Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 10

December 22, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last Corner, we described how the Wright Brothers flew a manned aircraft for the first time, propelled by its own power. Now we will disscuss what was known about what stopped… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 9

December 15, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last Corner, we described how the Wright Brothers developed the first theory for propellers. It was based on their wing work and allowed them to design an efficient pair of propellers… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 8

December 08, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last Corner we described how the Wright Brothers developed their own engine, as there were no light engines on the market. After understanding how to design wings, how to control the… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 7

December 01, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In previous Corners, we looked at how the Wright Brothers understood the wing aerodynamics and aircraft control. We now describe how the Wright cracked the third nut keeping them from manned flight, propulsion…. Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 6

November 24, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last Corner, we described how the Wright Brothers obtained the aerodynamic data they needed to design gliders and aircraft. But there was additional knowledge they needed: how to control an aircraft… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 5

November 17, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last Corner, we described how the Wright Brothers (bicycle manufacturers in Dayton (OH)) decided to research their own aerodynamic data with the help of their own designed-and-built wind tunnel. The wind… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction, Part 4

October 27, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In this and the following Corners, we will review the competition for first manned flight between Samuel Langley, high ranking scientist of Allegheny Observatory in Pittsburgh, and the Wright Brothers, bicycle manufacturers in… Read More