Author Description

The history of aircraft structures underlies the history ofaviation in general. Advances in materials and processesused to construct aircraft have led to their evolution fromsimple wood truss structures to the sleek aerodynamic flyingmachines of today. Combined with continuous powerplantdevelopment, the structures of "flying machines" havechanged significantly.The key discovery that "lift" could be created by passingair over the top of a curved surface set the development offixed and rotary-wing aircraft in motion. George Cayleydeveloped an efficient cambered airfoil in the early 1800s,as well as successful manned gliders later in that century. Heestablished the principles of flight, including the existence oflift, weight, thrust, and drag. It was Cayley who first stackedwings and created a tri-wing glider that flew a man in 1853.