U.S. Hang Gliding Pilots

Octave Chanute
Birth family name: Chanut
This topic thread invites all things in the intersection of Octave Chanute and hang gliding, as well as focus on Octave Chanute himself. He deeply influenced early hang gliding and remains in legacy with influence to the moment.

http://ia700502.us.archive.org/21/items ... ckrich.pdf
Flying Machines
Construction & Operation
is a book published in 1910 where Octave Chanute wrote the introductory chapter.

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Octave Chanute was responsible for chapter I of the book just mentioned in 1910, but not Chapter 2, etc.
In Chapter 2 on page 35 "yards" should have been "feet." How the calculation reached "152" instead of the 160
is not yet clear.

_________________
Join a National Hang Gliding Organization: US Hawks at ushawks.org

View pilots' hang gliding rating at: US Hang Gliding Rating System

Joe,

This is not the original Chanute glider with the pilot hung below the lower wing and only had a span of 16'. With this one the pilot is located in a gap in the lower wing which is 2' wide thereby reducing the wing area by 8' from 160sq' to 152sq'.

Tony

You might be interested in knowing that Octave Chanute's biography "Locomotive to Aeromotive" was published last summer. Take a look at the publisher's website: <http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/56shm7qa9780252036316.html>
He was a brilliant civil engineer who significantly contributed to various engineering topics during his long career.
In regard to the book "Flying Machines" mentioned, it was compiled by William Jackman (a former newspaper reporter from Chicago) as a "How-to" book. He used several of Chanute's articles in the various chapters.
In the introduction of the 1912 edition of this book, Jackman explained that Chanute did check the proof on one day and offered corrections. But I am quite sure that he did not read through the complete manuscript.
Hopes this clarifies Chanute's contributions to this work.
Simine Short
Chicago IL

Hello Simine,

Thanks for your input to the Chanute topic.

If you recall we met some years ago in Anklam at a dinner held by the town council.

The early era of aviation history is a fascinating subject which I know you specialise in. It is sometimes difficult to establish fact from fiction when reading second hand accounts so it is always best to get back to the original source of the information if possible.

The more recent history of hang gliding ( 1960 onwards) has thrown up a number of controversial issues regarding claims by certain individuals to have "invented" the modern hang glider and to be the founder of the sport of hang gliding. The arguments have raged over the last few years with some bitter comments being made. The FAI have accepted these claims without due dilligence ( in my opinion) and have made awards to confirm the them. To settle these controversial issues I suggested an aviation historian be brought in to look cricticaly at the facts and provide a more objective assessment. Also, to this end, it is proposed that a time line be produced on this site to show all of the various developments of hang gliding from the early pioneers to the present.

Would this role of historian be of interest to yourself or could you suggest someone that would be able and willing to take on the task?

With regards,

Tony Prentice

Thanks, Tony, for the response and yes, I remember the meeting at the Lilienthal Museum and the talks very well!
Yes, the early history of flying is fascinating. But I think it is quite clear who did what and when: Lilienthal proved that manflight was possible. Others followed, among them Percy Pilcher from England, and Octave Chanute from the USA who took some of Lilienthal's ideas and Wenham's glider design to the next level, introducing then the biplane design. This, as you know, is the beginning of modern aviation.
The history of hang gliding, starting in the early 1960s, is fascinating as well because in a way flying was re-invented using the knowledge gained of the past 50 years. And I do believe that this sport (in all its variances) will grow more and more in the years to come.
I think by writing articles about the various aspects of flying we can introduce the different people who have all contributed - large and small.
So, let us have fun researching and then sharing what we learned!
Simine

Simine,

The early pioneers showed the way and others have improved and developed hang gliders ever since. Despite the advances the fascination for those pioneering gliders still holds very strong for me. Stephan Nitsch was also so inclined and he kindly allowed me to try out one of his Lilienthal replicas and Chanute replica. There are a few other constructors of such machines which I guess you are aware of.

I agree that it will be fun to research and share our findings.

Tony

Not that it means anything, but I have spent time, both, on the historic (now replaced) Hannibal railroad bridge and loading livestock in the Chanute designed KC stockyards, for Union Pacific railroad in Kansas City.

I more enjoyed the time on the bridge watching muddy water flow than I did in the stockyards.
Hogs were loaded in stock cars, late in the afternoon, and then positioned on the head end of a fast freight train for an overnight run to North Platte, Nebraska.

Meat packing plants used to be directly across the Kaw River, in Kansas City, Kansas, connected by another bridge designed by Chanute. All history now, and all gone.