Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T11:22:37.620Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The 31st Lanchester Lecture Lanchester-The Man

Part of: RAeS Lanchester Lecture Papers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

J. A. D. Ackroyd
J. A. D. Ackroyd*
Affiliation:
School of Aeronautical Engineering, University of Manchester
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

From the first, let me nail my colours firmly to the mast by quoting Beethoven’s eventual dedication of the “Eroica” Symphony. For this particular Lanchester Lecture we are “to celebrate the memory of a great man”. My meaning here, I hasten to add, has none of that bitter intention of the Republican Beethoven who, so the story goes, having ripped out his earlier dedication to Bonaparte then substituted those words to commemorate the man once revered but who had recently proclaimed himself Emperor of the French. My intention is that we celebrate the memory of a man whose thinking remains as alive, as vital, as the day he set pen to paper. Each day of our lives we see his vision made manifest reality in the vapour trails of the Big Jets high overhead. And to borrow such a dedication seems appropriate since, not only was Lanchester a great admirer of Beethoven’s music, but also Lanchester’s largeness of spirit, his grandness of vision, his capacity for unremitting sheer hard labour put him in the heroic mould.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 96 , Issue 954 , April 1992 , pp. 119 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1992 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Kingsford, P. W. F. W. Lanchester — A Life of an Engineer. Edward Arnold, London, 1960.Google Scholar
2. Lanchester, F. W. Improvements in Apparatus for Governing Gas and Other Motive Power Engines. 1889. Patent Specification No. 12502, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
3. Lanchester, F. W. Improvements in Gas Motor Engines. 1890. Patent Specification No. 5479, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
4. Lanchester, F. W. Aerodynamics. Constable & Co Ltd, London, 1907 Google Scholar
5. Lanchester, F. W. Aerodonetics. Constable & Co Ltd, London, 1908 Google Scholar
6. Lanchester, F. W. The flying machine: the aerofoil in the light of theory and experiment. Proc Inst Auto Eng. 1915, 9, pp 171–259 Google Scholar
7. Lanchester, F. W. Aircraft in Warfare. Constable & Co Ltd, London, 1916.Google Scholar
8. Lanchester, F. W. The Musical Scale, published by the author, 1941.Google Scholar
9. Lanchester, F. W. Discontinuities in the normal field of vision, J Anat, 1934, 68, pp 224–238.Google Scholar
10. Lanchester, F. W. Relativity Constable & Co Ltd, London, 1935.Google Scholar
11. Lanchester, F. W. (Herries, P. N.) The Centenarian, Cornish Brothers, Birmingham, 1935.Google Scholar
12. Lanchester, F. W. (Herries, P. N.) A King’s Prayer and Other Poems, published by the author, 1936.Google Scholar
13. Lanchester, F. W. At high altitude, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1937, 41, pp 388–400, 437-466.Google Scholar
14. Lanchester, F. W. Exhaust efflux propulsion, Flight, 1939, 36, pp 396a, 396d, 416d-417, 460, 495-496.Google Scholar
15. Ricardo, H. R. Frederick William Lanchester, 1868-1946, Obit Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society, 1945-1948, 5, pp 757–766.Google Scholar
16. Lanchester, F. W. Engine balancing, Proc Inst Auto Eng, 1914, 8, 195–278.Google Scholar
17. Lanchester, F. W. Worm gear, Proc Inst Auto Eng, 1913, 7, pp 215–306.Google Scholar
18. Lanchester, F. W. The gas engine and after, Proc Inst Mech Eng, 1937, 136, pp 195–244.Google Scholar
19. Sutton, O. G. The Science of Flight, Penguin Books Ltd, Harmondsworth, 1949.Google Scholar
20. Sutton, O. G. Mastery of the Air, Basic Books Inc, New York, 1965.Google Scholar
21. Karman, T. Von. Lanchester’s contributions to the theory of flight and operational research, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1958, 62, pp 80–93.Google Scholar
22. Lanchester, F. W. The part played by skin friction in aeronautics, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1937, 41, pp 68–131, 322-323.Google Scholar
23. Ackroyd, J. A. D. The Science of Aviation-A History, (video series), Manchester University Television Productions, 1984.Google Scholar
