Wright Brothers contribution to flying was mainly that unlike everyone else at the time, they understood (by 1903, anyway), that the key was pilot skill and controlability. The first they covered by becoming competent glider pilots before attempting powered flight, and the second by their invention of wing warping to provide roll control and, together with the well understood rudder, enable coordinated turns.
The wrights patented wing warping, and Curtiss invented ailerons to circumvent this patent. These seem to have been independently invented in Europe, although it is difficult to tell, because nearly all the early aviators were in good communication with each other, whether in France, UK, USA, Russia, Australia, or Brazil. Wrights' attempts to use their patent to cover all aircraft with roll control (i.e. anything practical) meant that the centre of aviation advance moved to Europe and especially France, where the courts were less supportive of patents.
By 1913, when Wrights were trying to sell a little modified version of their 1903 flyer to the US army and suing their competitors, Avro was selling their 504 to the RFC (which remained in service to 1930), Junker in Germany was building the first all metal aeroplane, and Sikorsky had already flown the first four engined aircraft, with closed accommodation for sixteen, electric light, toilet etc in St Petersburg, Bleriot in France was selling multiple types and developing military aircraft used in WW1.
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
Another software flaw found in the 737 MAX. This time, just an indicator light. Not sure if 'just ' is appropriate.
Boeing finds new 737 MAX software flaw | The New Daily
I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food
A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking
damning report shows Boeing did not pass on key changes to deadly planes.
Boeing kept federal regulator in the dark on key changes
I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food
A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking
Nothing new - this was extensively reported months ago. I suppose what this report is adding is the acknowledgement by the FAA that they were kept in the dark. Or perhaps in Boeing's pocket.
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
House report condemns Boeing and FAA in 737 MAX disasters.
House Report Condemns Boeing and F.A.A. in 737 Max Disasters - The New York Times
I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food
A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking
Scrutiny intensifies on the Boeing board after the 737max crashes
Nearly two dozen current and former Boeing officials and board members are named in a recent lawsuit that depicts the board as passive toward operational problems on earlier Boeing models and overly trusting of former chief executive Dennis Muilenburg's explanations for the disasters.
Scrutiny intensifies on Boeing board after 737 MAX crashes
I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food
A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking
Boeing's problems originated from the board decision to isolate management from engineering, highlighted by the move of HQ from Seattle to Chicago, and the gradual replacement of all the engineers in management by MBAs.
While this gave them good headline results for the next ten or more years, it also set them up for the 737-MAX disasters and for being beaten by SpaceX in the race to provide a US manned space vehicle. If the company survives this it will be only because of massive government support - which is likely, regardless of who wins the presidential race, as it is probably unthinkable for the USA to be left without a viable airliner producer. (The field is wider for space and defence)
John
JDNSW
1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
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