Aeromodelling: A game changer of the future of Aerospace
Constructing and flying model aircraft is categorized as aeromodelling. It is said that it was in existence and popular in Paris before the wright brother’s first flight, But the real popularity began in 1930, following the introduction to balsa wood. Earlier models were constructed from spruce, birch, and bamboo covered with silk or fine linen and it was primarily powered by rubber, compressed air,co2 engines later on it came to a petrol engine. For some years its progress was plodding it stagnated from 1910 to 1920. Around 1934 petrol engines and radio control were seen in the USA, and by that time two line control models were developed. After world war2 there was an explosion of interest leading to the introduction of aeromodelling into existence. Most of the aero modelers were likely to choose designs that were not too complex and easy to design and build. Basic idea was to make it available for the common man. There were designs published in magazines and books which could be created easily.\\\\\\
I hold the view, that aeromodelling sparked the idea of man-carrying aircraft. If we see down the line the famous pioneer of aviation Lilienthal, he worked with models and man-carrying gliders. His experiments were mainly to determine the property of curved or cambered wings. He recorded approximately 2000 flight data. Unfortunately, he died one day after a tragic accident while experimenting man carrying aircraft.
Another pioneer of aviation was langely , his intrusion of heavier than air flight was possible made him to designing and perfect unmanned power models, later-on he came up with manned aircraft design around 1896. Unfortunately, he failed to prove his design with the experiments held on 8th-dec-1903.
On the other side, the two brothers were about to make history in aviation. Following the Langely experiments, The Wright brothers made their historic first flight on 17th-Dec-1903. They attempted three more flights that day , the first flight lasted about 12 seconds and covered 125 feet; the last flight lasted 59 seconds and covered a distance of 852feet.
As per the literature, the success behind the Wright brothers was the step-to-step experimental approach. They had designed a small wind tunnels and thousands of model tests to get the aerodynamic properties. Their experimental investigation primarily involved improvising the control effectiveness of the aircraft, which caused the tragic death of Lilienthal and other glider enthusiasts.
This revolution in aeronautics was accelerated in worldwar II for aerospace and defense applications. Suppose The Wright brothers had not invented the aircraft, perhaps worldwar II would not have happened and the USA would not be able to drop an atom bomb on Hiroshima. So the lesson is, Invention comes with a great cost.
In continuation of this revolution, there was a lack of development of unmanned aerial vehicles. However, the pilotless RC aircraft was made by Britain in 1930. The soviet tested pilotless warhead(Explosives) delivery aircraft. \ref(Wiki)
But the spark, The Wright brothers had ignited in the people's minds was not over. It had changed from time to time. The aircraft, UAVs were undertaken by defense forces and aero application because of their high-end capabilities that could be seen in world warII. Although these vehicles are very expensive in nature, so common man cannot afford it for aeromodelling. But it has always been an interesting field for fun /learn and getting amazed by science and technology.
The today's technological advancement in the fabrication and material revolution, one can easily fabricate and test their models and appreciate the world of aerospace to see the new world without any boundaries. \\ref(Robert C nelson, Flight Stabiity And Control)
I believe, The aerosashtra will be able to give you the reason to shape your career in the new emerging aerospace technology, what the Wright brothers had started.
------aerosashtra
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