24. Bernoulli, D. Hydrodynamica, sive de viribus et motibus fluidorum commentari, Strasbourg, 1738.Google Scholar
25. Goldstein, S. (Ed). Modern Developments in Fluid Dynamics, Vol. II, Oxford Univ. Press, 1938.Google Scholar
26. Stokes, G. G. On the theories of the internal friction of fluids in motion, and of the equilibrium and motion of elastic solids. Trans Camb Phil Soc, 1845, 8, pp 287–305; Math and Physical Papers, 1, pp 75-129.Google Scholar
27. Stokes, G. G. On the effect of the internal friction of fluids on the motion of pendulums, Trans Camb Phil Soc, 1851, 9, pp 8–106; Math and Physical Papers, 3, pp 1-141.Google Scholar
28. Maxwell, J. C. Illustrations of the dynamical theory of gases. Part 1. On the motions and collisions of perfectly elastic spheres. Phil Mag, 1860, 19, pp 19–32.Google Scholar
29. Maxwell, J. C. On the viscosity or internal friction of air and other gases. Phil Trans R Soc, 1866, 156, pp 249–268.Google Scholar
30. Prandtl, L. Über Flüssigkeitsbewegung bei sehr kleiner Reibung, Verhandhingen des dritten internationalen Mathematiker-Kongresses, 1904, Heidelberg, Leipzig.Google Scholar
31. Blasius, P. R. H. Grenzschichten in Flüssigkeiten mit kleiner Reibung, Z für Mathematik und Physik, 1908, 56, pp 1–37.Google Scholar
32. Newton, I. Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, London, 1687. [Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Trans Third Latin Edit by Motte, A. London, 1729.]Google Scholar
33. Allen, H. S. The motion of a sphere in a viscous fluid. Phil Mag, 1900, 50, pp 323–338, 519-534.Google Scholar
34. Lanchester, F. W. Notes on the Resistance of Planes in Normal and Tangential Presentation and on the Resistance of Ichthyoid Bodies, Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, R & M No. 15, (Part 1), 1910.Google Scholar
35. Froude, W. Report to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on Experiments for the Determination of the Frictional Resistance of Water on a Surface, under Various Conditions, Performed at Chelston Cross, under the Authority of Their Lordships, 44th Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1874, pp 249-255.Google Scholar
36. Reynolds, O. An experimental investigation of the circumstances which determine whether the motion of water shall be direct or sinuous and of the law of resistance in parallel channels, Phil Trans R Soc A, 1883, 174, pp 933–982.Google Scholar
37. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) Note as to the Application of the Principle of Dynamic Similarity, Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, R & M No. 15 (Part 2), 1910.Google Scholar
38. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) Investigations in capillarity: The size of drops. The liberation of gas from supersaturated solutions. Colliding jets. The tension of contaminated water-surfaces. Phil Mag Ser 6, 1899, 48, pp 321–337.Google Scholar
39. Zahm, A. F. Atmospheric friction of even surfaces, Phil Mag Ser 6, 1904, 8, pp 58–66.Google Scholar
40. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) On the question of the stability of the flow in fluids, Phil Mag Ser 6, 1892, 34, pp 59–70.Google Scholar
41. Karman, T. Von. Aerodynamics, Cornell Univ Press, 1954.Google Scholar
42. Beaufoy, M. Nautical and Hydraulic Experiments, with Numerous Scientific Miscellanies, London, 1834.Google Scholar
43. Lanchester, F. W. Surface Cooling and Skin Friction, Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, R & M No. 94, 1913.Google Scholar
44. Lanchester, F. W. A Note on the Subject of Skin Friction, Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, R & M No. 149, 1915.Google Scholar
45. Lanchester, F. W. The Flying Machine from an Engineering Standpoint, Constable & Co Ltd, London, 1916.Google Scholar
46. Langley, S. P. Experiments in Aerodynamics, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1891.Google Scholar
47. Lanchester, F. W. Sustentation in flight, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1926, 30, pp 587–606.Google Scholar
48. Lanchester, F. W. Improvements in and relating to Aerial Machines, 1897. Patent Specification No. 3608, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
49. Phillips, H. F. Blades for Deflecting Air. 1884. Patent Specification No. 13768, HMSO London.Google Scholar
