FERDINAND FERBER, THE INITIATER OF MODERN FRENCH FLYING

摘要

This is the first of two papers in this meeting that deal with aeronautics and aviation before World War Ⅰ. The common belief, particularly among those who have read only popularized accounts, is that the Wright brothers invented the airplane. The italicized statement is largely false on two counts: 1) the airplane was conceived, and consequently 'invented' a century earlier, by Cayley; and 2) many people tried to make a powered men-carrying machine before and contemporaneously with the Wrights. Cayley tried unsuccessfully to make an engine for his glider, which he knew how to make stable, but did not have control in roll. Most importantly, and the main point of especially the second of tthe two papers referred to, is that Wilbur alone formulated his design driven by his discovery of the importance of roll control. He did not invent the airplane, nor did he ever claim that he did; Wilbur understood very well what he did that was original, and therefore could be patented, was control of the roll degree of freedom. It must be emphasized, however, that the concept of 'degree of freedom', while intuitively felt, was not treated as it is now in physics and engineering. The point here is that only Wilbur realized that control of roll was a fundamental requirement of flying. Hence Ferber did not alter that weakness, and because of constraints on him placed by his position in the French military, he had little effect on the French efforts to design aircraft. Consequently, Ferdinand Ferber's serious efforts to make the French once again undoubted leaders in the aircraft business after being first in the race for pre-eminence in flying, were doomed to failure. The connection is strongest between the French and the Wrights' efforts when the story reaches a climax as Wilbur Wright flew publicly for the first time; all French graciously admitted that they had been beaten, and they celebrated the result that Wilbur and his brother were the winners in the competition for building the first manned and powered aircraft. Ferber had failed to achieve his primary goal; a few months after Bleriot flew across the la Manche in July 1909, he was dead, a victim of a landing accident in his aircraft, designed by the well-known Henri Farman. Ferber began his career in the French Army; fiercely patriotic and well suited for being an aviation pioneer, but he died not having achieved his unselfish dream. It was a sad end to a little-recognized career. Ferber's short book is enjoyable reading covering aviation in France, 1902 -1908, by a man who was involved closely in bringing flying to his country in the modern era in France. He was not always treated well by his fellow French. In particular, because he was merely a Capitaine, he was not always regarded respectfully by some of his contemporaries, but the man himself deserves credit for bring attention to a large French problem. His strenuous efforts ultimately achieved what his initial goals were. He motivated the right people to give time, money and personal efforts all in support of France's long term benefits.