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Langley Aerodrome Number 5, 1896. Creator: Smithsonian Institution
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Langley Aerodrome Number 5, 1896. Creator: Smithsonian Institution
Model of the unpiloted, tandem-wing experimental aircraft built and tested by Samuel P. Langley. One one-horsepower, one-cylinder steam engine turning two pusher propellers via geared transmission system. Silk covering. Natural fabric finish; no sealant or paint of any kind. Samuel Pierpont Langley became the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1887. In 1891, he began experiments with large, tandem-winged models powered by small steam and gasoline engines he called aerodromes. After several failures with designs that were too fragile and under-powered to sustain themselves, Langley had his first genuine success on May 6, 1896, with his Aerodrome Number 5. It made the worlds first successful flight of an unpiloted, engine-driven, heavier-than-air craft of substantial size. It was launched from a spring-actuated catapult mounted on top of a houseboat on the Potomac River near Quantico, Virginia. Two flights were made on May 6, one of 1, 005 m (3, 300 ft) and a second of 700 m (2, 300 ft), at a speed of approximately 40 kph (25 mph). On both occasions, the Aerodrome Number 5 landed in the water, as planned, because, in order to save weight, it was not equipped with landing gear
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This print showcases the Langley Aerodrome Number 5, a groundbreaking experimental aircraft from 1896. Created by the Smithsonian Institution, this model represents Samuel P. Langley's innovative design featuring tandem wings and powered by a one-horsepower, one-cylinder steam engine. The propellers are driven through a geared transmission system, while the aircraft is covered in silk with a natural fabric finish. Samuel Pierpont Langley, who became the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1887, embarked on his aerodrome experiments in 1891. After facing numerous setbacks with fragile and under-powered designs, he achieved his first true success with Aerodrome Number 5 on May 6th, 1896. This remarkable unpiloted aircraft made history as it became the world's first engine-driven flight of substantial size. Launched from a spring-actuated catapult mounted atop a houseboat on Virginia's Potomac River near Quantico, Aerodrome Number 5 completed two flights that day. The first covered an impressive distance of 1,005 meters (3,300 feet), followed by another flight spanning approximately 700 meters (2,300 feet). Both flights reached speeds around 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour). Although lacking landing gear to save weight during these historic flights into aviation history's unknown territory at that time period; both landings were planned to be water-based for safety reasons. This extraordinary photograph print captures an iconic moment where human ingenuity and scientific exploration converged to push boundaries and pave the way for future advancements in aviation technology.
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