Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:41 pm
Here is an interesting article from the Auckland Star newspaper dated 6th of January 1900. I wonder if this is the earliest suggestion of armed flying machines and bomber aircraft? I'd love to see a photo or drawing of his design. It would make a great artwork to have two of these bombers swooping in over Ladysmith. 
FLYING MACHINES TO THE RESCUE.
ARMED "FLYERS" FOR THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING AND LADYSMITH.
The most remarkable suggestion yet made for the relief of Mafeking and Ladysmith is that of Mr John S. Praul, a man well-known in the United States for his efforts to solve the problem of aerial navigation.
Mr Praul has just had built at Baldwin's Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, a new flying machine driven by hot air engines, which has proved itself capable of a lifting power of twice its own weight. The suggestion is that two of these machines should be sent to South Africa by the British Government, and should be in charge of experts supplied by the inventor.
The machines, it is claimed, would restore communication with the isolated towns, and when passing over the enemy's laagers would drop deadly explosives upon them, a quick-firing gun at the same time doing great execution. The machines would fly at such a speed and height that projectiles from Boer guns would either fail to reach them or pass harmlessly behind the winged death-dealers. This is certainly the most novel scheme yet formulated for the relief of the beleaguered towns. Mr Praul, at any rate, is confident it would work with the best results.
The machine is an exact cylinder to within a very short distance of its ends, where it tapers to blunt points. The cylinder is 15ft long and 3ft in diameter. Two sets of wings are situated at each end, and are operated by two hot-air engines, one to each set of wings, which make about 400 revolutions a minute. The lower framework, under the cylinder, in which the engineer and pilot work, gives the machine a total height, from working platform to top of cylinder, of 8ft.
The whole of the machine is built of steel and aluminium. It will carry a weight of 2000 pounds. The wings give a forward motion and slightly upward; the influence of the steering vanes turns the forward to upward or sidewise movement. The front and back wings, while both inclined to give a forward push, move in opposite directions, and are geared through the cylinder, so that they make an equal number of revolutions. The wings do not go round at an even speed, but have a beat like that of a bird's wing. The circle they describe is divided into two parts, one-quarter and three-quarters, the smaller one being directly above the centre. Such is the "flyer" which it is suggested should be sent out for service with the British troops in South Africa. When our war balloons went up there some of the natives stood in open-mouthed wonderment at the sight; but what would the untutored savage think of a flying machine?
SOURCE:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bi ... --0flyer--
FLYING MACHINES TO THE RESCUE.
ARMED "FLYERS" FOR THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING AND LADYSMITH.
The most remarkable suggestion yet made for the relief of Mafeking and Ladysmith is that of Mr John S. Praul, a man well-known in the United States for his efforts to solve the problem of aerial navigation.
Mr Praul has just had built at Baldwin's Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, a new flying machine driven by hot air engines, which has proved itself capable of a lifting power of twice its own weight. The suggestion is that two of these machines should be sent to South Africa by the British Government, and should be in charge of experts supplied by the inventor.
The machines, it is claimed, would restore communication with the isolated towns, and when passing over the enemy's laagers would drop deadly explosives upon them, a quick-firing gun at the same time doing great execution. The machines would fly at such a speed and height that projectiles from Boer guns would either fail to reach them or pass harmlessly behind the winged death-dealers. This is certainly the most novel scheme yet formulated for the relief of the beleaguered towns. Mr Praul, at any rate, is confident it would work with the best results.
The machine is an exact cylinder to within a very short distance of its ends, where it tapers to blunt points. The cylinder is 15ft long and 3ft in diameter. Two sets of wings are situated at each end, and are operated by two hot-air engines, one to each set of wings, which make about 400 revolutions a minute. The lower framework, under the cylinder, in which the engineer and pilot work, gives the machine a total height, from working platform to top of cylinder, of 8ft.
