Existing comment:
The Wright Brothers Catapult Launching System:
The Wright brothers used a catapult system to help launch their aircraft from 1905-1909. The Military Flyer was capable of taking off without the catapult, but required a long track to reach flying speed. The catapult used dropped weights to accelerate the Flyer to flying speed in a much shorter distance.
The Flyer rods the track on a dolley, which dropped away after takeoff. Before launching, the Flyer was held in place by a wire attached to the back of the track, which was released by a trigger. The catapult never failed in the many flights it launched, but was abandoned after wheels were installed, beginning in 1910. |