50. Phillips, H. F. Flying Machines. 1891. Patent Specification No. 13311, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
51. Lilienthal, O. Der Vogelflug als Grundlage der Fliegerkunst, Berlin 1889. [Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation(Trans. Isenthal, A. W.), Longmans Green & Co, London (1911).]Google Scholar
52. Lanchester, F. W. Aerofoils of High Aspect Ratio, Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, R & M No. 109, 1913.Google Scholar
53. Kutta, M. W. Auftriebskräfte in strömenden Flüssigkeiten, Illus Aeronautische Mitteilungen, 1902, 6, pp.133–135.Google Scholar
54. Zhukovskii, N. E. De la chute dans l’air de corps légers de forme allongée, animés d’un mouvement rotatoire, Bulletin de l’Institute Aerodynamique de Koutchino, 1906, 1, pp 51–65.Google Scholar
55. Zhukovskii, N. E. On adjoint vortices, (in Russian), Trans Physical Section of the Imperial Society of the Friends of Natural Science, Moscow, 1907, 13, pp 12–25.Google Scholar
56. Helmholtz, H. L. F. Von. Über Integrale der Hydrodynamischen Gleichungen, Welche den Wirbelbewegung Entsprechen, J für die Reine und Angew Math, 1858, 55, pp 25–55 [On the integrals of the hydrodynamic equations, which express vortex motion, (trans. Tait, P. G.), Phil. Mag. Ser. 4, 33, pp 485-510.]Google Scholar
57. Kelvin, Lord (Thomson, W.). On vortex motion, Trans R Soc Edin, 1869, 25, pp 217–260; Papers IV, pp 13-66.Google Scholar
58. Lagrange, J.-L. De. Mémoire sur la Théorie du Mouvement des Fluides, Nouv Mem de l’Acad de Sci de Berlin, 1781, 12, pp 151–188.Google Scholar
59. Rankine, W. J. M. On the mechanical principles of the action of propellers, Trans Inst Naval Arch, 1865, 6, pp 13–39.Google Scholar
60. Rankine, W. J. M. On the theoretical limit of the efficiency of propellers, The Engineer, 1867, 23, 25.Google Scholar
61. Froude, W. On the elementary relation between pitch, slip, and propulsive efficiency, Trans Naval Architects, 1878, 19, pp 47–57 Google Scholar
62. Froude, R. E. On the part played in propulsion by differences of fluid pressure. Trans Naval Architects, 1889, 30, pp 390–405.Google Scholar
63. Prandtl, L. Tragflügeltheorie, I Mitteilungen, Nach der kgl Gesellschaft der Wiss zu Göttingen, Maths-Phys, Klasse, 1918, pp 451–477.Google Scholar
64. Prandtl, L. Tragflügeltheorie, II Mitteilungen, Nach der kgl Gesellschaft der Wiss zu Göttingen, Maths-Phys, Klasse, 1919, pp 107–137.Google Scholar
65. Prandtl, L. Applications of Modern Hydrodynamics to Aeronautics, NACA Rep No. 116, 1921.Google Scholar
66. Prandtl, L. The generation of vortices in fluids of small viscosity, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1927, 31, pp 718–741.Google Scholar
67. Baxter, E. G. Catalogue of the private papers of F. W. Lanchester in the Library of Lanchester College of Technology, Coventry. Thesis submitted for Fellowship of the Library Association, 1966.Google Scholar
68. Lamb, H. Hydrodynamics, Cambridge Univ Press, 1879.Google Scholar
69. Newton, I. Letter from Mr Isaac Newton, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge, containing his New Theory about Light and Colours to the Royal Society. Phil Trans R Soc, 1672, No. 80.Google Scholar
70. Robins, B. New Principles of Gunnery, London, 1742.Google Scholar
71. Wilson, J. The Mathematical Tracts of the Late Benjamin Robins FRS, London, 1761.Google Scholar
72. Pritchard, J. L. The dawn of aerodynamics, JR Aeronaut Soc, 1957, 61, pp 149–180.Google Scholar
73. Magnus, G. Über die Abweichung der Geschosse, Abh der Berlin Akad (Phys.), 1852, pp 1–24.Google Scholar
74. Magnus, G. Über die Abweichung der Geschosse und Auffallende Erscheinungen bei Rotierenden Korpen, Ann Phys, 1853, 88, pp 1–28.Google Scholar
75. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) On the irregular flight of a tennis ball, Messenger of Math, 1878, 7, pp 14–16, Sci Papers, 1, pp 344-346.Google Scholar
76. Seifert, K. D. Otto Lilienthal, Mensch und Werk. Neuenhagen bei Berlin, 1961.Google Scholar
77. Finsterwalder, S. Die Aerodynamik als Grundlage der Luftschiffahrt, Z für Flugtechnik und Motorluftschiffahrt, 1910, 1, pp 6–10, 30-31.Google Scholar
78. Chaplygin, S. A. On the pressure exercised by a parallel two-dimensional current on a submerged body, (in Russian), Mathematical Collections of Moscow, 1911, 28, pp 120–166.Google Scholar
