The Flying Man: Otto Lilienthal-History, Flights and Photographs

Otto Lilienthal was a key figure in the 19th-century study of flying, attracting new recruits, understanding flight principles, and promoting curved wing surfaces. Wilbur Wright praised Lilienthal's contributions, and a book explores his life, aircraft designs, and photographic documentation. It also includes a research project that resulted in a historic aerial meeting between Lilienthal's 1895 biplane and the Wright brothers' 1902 biplane.

Format: Hardback
Length: 347 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Otto Lilienthal, a prominent figure in the 19th century's pursuit of solving the flying problem, stands out as one of the most influential. His remarkable contributions spanned various aspects of the problem. Lilienthal's unparalleled ability to attract new supporters to the cause was unmatched. He possessed a profound and comprehensive understanding of the principles of flight, which enabled him to make significant advancements in this field. His unwavering advocacy for curved wing surfaces greatly contributed to convincing the world of their advantages. Moreover, Lilienthal played a crucial role in bringing the problem of human flight outdoors, where it rightfully belonged.

Wilbur Wright, in his speech, acknowledged Lilienthal's immense importance and credited him with laying the foundation for their successful powered flight in 1903. Wright emphasized Lilienthal's ability to captivate the world through his remarkable photographs, made possible by the newly developed technology he had pioneered. This fortuitous convergence of aviation and photography played a pivotal role in amplifying Lilienthal's flights' global popularity, marking the first-ever free flights performed by a man.

This book delves into the life of Otto Lilienthal, shedding light on his numerous aircraft designs and the photographic documentation that has survived. It provides a comprehensive account of his contributions to aviation. The presentation concludes with a remarkable research project conducted by one of the authors, which involved training exercises with Lilienthal's "normal soaring apparatus" and "large biplane." This project offered fresh insights into Lilienthal's work and culminated in a historic aerial encounter between Lilienthal's 1895 biplane and the Wright brothers' 1902 biplane at a significant location on the Outer Banks.

In conclusion, Otto Lilienthal's profound influence on the 19th-century pursuit of flying cannot be overstated. His remarkable abilities in attracting supporters, understanding flight principles, advocating curved wing surfaces, and bringing human flight outdoors laid the groundwork for the remarkable achievements of Wilbur Wright and others. Lilienthal's legacy continues to inspire aviators and enthusiasts worldwide, and his contributions to the field of aviation remain invaluable.

Weight: 696g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030950323
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022