The whole of the machine is built of steel and aluminium. It will carry a weight of 2000 pounds. The wings give a forward motion and slightly upward; the influence of the steering vanes turns the forward to upward or sidewise movement. The front and back wings, while both inclined to give a forward push, move in opposite directions, and are geared through the cylinder, so that they make an equal number of revolutions. The wings do not go round at an even speed, but have a beat like that of a bird's wing. The circle they describe is divided into two parts, one-quarter and three-quarters, the smaller one being directly above the centre. Such is the "flyer" which it is suggested should be sent out for service with the British troops in South Africa. When our war balloons went up there some of the natives stood in open-mouthed wonderment at the sight; but what would the untutored savage think of a flying machine?
SOURCE:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bi ... --0flyer--
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:50 am
Fascinating article. I'm having a hard time visualizng the machine from the description..sounds like the classic ornithopter, or "flapping wing" aircraft. A Google search of "John S. Praul" turns up another similar verbal description (which mentions that a model of the design had flown succusfully) but no illustrations.
Of course, by 1900 balloons had been around for over a century, and some early lighter-than-air powered machines were in operation. I wonder if anyone had experimented or considered aerial bombardment with them.
SN
Of course, by 1900 balloons had been around for over a century, and some early lighter-than-air powered machines were in operation. I wonder if anyone had experimented or considered aerial bombardment with them.
SN
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 11:49 am
It would have been a tough gig riding in a slow moving balloon gondola anywhere near Boers armed with Mauser rifles.
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:04 pm
I guess that is why this guy was suggesting his alleged fast moving alternative.
The thing I find of interest was I had learned previously that iut was the Royal Naval Air Service who came up with the concept of aerial bombing in about 1915, but this idea not only pre-dates that, it pre-dates actual controlled flight by three years.
The thing I find of interest was I had learned previously that iut was the Royal Naval Air Service who came up with the concept of aerial bombing in about 1915, but this idea not only pre-dates that, it pre-dates actual controlled flight by three years.
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:52 pm
It's an interesting historical item, but just one in a continuum rather than of premier significance. Evidently the claims for successful flight 'lifting twice it's own weight' proved, like most others of the time, to be bogus.
The first actual recognised bombing raids using heavier than air aircraft were by an Italian in Libya in 1911 (sound familiar a century on?).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13294524
Speculation regarding aerial bombing machines goes back centuries, including general military-political suggestions and specific unfulfilled examples. And, of course, there's the lighter than air bombers prior to 1900 too. We tend to over-focus on the 20th Century in aviation history because that's where it became successful, but not without prior clues...
Regards,
The first actual recognised bombing raids using heavier than air aircraft were by an Italian in Libya in 1911 (sound familiar a century on?).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13294524
Speculation regarding aerial bombing machines goes back centuries, including general military-political suggestions and specific unfulfilled examples. And, of course, there's the lighter than air bombers prior to 1900 too. We tend to over-focus on the 20th Century in aviation history because that's where it became successful, but not without prior clues...
Regards,
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:54 pm
One of our F-4 volunteers was part of Professor Lowe's ballon corp during the Civil War, I'll ask him if he's ever heard of this ! If he wasn't there, he sure looks like he should have been ! OOps, here he comes now !! 
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:18 pm
Point taken James, I should have written aeroplane rather than aircraft, but most people on this forum don't know what an aeroplane is. Airplane?
I don't for a minute think that this aircraft flew. My thoughts though is it is a heavier-than-air concept being built as a bomber and with machine guns. Was this the first actual concept of an aeroplane (not a balloon or airship) being considered in this way? Or does that too go back a fair way?
All the same I think it could make a great What-If artwork or model project.
I don't for a minute think that this aircraft flew. My thoughts though is it is a heavier-than-air concept being built as a bomber and with machine guns. Was this the first actual concept of an aeroplane (not a balloon or airship) being considered in this way? Or does that too go back a fair way?
All the same I think it could make a great What-If artwork or model project.
Re: Did John Praul invent the bomber aircraft in 1900?
Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:25 pm
Dave Homewood wrote:Was this the first actual concept of an aeroplane (not a balloon or airship) being considered in this way? Or does that too go back a fair way?
Depending on your parameters (guns & bombs, say) I don't think it's the first, there's certainly lots of enthusiastic proposals in the 19th century. More 'serious' than some perhaps.
All the same I think it could make a great What-If artwork or model project.
Oh yes. Real Steampunk, too!