Page:Open Source Philosophy and the Dawn of Aviation.pdf/22

 a major role, Aviation became an instant obsession. The show was a catalyst that would lead him to build his own plane and start his own airplane company, Pacific Aero Products, in 1916. This company evolved into the worldwide known Boeing Co.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Table 1 displays the impressive progress of the solution of the heavier-than-air flight issue (FlightGlobal, 1909b). All achievements were recorded by Aéro-Club de France. Although Wilbur Wright had settled down in France in 1907, he was only able to deliver a remarkable performance in late 1908, after he incorporated the European technology. The brothers did not take part in the trophy organized by the Scientific American in the U.S for a 1-km flight journey. Curtiss won the competition with its “June Bug” biplane.

Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between weight-to-wing area and weight-to-power ratio for several single-engine airplanes. The Wright brothers continuously improved the weight-to-power ratio of their machines. However, the graphic shows that the Flyer figures are higher than any single-engine piston-powered aircraft of all time. This explains the need for a catapult-launching system or suitable wind conditions to takeoff for the later versions; the first two ones can be considered an underpowered glider. Even considering the PIK-20E motor-glider, fitted with a retractable Rotax 505 engine, we have obtained values quite different for that from a flyer. For this aircraft, weight-to-wing area and weight-to power ratios are 47 and 10.9, respectively (Wikipedia, 2011).

France, the pioneer of world Aviation, led the way for the Allied aviation in World War I. In 1914, the French Aviation industry was the most advanced in the world, and its contribution was crucial to the establishment and maintenance of air power to confront that of the Central Powers. In the early years of the war, France supplied aircraft and engines to her allies. French as forerunner of the quest for technology can be credited to the open-source ambience, which prevailed in the aeronautical community before the Great War. The increase in aircraft production is naturally due to the shadow of the war to come.

In 1911, the tradition of military air shows was started, and not only was this idea taken up by other nations, but it proved a great stimulus for the Aviation industry. The industrial aircraft production surges and the figures are really impressive: 1,350 aircraft in 1911, 1,425 in 1912 and 1,294 in 1913 (Angelucci, 2001). Germany's achievements in setting up and developing the framework needed for aerial warfare can be considered as impressive, At the beginning of the war, German airplanes were slow and unarmed, intended only to be used for aerial observation and reconnaissance of ground forces. After changing the way aircraft could be usefulness in a war scenario, the armed forces were reorganized to efficiently incorporate the new weapon, The aircraft production in 1912 topped 136 units, which is a considerable increase from just 24 built in 1911. In 1913, Germany aircraft production rose to 446. A huge 376J. Aerosp. Technol. Manag., São José dos Campos, Vol.4, No 3, pp. 355-379, Jul.-Sep., 2012