79. Kutta, M. W. Über eine mit den Grundlagen des Flugsproblems in Beziehung stehende zweidimensionale Stödmung, Sit-zungsberichte der königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1910, 40, pp 1–58.Google Scholar
80. Zhukovskii, N. E. Über die Konturen der Tragflächen der Drachenfliegen, Z für Flugtechnik und Motorluftschiffahrt, 1910, 1, pp 281–284.Google Scholar
81. Zhukovskii, N. E. Geometrische Untersuchungen über die Kutta’sche Strömung, Trans Physical Section of the Imperial Society of the Friends of Natural Science, Moscow, 1912, 15, pp 36–47.Google Scholar
82. Zhukovskii, N. E. The Theoretical Basis of Aeronautics(in Russian), Moscow, 1912.Google Scholar
83. Betz, A. Untersuchung einer Joukowskyschen Tragfläche, Z für Flugtechnik und Motorluftschiffahrt, 1915, 6, pp 173–179.Google Scholar
84. Kutta, M. W. Über ebene Zirkulationsströmungen nebst flugtechnischen Anwendungen, Sitzungsberichte der königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1911,41, pp 65–125.Google Scholar
85. Zhukovskii, N. E. On Antoinette Type Wings, (in Russian), Trans Physical Section of the Imperial Society of the Friends of Natural Science, Moscow, 1912, 15, pp 7–20.Google Scholar
86. Truesdell, C. A. Essays on the History of Mechanics, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1968.Google Scholar
87. Rouse, H. and Ince, S. History of Hydraulics, Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research, State Univ of Iowa, 1957.Google Scholar
88. Euler, L. Principles of the motion of fluids, 1752 (see Ref. 90).Google Scholar
89. Euler, L. Sequel to the researches on the motions of fluids, 1755 (see Ref. 90).Google Scholar
90. Truesdell, C. A. Rational Fluid Mechanics, 1687-1765, Leonhardi Euleri Opera Omnia, Series II Opera Mechanica 12, Swiss National Science Society, Lausanne,1954,Google Scholar
91. Euler, L. Neue Grandsätze der Artillerie, aus dem Englischen des Herrn Benjamin Robins übersetz und mit vielen Anmerkungen versehen, Berlin, 1745.Google Scholar
92. Smeaton, J. An experimental enquiry concerning the natural powers of water and wind to turn mills, and other machines depending on a circular motion, Phil Trans R Soc, 1759, 51, pp 100–174.Google Scholar
93. Borda, J. C. De. Expériences sur la Résistance des Fluides, Memoires de l’Acadimie Royale des Sciences, 1767, pp 495–503.Google Scholar
94. D’Alembert, J. Le, R., Condorcet, Marquis De (Caritat, M-J-A-N) and Bossut, C. Nouvelle Expériences sur la Résistance des Fluides, Paris, 1777.Google Scholar
95. Euler, L. De figura quam ventus fluido stagnati inducere valet, Ada acad sci Petrop, 1778, 1, pp 190–194.Google Scholar
96. Vince, S. Being experiments on the resistance of bodies moving in fluids, Phil Trans R Soc, 1798, 88, pp 245–254.Google Scholar
97. Hodgson, J. E. Extracts from the Aeronautical and Miscellaneous Note-Book (ca. 1799-1826) of Sir George Cayley, J R Aeronaut Soc, 1933, 37, pp 547–568.Google Scholar
98. Cayley, G. On aerial navigation, Nicholson’s Journal, 1809,24, pp 164–175.Google Scholar
99. Yates, A. H. Aerodynamics in 1804, Flight, 1954, 65, pp 612–613.Google Scholar
100. Robison, J. A System of Mechanical Philosophy, Vol. II, Edinburgh, 1822.Google Scholar
101. Duchemin, N.-V. Recherches Expérimentales sur les Lois de la Résistance des Fluides, Paris, 1842.Google Scholar
102. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) On the resistance of fluids, Phil Mag Ser 5,1876, 2, pp 430–441.Google Scholar
103. Rayleigh, Lord (Strutt, J. W.) Notes on hydrodynamics, Phil Mag Ser 5, 1876, 2, pp 441–447.Google Scholar
104. Helmholtz, H. L. F. Von. Über Discontinuirliche Flüssigkeitsbewegungen, Monatsbericht der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1868, pp 215–228. [On the discontinuous motion of fluids, Phil Mag Ser 4, 1868, 36, pp 337-346.]Google Scholar
105. Kirchhoff, G. R. Zur Theorie Frier Flüssigkeitsstrahlen, J für die Reine und Agnew Math, 1869, 70, pp 289–298.Google Scholar
106. Dines, W. H. Account of some experiments made to investigate the connection between the pressure and the velocity of the wind. Q J R Met Soc, 1889, 15, pp 183–188.Google Scholar
107. Dines, W. H. On wind pressure upon an inclined surface. Proc R Soc, 1891, 48, pp 233–257.Google Scholar