
Several years have passed since the launch of the American Flyer, and on the territory of the Russian Empire, the production of domestic aircraft has already been established at a high level. Then the first passenger aircraft appeared, the creator of which was Igor Sikorsky. Fully corresponding to its historical name, "Ilya Muromets" was a real giant among its peers. In addition, the salon was distinguished by conditions unprecedented until then: several bedrooms, the presence of a toilet and a bathroom, electricity and heating. The Ilya Muromets passed its first practical test in the winter of 1914. Sixteen passengers with a dog on board received a lot of emotions from the flight, after which the plane made a successful landing. Six months later, comfortable aircraft had to take on the role of bombers, participating in the First World War.
Tupolev distance record
The legendary ANT-25 is in the Chkalovsky museum hangar. Once upon a time, this aircraft was admired and was recognizable thanks to its huge scarlet wings. The great Russian aircraft designer Andrey Tupolev received many awards for his significant contribution to the development of aviation.
Valery Chkalov, a famous Soviet pilot, in 1937 managed to set a real distance record on this device. Subsequently, ANT-25 acquired just such a second name. From Moscow to Vancouver, the distance is about 8.5 thousand kilometers, and Tupolev's aviation brainchild was able to overcome it in one breath.
Il-2 air tank
Sturmovik Il-2 became famous during the Great Patriotic War. He terrified the Nazis, since he acted as the main air defense of Soviet soldiers over the battlefield. Covering his soldiers with cannons, machine guns and rockets, he led the ground forces forward.
One of its clear advantages was strong armor, allowing it to fend off the attacking enemy German fighters. Thanks to the power of this aircraft, their release prevailed in quantity over other combat counterparts.
Modest U-2
By the forties of the 20th century, leading aircraft designers on the territory of the USSR created countless combat aircraft, but they were not the only ones entrusted with the protection of the Soviet sky.
Along with them, aircraft intended for peaceful purposes participated in the battle. Among them, the U-2 occupied a place of honor. This modest training aircraft had two seats, was absolutely unpretentious in use and could land outside the place intended for this purpose. In addition, the aircraft was valued for its maneuverability and quietness. This allowed military pilots to almost silently sneak up on the enemy in the dark and deliver decisive blows.
Distinguished in the battles of 1943, the U-2 received insignia and a new name. In honor of Nikolai Polikarpov, famousaircraft designer, throughout the entire Soviet space, it was renamed Po-2.
Conclusion
Aviation is multifaceted, the history of which has many more worthy examples and exemplary designs, including the best cargo-lifting, civil aircraft and fighters.
Not to mention the sleek 1968 Tu-144 airliner, the MiG-25 jet fighter, the Columbia and Buran orbital planes. An important breakthrough was the use of such strategic devices as unmanned aerial vehicles.
If a person once saw a dream where he flew, the desire to repeat this in real life will never leave him. A dream can come true simply by being a passenger on an airplane, or by getting the appropriate education to sit at the helm in the future, or by becoming the greatest aircraft designer.
