Spring-powered aircraft

A Spring-powered aircraft is an aircraft powered by a mechanical device capable of storing energy. The most popular version of a spring-powered aircraft are model toy planes driven by a rubber cord, which is twisted by turning the propeller. When leaving the hand from the propeller, it starts rotating and drives the plane. Most planes of this type have to be thrown by the operator, but some can start directly from the ground.[1]

A model plane driven by a rubber cord
Part of a series on
Aircraft propulsion
Shaft engines:
driving propellers, rotors, ducted fans or propfans
Reaction engines

History

The Besler Brothers (George and William[2]) built the only steam-powered airplane in history to successfully take wing. With an engine produced by the Doble Steam Motors Co. in Detroit, it put out 150 horse power and weighed about 500 pounds. Most interesting, the Bessler's biplane was capable of extremely short landings because the steam engine was easily reversible.[3]

References
  1. "Spring Powered Aircraft Campus Africa". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. "William & George BESLER --- Steam-Powered Airplane -- 2 Articles & 2 US Patents". www.rexresearch.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. "A Steam-Powered Airplane, Anyone?". Flying. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.