What was the main reason why propulsion formed a hurdle initially in the quest to be able to fly? Around the year 1900:

Answer 1

The main reason why propulsion formed a hurdle initially in the quest to be able to fly around the year 1900 was the lack of efficient and powerful engines.

Early aviation pioneers faced a significant challenge in developing engines that were lightweight, yet could generate sufficient power to propel an aircraft through the air. The engines available during that time were often heavy, bulky, and had low power-to-weight ratios. They were not suitable for sustained flight or achieving significant speed and altitude.

The technology for internal combustion engines was still in its infancy, and the available engines were mainly used in automobiles or for stationary purposes. These engines were not optimized for aviation, as the demands of flight required lighter and more powerful alternatives.

Furthermore, the limited availability of lightweight materials and advancements in metallurgy posed additional challenges. The engines needed to be constructed using lightweight alloys to reduce the weight of the aircraft, but these materials were not readily accessible or well-developed.

Without efficient propulsion systems, early aircraft were limited in their flying capabilities, as their engines struggled to generate enough thrust to overcome the drag and lift the aircraft off the ground. It wasn't until advancements in engine technology, such as the development of lightweight and more powerful internal combustion engines, that propulsion became less of a hurdle and enabled significant progress in aviation.