W
Wingknut
Guest
This 1862 sort-of rotorcraft project is mentioned elsewhere (http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,13346.msg186485.html#msg186485) but I thought the additional images and text below might justify giving it its own thread:
"The American Civil War brought about great advances in the use of technology in warfare. Balloons, railroads, ironclad ships, and even a submarine were demonstrated throughout the conflict, and new ideas were constantly being thought up and tried on the battlefield. Some ideas were more exotic than others, such as the one thought of by William C. Powers. In 1862, most of the ports of the Southern states were completely blockaded by Union naval forces, choking off much needed supplies and commerce. William C. Powers was an architectural engineer living in Mobile, Alabama, and personally saw the effects of the Northern blockade. Powers knew that the southern states did not have enough ships to break the blockade with naval power, and going through the blockade was full of risks. William Powers saw another way to crush the blockade – attack it from the air.
Using his engineering skills, Powers began drafting plans for a machine that could lift off and propel itself through the air to attack Union ships. Although balloons were being effectively used for observation, they lacked directional control and could not lift enough weight to make an effective bomber. Powers drew upon the work of other famous engineers, such as Archimedes and da Vinci, and employed Archimedean screws for lift and thrust, all powered by a steam engine. The engine was located in the middle of the craft, and used two smokestacks, which can be seen in the drawings. Two Archimedean screws on the sides gave the helicopter forward thrust, similar to how a propeller works on a ship in water, and two mounted vertically in the helicopter gave it lift. A rudder was added to the rear of the craft in order to provide steering."
Text above quoted from article here: http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/plans-for-the-little-known-confederate-helicopter/
Whether a whole raft of Archimedean screws makes their bearer a helicopter, I wouldn't like to say ... Still, 'Confederate Air Corps '66' might make a change from 'Luftwaffe '46'.
Images from above and e.g.:
http://www.afhra.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=7871
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/odd-invention-confederate-helicopter.88696/
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/confederate-helicopter-04-jpg.19335/
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/confederate-helicopter-01-jpg.19336/
"The American Civil War brought about great advances in the use of technology in warfare. Balloons, railroads, ironclad ships, and even a submarine were demonstrated throughout the conflict, and new ideas were constantly being thought up and tried on the battlefield. Some ideas were more exotic than others, such as the one thought of by William C. Powers. In 1862, most of the ports of the Southern states were completely blockaded by Union naval forces, choking off much needed supplies and commerce. William C. Powers was an architectural engineer living in Mobile, Alabama, and personally saw the effects of the Northern blockade. Powers knew that the southern states did not have enough ships to break the blockade with naval power, and going through the blockade was full of risks. William Powers saw another way to crush the blockade – attack it from the air.
Using his engineering skills, Powers began drafting plans for a machine that could lift off and propel itself through the air to attack Union ships. Although balloons were being effectively used for observation, they lacked directional control and could not lift enough weight to make an effective bomber. Powers drew upon the work of other famous engineers, such as Archimedes and da Vinci, and employed Archimedean screws for lift and thrust, all powered by a steam engine. The engine was located in the middle of the craft, and used two smokestacks, which can be seen in the drawings. Two Archimedean screws on the sides gave the helicopter forward thrust, similar to how a propeller works on a ship in water, and two mounted vertically in the helicopter gave it lift. A rudder was added to the rear of the craft in order to provide steering."
Text above quoted from article here: http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/plans-for-the-little-known-confederate-helicopter/
Whether a whole raft of Archimedean screws makes their bearer a helicopter, I wouldn't like to say ... Still, 'Confederate Air Corps '66' might make a change from 'Luftwaffe '46'.
Images from above and e.g.:
http://www.afhra.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=7871
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/odd-invention-confederate-helicopter.88696/
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/confederate-helicopter-04-jpg.19335/
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/confederate-helicopter-01-jpg.19336/
Attachments
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Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Smaller B&W Model).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Larger B&W Model).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Original Side View).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Colour Profile).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Model 1).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Model 2).jpg -
Powers 1862 Confederate Helicopter (Model 3).jpg
