Dieselpunk + Steampunk Culture
A little inspiration for engineers and artists
I know that a few of you might be feeling depressed thanks to the Winter. Long nights and cold weather do their best to put out the fire in a man's heart.
But keep that chin up. Just when everyone else is saying, "it's impossible," it's not your place to agree with them. It's your place to make it possible. Sweat, blood, sleep... whatever it takes.
We're not here to be sheep. Dieselpunks are here to shepherd in a better tomorrow.
Dr. Langley was a brilliant visionary who dedicated the later years of his life to inventing the airplane. After becoming Secretary of the Smithsonian in 1886, he immediately instituted a basic research program on flight using the Smithsonian’s resources. In 1896, following ten years of sustained experimentation, Langley finally proved that human flight was achievable when his 16-foot unmanned flying machine, powered by a steam engine, flew nearly one mile. Langley then set out to raise $50,000 to take his experimental research to the next level. It took two years for his fundraising campaign to succeed. He would soon direct a full-time staff, which reached about 10 people in size. Langley told the War Department3 with “confidence” that “the machine will be completely built and ready for trial within a year”—meaning by 1899. Langley would spend the entire $50,000 provided by the War Department, run out of money, and then raise another estimated $20,000 from other sources—and take five years until the first flight test in 1903.
Dr. Langley made two flight attempts. The tests were open to the public and the media, and two members of Congress were explicitly invited. The first attempt failed on October 7, 1903, but since the vehicle incurred only minor damage a second attempt was possible. The second attempt failed on December 8, 1903, and destroyed the craft. After the second public failure, the project became known as “Langley’s Folly”. Both the media and members of Congress harshly attacked Langley as the vast majority still believed practical human flight was impossible and was therefore a waste of public funds.
October 9, 1903
From the New York Times
"The ridiculous fiasco which attended the attempt at aerial navigation in the Langley flying machine was not unexpected… it might be assumed that the flying machine which will really fly might be evolved by the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians in from one million to ten million years."
December 17, 1903
From the camera of Orville Wright
But keep that chin up. Just when everyone else is saying, "it's impossible," it's not your place to agree with them. It's your place to make it possible. Sweat, blood, sleep... whatever it takes.
We're not here to be sheep. Dieselpunks are here to shepherd in a better tomorrow.
Dr. Langley was a brilliant visionary who dedicated the later years of his life to inventing the airplane. After becoming Secretary of the Smithsonian in 1886, he immediately instituted a basic research program on flight using the Smithsonian’s resources. In 1896, following ten years of sustained experimentation, Langley finally proved that human flight was achievable when his 16-foot unmanned flying machine, powered by a steam engine, flew nearly one mile. Langley then set out to raise $50,000 to take his experimental research to the next level. It took two years for his fundraising campaign to succeed. He would soon direct a full-time staff, which reached about 10 people in size. Langley told the War Department3 with “confidence” that “the machine will be completely built and ready for trial within a year”—meaning by 1899. Langley would spend the entire $50,000 provided by the War Department, run out of money, and then raise another estimated $20,000 from other sources—and take five years until the first flight test in 1903.
Dr. Langley made two flight attempts. The tests were open to the public and the media, and two members of Congress were explicitly invited. The first attempt failed on October 7, 1903, but since the vehicle incurred only minor damage a second attempt was possible. The second attempt failed on December 8, 1903, and destroyed the craft. After the second public failure, the project became known as “Langley’s Folly”. Both the media and members of Congress harshly attacked Langley as the vast majority still believed practical human flight was impossible and was therefore a waste of public funds.
October 9, 1903
From the New York Times
"The ridiculous fiasco which attended the attempt at aerial navigation in the Langley flying machine was not unexpected… it might be assumed that the flying machine which will really fly might be evolved by the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians in from one million to ten million years."
December 17, 1903
From the camera of Orville Wright
Comment
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Comment by Neil Crompton on December 21, 2009 at 4:46am -
Huzzah. How did you know. The humdrum has interfered to much recently. Especially the tax fella. However over the holidays I shall be returning to canvas. Seasons greetings to you all.:D
© 2012 Created by Tome Wilson.
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