Aircraft
Created | Updated Mar 30, 2002
A device for flying.
Since not many people - in fact hardly any at all - master the art of flying as described in flying, man has invented the aircraft.
The principle behind all aircraft is that they create an upward force that is equal to the force of gravity acting upon the aircraft and it's occupants.
There are two basic ways to acieve this:
A.
When the weight of the aircraft is less than the weight of the air that would have been where the aircraft is, a phenomenon called buoyancy occurs. This phenomenon was discovered by a Greek, Archimedes, who spent most of his days in bathtubs and for a very long time people thought it was only applicable to water and ships. The French Montgolfier brothers pioneered this method of flight and in june 1783 a sheep, a duck and a cockerel were the first passengers on one of their hot air balloons. Apart from the fact that their contraption actually worked, one of the most astonishing features for spectators at the time - especially those downwind - must have been the awfull stench. The Montgolfier brothers mistakenly believed that foul smelling smoke was the cause of the upward force and therefore burnt whatever produced the foulest smells, including such things as rotting carcasses!
B.
Lift can also be created by propelling air downwards. The air will produce an equal, but opposite, reaction and thus propel the aircraft upwards. This is commonly achieved by equipping the aircraft with wings. Wings can be fixed to the aircraft and will then produce the required force when the entire aircraft reaches sufficient speed, or they can be fitted to a rotating shaft. The latter type of aircraft is usully called a helicopter, but sometimes, more appropriately, a fling-wing.
Aircraft come in all shapes and sizes. They can be anything from a collection of tubes and fabric, that can carry their single pilot/passenger about the length of a football field up to high tech triumphs of engineering that can transport several hundred passengers halfway across the globe.
Unfortunately for hitch hikers, it is almost impossible to catch a lift on aircraft capable of traveling any worthwile distance. Do NOT be fooled by advertised "hitch hiker fares". These may be slightly less expensive than other fares, but are by no means cheap, and many basic services such as a seat, a cabin roof and toilet access usually come at a premium.
Interestingly perhaps, though one of the two major aircraft manufacturers (Airbus) adopted a tax-structure similar to that of French wine-makers' associations, wine serverd on board aircraft shares many characteristics with the food: it has the wrong temperature, the wrong colour and is generally best left alone.
Since not many people - in fact hardly any at all - master the art of flying as described in flying, man has invented the aircraft.
Physics
The principle behind all aircraft is that they create an upward force that is equal to the force of gravity acting upon the aircraft and it's occupants.
There are two basic ways to acieve this:
A.
When the weight of the aircraft is less than the weight of the air that would have been where the aircraft is, a phenomenon called buoyancy occurs. This phenomenon was discovered by a Greek, Archimedes, who spent most of his days in bathtubs and for a very long time people thought it was only applicable to water and ships. The French Montgolfier brothers pioneered this method of flight and in june 1783 a sheep, a duck and a cockerel were the first passengers on one of their hot air balloons. Apart from the fact that their contraption actually worked, one of the most astonishing features for spectators at the time - especially those downwind - must have been the awfull stench. The Montgolfier brothers mistakenly believed that foul smelling smoke was the cause of the upward force and therefore burnt whatever produced the foulest smells, including such things as rotting carcasses!
B.
Lift can also be created by propelling air downwards. The air will produce an equal, but opposite, reaction and thus propel the aircraft upwards. This is commonly achieved by equipping the aircraft with wings. Wings can be fixed to the aircraft and will then produce the required force when the entire aircraft reaches sufficient speed, or they can be fitted to a rotating shaft. The latter type of aircraft is usully called a helicopter, but sometimes, more appropriately, a fling-wing.
Hitch Hiking
Aircraft come in all shapes and sizes. They can be anything from a collection of tubes and fabric, that can carry their single pilot/passenger about the length of a football field up to high tech triumphs of engineering that can transport several hundred passengers halfway across the globe.
Unfortunately for hitch hikers, it is almost impossible to catch a lift on aircraft capable of traveling any worthwile distance. Do NOT be fooled by advertised "hitch hiker fares". These may be slightly less expensive than other fares, but are by no means cheap, and many basic services such as a seat, a cabin roof and toilet access usually come at a premium.
Something worth mentioning
Interestingly perhaps, though one of the two major aircraft manufacturers (Airbus) adopted a tax-structure similar to that of French wine-makers' associations, wine serverd on board aircraft shares many characteristics with the food: it has the wrong temperature, the wrong colour and is generally best left alone.
