Sorry Kees, crap is indeed an unfair description of Chanutes work. I had visions of the intrepid Willi doing some "Tower jumping" which he clearly doesn't have in mind to do. According to Charles H. Gibbs Smith (The invention of the Aeroplane 1799-1909) Chanutes only major technical contribution to aviation was his excellent bridge-truss method of rigging a biplane. He was of course a follower of Lilienthal who killed himself along with a number of other followers which gave me concerns for young Willi. However Willi has done his homework (which I have now
) as the biplane he is making made some 700 safe flights and was in fact the most successful glider prior to the Wright brothers. A number of successful replicas have already been made and there should be no reason why there shouldn't another.
Willi,
I'm fascinated with this project of yours. Is there any way you can film your progress and put it on YouTube?