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Close. The 1901 glider used a rail and took off down hill. Their Flyer used skids and could take off from level ground even on sand.
by db48x 2y ago
Close. The 1901 glider used a rail and took off down hill. Their Flyer used skids and could take off from level ground even on sand.
- WalterBright 2y agoThe skids were for landing. I don't recall them ever taking off using the skids.
- db48x 2y agoYou’re right. The book I most recently read on the subject talked about them disassembling the rail down the hillside that the glider used and then later putting it up on flat ground. I don’t know how I missed that part, especially since the pictures of early flights clearly show the Flyer taking off from that very rail.