Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Volume 27 Number 3, Publication 1948, 1911

"Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II" by Samuel Pierpont Langley is a historical account of early experiments in flight, detailing the trials and tribulations that shaped the dawn of aviation. Langley's memoir recounts rigorous experiments in aerodynamics, emphasizing the use of different types of mechanical models and the technical puzzles encountered. Langley highlights frustrations with early models and the struggles of constructing lighter, more efficient machines. The writing shows a scientific approach blended with historical context, presenting the evolution of flight technology, and his hopes for achieving sustained flight, which bore fruit in May 1896.