Did a Jet Engine Fly in 1910, Decades Before the Official Record?
In short: Henri Coanda unveiled a propeller-less aircraft at a 1910 Paris exhibition, claiming it was the world's first jet. This video examines the engineering of his unique turbo-propulsor and investigates whether this forgotten machine truly achieved flight, challenging the long-held status of the 1939 German Heinkel He-178.
At the 1910 Second International Aeronautical Exhibition in Paris, Henri Coanda presented a brick-red aircraft that defied contemporary design. Unlike the wire-braced biplanes of the era, this machine featured sleek wings, x-shaped stabilizers, and a nose-mounted barrel device Coanda called a turbo-propulsor. This invention is considered a precursor to the modern jet engine.
The historical debate centers on whether Coanda's craft actually flew, as he claimed later in life. If true, it would predate the German Heinkel He-178, which officially holds the title for the first jet-powered flight on August 27, 1939. Determining the truth requires navigating the ambiguity of how one defines a jet aircraft.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Was the First Jet Plane Really Flown in 1910?
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