Congratulations Mankind on 100 years!

[Desert Fox]

Congratulations Mankind on one of our greatest achievements. On 17 December 1903, the grumble of a small engine rolled across the frozen fields of Kitty Hawk, and the Wright Flyer became the first aircraft to soar under its own power, and its pilot's and creator's spirits soared even higher.

In 100 years of powered aviation, we've gone from 12 second flights of 120 feet (Wright Flyer) to unrefueled flights around the world (Rutan's Voyager, 24,987 miles), speeds of 4534 mph (X-15), altitudes of 354,200 feet (X-15) and space exploration, aerodynamic knowledge to lift an aircraft of more than 1.3 million pounds (Antonov 225) into the air, and created aircraft engines capable of providing more than 115,000 pounds of thrust (GE90-115B).

Aviation is my passion. To all that have done anything to further the progression of aviation, or to those that have just taken a moment to appreciate it, thank you.

~Fox~
Wright Flyer, 17 December 1903
http://members.cox.net/foxracrusa/wright.jpg

Rutan's Voyager
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/rutan/GA15G1.jpg

X-15
http://www.sierrafoot.org/x-15/x-15_art2.jpg
http://www.sierrafoot.org/x-15/clip1.gif http://www.sierrafoot.org/x-15/clip3.gif

Antonov An-225
http://members.lycos.co.uk/aerospace21/antonov/an-225.jpg

[sammystingray]

Definately a milestone for mankind. Interesting post. When they were tinkering around in the garage, I wonder if the thought ever crossed their minds that they would end up in every childs history book around the world, and that pretty much everyone on the planet would know their names. Nice pics, and interesting post. That's a long way to come in just 100 years.:eek2:

[scobi1]

What about the F\A 22 RAPTOR due to go into service in 2005.The worlds most advanced supersonic stealth fighter.The technology is mind blowing and with a price tag of $120mill thats pretty mind blowing too

[crab0000]

I think I read that it takes a crew of 1000 people a month to build 1 FA-22 and that there are well over 1 million parts to each plane.
Steve

[lilbuddy]

Dang i thought this thread was about the wrestler....I miss socko'

on a serious note, its amazing what has been acomplished in 100 years.

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Interesting what we have accomplished in the last 100 years. Seems that there are a lot of 100th birthdays coming around. This one, Harley, Ford and a few othes I'm sure. My first tour of duty in the Navy was on board the USS Kitty Hawk. It's amasing to watch the planes take off and land in such a small area in the middle of nowhere.

[DiLLy]

I thought the same thing mike!! I was like... I know he's old..but he's not that old! Actually.. I watched a little bit of wrestling last week.. and The Rock & Sock connection just happened to be on... Man I love those 2..

[Jamesurq]

As a long time previous resident of Bridgeport Connecticut and now a current resident of North Carolina, I have to mention that several years prior to the Wright Brothers' flight, Gustov Whitehead mad the VERY first manned flight.

Because he wasn't a media junkie and kept to himself it wasn't widely publicised. The Wright brothers made sure they got into the history books by blabbing to anyone that would listen....

But..... Congratulations. We have come a long way or at least from then until the early 80's ... The death of the concorde marked the end of an era where building new things to be better was important. Now it's all about being cheaper...We scrapped our Ferrarri and are forced to take the bus...

[tgreene]

They just launched the plane, and it didn't fly!

[Niven]

Originally posted by tgreene
They just launched the plane, and it didn't fly!


The Wright Brothers or Whitehead????

[Desert Fox]

Originally posted by Jamesurq
I have to mention that several years prior to the Wright Brothers' flight, Gustov Whitehead mad the VERY first manned flight.

Well, maybe, but i'll bet you he's a lot more well-known than you think, at least to aviation enthusiasts. His real name was Gustav Albin Weißkopf (Whitehead is translated from German), and there are a lot of unanswered questions about his flights, which is why he and his flights remain relatively unknown. He claimed to get off the ground on 14 August 1901, but even after countless official investigations into his claims, nothing could be proved.

