Artificial and Natural Flight

"Artificial and Natural Flight" by Hiram S. Maxim is a scientific exploration of flight mechanics in the early 1900s. This book highlights the author's research and theories on aeronautics, covering both man-made and natural flight. The book focuses on crucial elements like aerodynamics, the analysis of airflow, and propeller mechanics, and also opens with personal insights by Maxim, reminiscing on his childhood dreams of flight, shaped by discussions with his father about flying contraptions. Maxim traces the development of his ideas and experiments, ultimately pinpointing essential components for flying machines, particularly screw propellers and aeroplanes. He disputes standard mathematical models, using his own experimental data to show how flight works, and thus lays the groundwork for a thorough study of aeronautical design and the scientific concepts underpinning flight.