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Originally Posted by Terrencejones
----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. ---
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In his later book 'Aviation - an historical survey from its origins to the end of the Second World War' (edition 2003 Science Museum) Gibbs-Smith allotted three pages of text to Chanute (pp. 99 - 102). In this pages it is quoted that
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Chanute introduced the excellent "Pratt-truss" method of rigging his multiplanes.
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As Chanute was a civil engineer he knew about the construction of bridges, where in 1844 Thomas and Caleb Pratt invented a construction of a bridge with vertical members and diagonals that slope down towards the center. He probably used this invention for the strong (and light) construction of wings.
Included is a 1904 US Patent of Chanute for a means for aerial flight. The sketch of the plane is very close to the biplane glider built by Willi.
Cheers
Kees