Samuel
Pierpont Langley was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1834. After
completing his education he worked as both an engineer and architect.
In
1865 Langley became assistant at the Harvard College Observatory.
This was followed by employment at the US Naval Observatory at Annapolis.
In 1867 he was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Western University
of Pennsylvania. He was also director of the Allegheny Observatory,
a post he was to hold for over 20 years.
Langley
invented the bolometer in 1880, an instrument which recorded the
infrared radiation of the Sun quantitatively in terms of an electric
current. In 1887 he was appointed secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington.
In
1890 Langley founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and
began research into aerodynamics. In 1901 Langley produced the model
of the first flying machine powered by a gasoline engine.
In 1896 his steam-driven areoplane was launched by catapult over
the Potomac River. It flew for 90 seconds and covered a distance
of 42,000 feet (12,802 m). It was the first recorded flight by an
uncrewed engine-equipped aircraft.
In
1901 Langley produced the model of the first flying machine powered
by a gasoline engine. This success of these tests encouraged him
to build a full-sized plane called the Aerodrome. The engine was
developed by his assistant, Charles Manly. The Aerodrome had a 48
foot (14.63 m) wingspan and weighed 730 pounds (331 kg). The project
was funded by the United States government.
The
launch pad on the Potomac River in 1903
Langley
tested the Aerodrome for the first time on 7th October, 1903. The
Aerodrome crashed soon after leaving the launch pad on the Potomac
River. The front wing was badly damaged but this was repaired and
a second attempt was made on 9th December. This time the rear wing
and tail completely collapsed during the launch.
Langley
was ridiculed by the press and criticized by members of the Congress
for wasting taxpayers money. Disillusioned by this response, Langley
decided to abandon the project.
Samuel
Pierpont Langley
died in 1906.
