Wing Flappers

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Very nice find, indeed, Paul! Thanks for sharing. I like the idea that Cupid flew an ornithopter.

[aerohydro]

Hi All

Here is a mystery machine that I hope others can shed a bit of light on. This illustration comes from a book on aeronautical curiosities which I've had since I was ten years old, and which helped to spark my interest in early aviation and in odd-ball flying machines. The book is:

"Weird and Wonderful Aircraft"
by Graeme Cook
published in 1974 by World Distributors Ltd, Manchester, UK
SBN reference 7235 0694 9

Of all the different aircraft featured within the book, and there are dozens, I've come across stories and articles about all of them. All of them except one. This one.



The caption to the illustration describes it as a model of Professor Baranowski's Steam Flying Machine, and which flew in 1883. The model had flapping wings (hence my posting to this thread) and there was also a propeller under each wing. The name "POCCIR" is written on the 'bow' of the torpedo body on the RHS of the image. At least that's how the name is shown in the illustration. Given that some of the characters don't appear within the Cyrillic alphabet, I'm guessing that its the Russian name as rendered using Roman lettering.

I know from some online searching that this drawing is traced from an illustration which appeared in an 1883 issue of "Scientific American", but that is all I've learnt. Sadly, I don't have access to such early issues of the journal, so for me, at this point the trail runs cold.

However, if anyone out there happens to know more about this mystery machine, or of the equally mysterious Professor Baranowski, please make yourself known!

Cheers,
Paul

[jempie]

Hi!

Didn't visit this thread since a long while anymore!

But "Ruderflieger" Ruder = wheel , no wings in general but the elements circular rotating and meanwhile serving as wing!

Schwingenflieger = pure flapwingsystem the wings went up and down

There were indeed planes which had at both sides of the fuselage rotating
cilindric wheel propellors...alike a bit those old (Mississipi) boats!
The system was so that each rectangular element (in case of such cilindric system!) also rotated so that only the elements were horizontal when moving down, went vertical standing when moving upwards!
These are also a bit considered to be Ornithopters as well!
I have here from a 1910 bookwork (in French) such system copied from such a kind , the experimental research happend with a paddle system!

[jempie]

Hi!

Here the 1910 published system of a scientist Mr. Laroue for flapwing system.
But as you notice a rotating one...
he exprimented with to study the effectiveness for liftforce in function to HP power f.e.

VBR

Jempie

[Mudflap Aviation]

Wow, thanks Jempie! Sorry it's taken me so long to reply; I've forgotten to check lately, and it seemed that no one knew much about the ruderflieger. I will pass this on to the guy I'm translating for. I'd mention his name, but I've signed some sort of agreement and I'm not sure what I can and can't divulge. Not that translating books about the Wright Brothers is secret. Nevertheless, I thank you! These terms come up in the French and German books and they do not explain them, or have pictures.

Mudflap Aviation, Stuttgart Germany

[Richthofen]

you translate for Ken Hyde, is the still interested in the W. Brothers after 2003 ? his action in Kitty Hawk was a ..............,

[Mudflap Aviation]

Well, Ken and co. had an agreement that if the flight should fail, the media in question would air a film of a successful flight which was provided to them. Which they did not and that's a .............. shame. I personally think they should have used the weight tower, just as insurance. But the Wrights did not use it in 1903; they had a lot more wind, due to it being remote and there were no buildings, so to speak, only the weather station. I'm not even sure he has built a weight tower...

Oh yes, and "Ruder" actually means "oar," not wheel, nevertheless, it's the same principle of a rotating wing rather than a flapping one.

[franzkait]

Ken and co, Who is this co? R.Young ? after all this talking in the newspapers, spending over 1 million $ for this project and all the research !!!!!!!!!!! this engine did not have enough power, the linen was to lose............ a joke.

[Mudflap Aviation]

Don't know much about that. I do miss restoration work, though. There's so little wood and fabric work here in Stuttgart. And this is getting way off subject - wing-flappers, you know.
At least I get to translate, and perhaps travel a bit doing research. When I come across a translation problem, it's nice to have a forum to ask. I only wish there were some French person out there, well versed in early aviation terminology.....

Mudflap

[franzkait]

there are french people in the forum just ask them, and the belgian and luxenburg people speak french too.