Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-m9pkr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-10T00:39:26.538Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Aircraft structures in the century ahead: From arts to science, from craftsmanship to multidisciplinary design and engineering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

A. Beukers ,
M. van Tooren  and
C. Vermeeren
A. Beukers
Affiliation:
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology
M. van Tooren
Affiliation:
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology
C. Vermeeren
Affiliation:
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The first centennial of man's first powered flight, which was performed by Wilbur (1867–1912) and Orville (1871–1948) Wright (Fig. 1) will be celebrated in 2003. These brothers' unique and trendsetting enterprise, their skills to develop, build and commercialise controllable and load-carrying flying machines, formed the first example of a private interdisciplinary aerospace development and design initiative. It was at the same time a rare example of entrepreneurial engineering. Their work involved wind-tunnel testing of lifting devices and full-scale tests of major structural components. Equally if not more importantly they developed an essential propulsion system consisting of a lightweight 36hp engine with four cylinders in line and a fuel injected carburettor. This engine propelled two pusher propellers through a drive system of chains. Moreover they developed the systems to control their flight. The twistable wing tips that control rolling and heading during the flight were the last remains of the former trend to mimic bird flight.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 107 , Issue 1072: Aerospace the challenge ahead , June 2003 , pp. 343 - 357
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2003 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Watts, P. Exploring the Future — Energy Needs, Choices and Possibilities — Scenarios to 2050, 2001, Shell International, London.Google Scholar
2. Torenbeek, E. We Nemen een Schoon vel Tekenpapier (in Dutch), 2000, Delft University Press.Google Scholar
3. Condit, P.M., Airline costs on the rise while yield slips, 1996, AIAA World Aviation Conference, Los Angeles, 1996.Google Scholar
4. Wooden airplanes in the United States, 1920–1945, Technology and Culture, 1994, 35, (1), pp 34–69.Google Scholar
5. Liebeck, R.H., Page, M.A. and Rawdon, B.K., Blended-wing-body subsonic commercial transport, AAIA-98–0438, 1998.Google Scholar
6. Krakers, L.A., van Tooren, M.J.L., Beukers, A. and Bergsma, O.K., Multi-disciplinary fuselage design: Integration of mechanics and acoustics, 2000, SAMPE Europe Conference, Paris, 2000., pp 617–622.Google Scholar
7. Kurtze, G. and Watters, B.G., New wall design for high transmission loss or high damping, 1954, J Acoustical Soc of America, 31, (6).Google Scholar
8. Bergsma, O.K., Keulen, F.V. and Beukers, A., 3-D Forming of Continuous Fibre Reinforcements for Composites. In 3-D Textile Reinforcements in Composite Materials, 1999, Miravete eds. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK. pp 241–285 Google Scholar
9. Koussios, S., Bergsma, O.K. and Beukers, A., Pressurizable structures comprising different scarface sections. Patent no. PCT/NL02/00534.Google Scholar