Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthalwas a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights. Newspapers and magazines published photographs of Lilienthal gliding, favorably influencing public and scientific opinion about the possibility of flying machines becoming practical. On August 9, 1896, his glider stalled and he was unable to regain control. Falling from about 15 m, he broke his neck and died the next day, 10 August, 1896...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionAviator
Date of Birth23 May 1848
CountryGermany
To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.
No one can realize how substantial the air is, until he feels its supporting power beneath him. It inspires confidence at once.
We returned home, after these experiments, with the conviction that sailing flight was not the exclusive prerogative of birds.
All flight is based upon producing air pressure, all flight energy consists in overcoming air pressure.
One can get a proper insight into the practice of flying only by actual flying experiments. . . . The manner in which we have to meet the irregularities of the wind, when soaring in the air, can only be learnt by being in the air itself. . . . The only way which leads us to a quick development in human flight is a systematic and energetic practice in actual flying experiments.