Alexander Fyodorovich Mozhaiski (Александр Федорович Можайский; March 9 [O.S. March 9] 1825 in Rochensalm, current Kotka, Finland — 1 April [O.S. March 20] 1890 in Saint Petersburg) , was a Russian naval officer, aviation pioneer, researcher and designer of heavier-than-air-craft. Mozhaiski was developing concepts for heavier-than-air flight 20 years before the Wright brothers' first flight. In 1884, Mozhaiski's monoplane design made what is now considered to be a power assisted take off or 'hop' of 60-100 feet (20-30 meters). His feat is generally distinguished from that of the Wright brothers on the basis that his design appears to have relied upon a ramp rather than wings to generate lift. This conclusion is supported by the fact that Mozhaiski's wing design lacked the curvature necessary to generate lift. While it is possible that Mozhaiski's wings slowed down the monoplane's descent, they were unlikely to have ever provided upward movement unless used at angles of attack that would have been unsustainable given the engines available to Mozhaiski. Although Soviet propagandists later overemphasised Mozhaiski's role in aviation by claiming his hop as the first powered flight, Mozhaiski's achievements in aviation, particularly with regard to flight control and propulsion, were considerable given the limits of the technology available to him and have only recently received the attention they deserve. March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... In Britain and countries of the British Empire, Old Style or O.S. after a date means that the date is in the Julian calendar, in use in those countries until 1752; New Style or N.S. means that the date is in the Gregorian calendar, adopted on 14 September... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Kotka (finnish Eagle) is a town and municipality of Finland. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... In Britain and countries of the British Empire, Old Style or O.S. after a date means that the date is in the Julian calendar, in use in those countries until 1752; New Style or N.S. means that the date is in the Gregorian calendar, adopted on 14 September... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of Finland... Navy is also:- shorthand for Navy Blue the nickname of the United States Naval Academy A navy is the branch of the armed forces of a nation that operates primarily on water. ... In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ... ... A Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400. ... The Wright Brothers, Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 - January 30, 1948) and Wilbur Wright (April 16, 1867 - May 30, 1912), are sometimes credited with the design and construction of the first practical aeroplane, and making the first controllable, powered heavier-than-air flight along with many other aviation milestones. ... A monoplane is an aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. ... A Laughing Gull on the beach in Atlantic City. ... An airfoil (in American English, or aerofoil in British English) is the shape of a wing or blade (of a propeller or ships screw) as seen in cross-section. ... In this diagram, the black arrow represents the direction of the wind. ... Soviet redirects here. ... This article is about the type of communication. ... Depending on the criteria, the Wright brothers may or may not have been the first to invent a flying machine There are conflicting views as to what was the first flying machine. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Aircraft flight mechanics. ... Propulsion method may refer to a number of different articles: For a list of space transport methods, see spacecraft propulsion. ...

See also

• First flying machine

Depending on the criteria, the Wright brothers may or may not have been the first to invent a flying machine There are conflicting views as to what was the first flying machine. ...

References

• Flying Machines - Aleksandr Fyodorovich Mozhaiski
• schoolnet Alexander Mozhaiski
• The Pioneers : An Anthology : Alexandr Fyodorovich Mozhaisky