No 14bis

thingiverse

Alberto Santos-Dumont was the ultimate performance artist of late 19th-Century/early 20th-Century France. He was a master showman with a talent for creating spectacle in flight. Unlike Lady Gaga, however, Santos-Dumont's performances were not about singing but about defying gravity. As a Brazilian coffee heir, Santos-Dumont emigrated to France in 1891 and quickly became obsessed with lighter-than-air flight. In less than seven years, he had invented the world's smallest human-carrying balloon, which he named Brazil. His experiments culminated in steering a dirigible around the Eiffel Tower on October 19, 1901, earning him the prestigious Deutsche de la Meurth prize. Construction of more dirigibles followed this groundbreaking achievement. In 1905, Santos-Dumont's final dirigible, No 14, was used to test the aerodynamics of his next aviation venture - a heavier-than-air flying machine. Unconventionally, he used the dirigible No 14 to carry his aeroplane, No 14bis, aloft for airworthiness tests. The aeroplane itself was an unusual craft with a cumbersome canard attached to a biplane frame and propelled by a pusher engine. On October 23, 1906, Santos-Dumont made history by flying the first powered, heavier-than-air aircraft in Europe. His flight lasted 62 seconds and covered a distance of 220 feet. This achievement sparked controversy over who flew first - Santos-Dumont or the Wright brothers. The debate continues to this day. Santos-Dumont's legacy extends beyond his achievements in aviation. He was a pioneer in design, engineering, and innovation. His work paved the way for modern aircraft and inspired generations of inventors and engineers. Today, you can visit the Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to see the original No 14bis on display. In recognition of his contributions to aviation, Santos-Dumont was awarded several honors, including the National Order of the Legion of Honour from France and the Ordem do Cruzeiro do Sul from Brazil. He remains one of the most celebrated figures in the history of aviation. If you're interested in building a replica of No 14bis, there are several options available online. The model is designed to be 1/52 scale and requires careful assembly and attention to detail. You can find the plans and instructions on various websites and 3D printing platforms. The debate over who flew first continues to this day, with some arguing that Santos-Dumont's achievement was more significant because he made a powered flight from the ground without assistance. Others claim that the Wright brothers' achievement was more impressive because they developed a reliable and practical aircraft that could be mass-produced. Regardless of who flew first, one thing is clear: Alberto Santos-Dumont was a true pioneer in aviation and his legacy continues to inspire people around the world.