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Pilcher and the multiplane—A neglected aspect of a pioneer's work

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Philip Jarrett
Philip Jarrett*
Affiliation:
Royal Aeronautical Society
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Extract

“A little onward lend thy guiding hand

To these dark steps, a little further on;”

Milton - Samson Agonistes, 1671

It is suggested that those wishing to familiarise themselves with the general history of Pitcher's work consult “Aviation” by C. H. Gibbs-Smith, HMSO, 1970, pages 85-90, and items 1 and 2 in the references at the end of this paper, although it should be remembered that this paper amends some of the information contained in these sources.

When dealing with famous men in history, perhaps one of the most persistent and difficult questions is that of their relative importance. It is very easy, in a bout of enthusiasm or contempt, to over- or underestimate the influence that a person may have had upon his contemporaries. This applies no less in aeronautics than elsewhere. The example of Percy Sinclair Pilcher (Fig. 1), the British gliding pioneer, is a case in point.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 76 , Issue 737 , May 1972 , pp. 298 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1972 

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References

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