When I posted the link on September 20th last year, I never thought for a moment that it would still be generating such interest almost a year later; over 7200 hits and 217 posts!! Not many threads survive that long or generate that much interest or that many responses. I envisaged a few newbies throwing in an occasional comment after visiting and picking up a few pointers.

I see comment, and even argument on national heroes, until it's lightened up with a little humour.

Apart from a second post on the same day, I think this is my first look back here, and many of the posts surprise me; some more than others. I've long ago forgotten much aerodynamic theory, but I practise it almost every day, and it has to be one of things in life that remains true to the theory that I learnt so long ago. As a full scale jet transport pilot, I know that the principles established at Kittyhawk a hundred years ago remain as valid today as they were then. I think much of what Wilbur and Orville achieved was a mystery to them; it was accepted because it worked and they had no theory to back it, but successive generations of designers have honed the science of aerodynamics to what we know and accept today.

We can have opinions; we can fly creations that seem to defy the science of aerodynamics, but I believe that when we think we are defying the 'laws', we are missing relevant points just as the Wright brothers did back at Kittyhawk. The 'laws' of science and aerodynamics will always apply whether we believe it or not.

I agree with dick hanson though, when he says that 'more people should be into this weird stuff!!' but are we thinking about the same things dick?

I'll take another look in next year.