(The completed model is here:)
The dream of getting into the blue yonder wasn't born in a specific place. Almost every man through history longed for wings. By the end of the XIX century, Alexander Mozhaisky, a Russian national, built and tested a steam powered monoplane that basically had the right stuff. It is arguable that he achieved a great degree of success, although the machine made a promising hop. Bureaucracy, lack of support, lack of funds, his own death, the usual things, prevented what could have had the chance to really make history, a fate many other pioneers would share. There is some material around about this strange bird in the Net and in WW1 AERO magazine, among other sources.
I will humbly dispute the numbers almost universally given for the size of this plane, which, if made with the given span and length, would be almost ridiculous. Fortunately, and after a certain time spent researching, an unexpected text (The Naval Institute Guide to the Soviet Navy by Norman Polmar) provided with the much more credible span of 12.2 meters. Why the other sources state, for example, that the main propeller was
28.7' (almost 9 meters) the span 74' (more than 22 meters) and so forth, seems to escape common sense; perhaps the common mistake of confusing metric and imperial? some other contemporary Russian measure system? Time will tell. Or Won't. This model is a commission, a happy one, since my own interest is usually geared towards odd-balls; besides, my ancestors came originally from Russia.
What can I say, give my a glass of vodka and a balalaika (and an Xacto)
There is an old spanish speech that says "you´ll never go to bed without knowing something else", never better said than reserching the history of aviation; first time I came in touch with Mozhaisky's aircraft was more than 30 years ago in an spanish enciclopedia, and given dimensions were extreme, now thanks to Mr. Stern dedication we are having light in another dark spot, thanks for it.
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