5. British Sir George Cayley (1773-1857) was one rather amazing inventor. In which field in particular - long before 1903 - should he perhaps be more acclaimed?
From Quiz Bit of This and That 10
Answer:
Aeronautics
George Cayley, in fact, was a very prolific engineer, and considered by those in the know as the father of aviation. It just seems a shame that his name is not more widely known today. Not only did he thoroughly grasp the principles of flight, of weight, lift, drag and thrust, of cambered wings, and of the need for an engine to be designed to make the principles of powered flight a reality, George Cayley constructed the first flying model of a plane and the first glider that successfully could carry a passenger. All this back in the early 1800s! But wait, there's more.
Other inventions and designs this remarkable man developed were lifeboats that could right themselves if overturned, "tension-spoke wheels...caterpillar tractors...automatic signals for railway crossings, seat belts, small scale helicopters..." an early model internal combustion engine, assorted engineering projects, plus many contributions in the fields of prosthetics, electricity, architecture, "ballistics, optics and land reclamation". This is truly astonishing. And yet today, apart from having a couple of British universities naming a dormitory, one lecture room and a bar after him, and a couple of other places in England doing likewise, this giant of a man seems to be fast gliding away into the forgotten realms of history. One more thing: Do you know the best thing about George Cayley of all? He stated that all his creations, discoveries and advancements should be made freely available to everyone. His memory should be far more honoured.