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Not at the beginning but this synergy from ARP seems an appropriate topic starting point:
Cocking came to ARPs mind as he viewed a contemporary proof-of-Mary-Poppins effort by extreme athlete Erik Roner:
See video and ready story:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... 47096.html
Then have fun exploring near-0-L/D HGs which were often called parachutes of the early sort. Leonardo and followers have some tales.
Physics fact: Zero L/D almost never occurs in a free-flight body. Instantaneous L/D=0 in oscillating drogues have an instant L/D=0 point,
else non-zero positive gliding sectors occur. And if the hung mass is a dominant driver ... presto: hang gliders.
In all, this sector of our early history has much to respect. Though some readily bring on the term "unsuccessful" ... such is relative to
someone's expectation; but very often there is a success space that may be in focus.
Related:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cocking
The Leonardo tease: http://www.apf.asn.au/Images/UserUpload ... cadute.jpg