Gustav and his powered monoplane, 1901
http://www.flightjournal.com/articles/wff/whitehead_w_groundengine.jpg

The general consensus is that the Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft to actually fly. Regardless as to what the truth is, i know the history behind Gustav and his first 21 flying machines, as do many others, and it's fascinating to read about him. For anyone who doesn't know about him, do a search; you'll find hundreds of pages on him i'm sure.

~Fox~

[tgreene]

Originally posted by Niven
The Wright Brothers or Whitehead????

The replica of the Wright Brothers plane.

[BigBird]

I saw a replica of the Wright Flyer actually fly at the Cleveland Air Show this August. Pretty cool! The replica is powered by a Harley V-Twin engine and has the original wing-warping control system.

I've heard that the Brazilians dispute the fact that the Wrights were first based on a few technicalities. I can't remember the name of their guy, but he flew a few years after the Wrights.

[tgreene]

Originally posted by BigBird
I saw a replica of the Wright Flyer actually fly at the Cleveland Air Show this August. Pretty cool! The replica is powered by a Harley V-Twin engine and has the original wing-warping control system.

I've heard that the Brazilians dispute the fact that the Wrights were first based on a few technicalities. I can't remember the name of their guy, but he flew a few years after the Wrights.

Hey BigBird, are you by chance the same "BigBird" that used to guide for Precision Rafting..?

[slipknottin]

All those pictures and not even one picture of a blackbird?

[Desert Fox]

Originally posted by slipknottin
All those pictures and not even one picture of a blackbird?
How's this:
http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/airplane/images/srcloud.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/airplane/images/sr71nest.jpg
This photo with a close personal friend at the controls:
http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/lmc18.jpg

~Fox~

[BigBird]

Hey BigBird, are you by chance the same "BigBird" that used to guide for Precision Rafting..?

No. I used to guide and video for Rivers. My nickname was BigBird while I was a guide. I've heard of the other BigBird, though.

Precision is that company that would have a single, 5,000 boat trip that would tear a$$ down the Gauley right through any other group in their way, aren't they?? Okay, maybe more like 500 boats. Were they out of Ohiopyle??

[tgreene]

"Rivers" in Ohiopyle or "Rivers" on the New..?

Yep, Precision runs fast trips and are based out of Friendsville. Being the best on the water, it's not an issue. I worked for them on the Upper Yough, Cheat and occassionally the Big Sandy for a couple of years, as well as Youghiogheny Outfitters on the lower. I also had the great misfortune of working a few trips on the New for Benji... Their freakin trip leaders don't even know the basics!

I got involved in boating, because I had spent some time working for Greg Green, of Wild Rivers Photo... First on the Cheat, then the New, then the Upper. He's now strictly in Ohiopyle, and we still stay in close contact with each other.

I miss living over in your area, because I would head over to Slippery every time it rained, and generally did a New Years trip over there as well... Besides, where else can you boat, hike and climb all in the same afternoon..?

As for the other BigBird, last I knew he was down around the French Broad, but that was a long time ago.

BTW: My river name was "Zipperhead", because it's kinda how I boated........ Sorta like when a couple of us ran the New at 8.5' in a baby shredder drunk as hell, when the outfitters all had the 12 man boats out. We got maximum props for that one!

Oh yea, kayaks are for sissies -- C1 baby! ;)

[slipknottin]

Originally posted by Desert Fox
How's this:

~Fox~

Much better. :D

[BigBird]

Hey Desert Fox:

You're not the "Sled Driver" guy are you??

[Desert Fox]

BigBird,

Unfortunately, no, i was never a sled driver. I've always been a civilian pilot. My father works directly with the Skunk Works and had lots of equipment on the SR, though, so he knows the bird inside and out. A few of the original Blackbird pilots are family friends, one in particular being very close to the family.

~Fox~

[BigBird]

Those guys are all American heroes IMO. I don't care what kind of machine you're sitting in, flying alone over the middle of hostile countries -- while dodging the occasional SAM -- has got to be a frightening experience.

And they were all proud to do it & would do it again in a heartbeat. You've got to wonder how many lives the intel those guys gathered ultimately saved.

Interesting that the SR-71 was designed and built without the aid of computers. I wonder what they're flying these days.

[nemnoch]

Ever since I saw Firefox as a kid, the SR-71 has been my favorite aircraft. It's a shame they were decomissioned.