Chapter 133: The Aviation Plan
At present, aside from airships, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr couldn't think of anything else they could work on, so they curiously asked Arthur about it.
Arthur smiled without answering directly. Instead, he handed them a few documents and motioned for them to read through them on their own.
After carefully reviewing the materials, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr exchanged glances, then cautiously asked, "Your Highness, do you want us to develop a steam-powered airplane?"
Indeed, while the Wright brothers are widely known as the inventors of the airplane, many had already been exploring the path to flight before their successful test.
The first recorded aircraft builder was Germany's Mozhaiski. In 1882, he built a steam-powered airplane with wing structures resembling flat boards, but the test flight failed.
Between 1886 and 1890, France's Ader constructed four steam airplanes, all of which also failed during testing.
Britain's Maxim and America's Langley each built steam-powered aircraft in 1893 and 1896, respectively. Perhaps due to poor power output or other issues, none of these planes succeeded, and these inventors ultimately missed the honor of being first.
It wasn't until December 1903 that the Wright brothers successfully flew their Flyer I at Kitty Hawk beach on the east coast of the United States. Over four flights, they managed a total of 97 seconds in the air and covered 441 meters.
Though the duration and distance were short, it marked the first time in human history that a powered aircraft carried a person into flight.
After their final test flight, Wilbur Wright reportedly exclaimed with excitement, "The age of flight has finally arrived!"
Although airplanes would take longer than airships to become truly effective, there's no denying that in terms of development potential, practical use, and—most importantly—safety, airplanes were far more suited for advancement.
Arthur's purpose in showing Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr all the materials on steam airplanes was clear: he wanted them to build one.
If the Wright brothers could successfully invent an airplane, why couldn't Australia?
In terms of expertise, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr were already accomplished figures in aviation. Were they any less capable than the Wright brothers? Not necessarily.
What they may have lacked was simply the imagination and ambition to reach for the skies.
That, Arthur could provide. He had seen many more advanced aircraft—let alone experimental models.
What Arthur needed was for Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr to use their aviation knowledge to bring his ideas to life.
While they might not be able to beat the Wright brothers to invention, catching up afterward was certainly within reach.
The Wright brothers were still in the experimental phase, and so was the rest of the world. If Australia could outpace them in airplane development, it would have a decisive impact on its military strength.
Why did Arthur place such importance on aircraft development? Because before more powerful weapons were invented, planes and air superiority could be as important—or even more important—than the number of troops deployed.
Planes posed an unmatched threat to both frontline troops and rear logistics. They could directly influence the balance of war and determine victory or defeat.
Just imagine if an army's supply lines were constantly harassed or even severed by aircraft. Could that army continue to fight?
Maybe. But it would require extraordinary morale and faith in leadership. Though victories under such conditions weren't impossible, they were far from guaranteed.
After hearing Arthur's confirmation, the two men were still somewhat shocked and asked, "Your Highness, as of now, there's no real success with steam-powered aircraft. While we can't say definitively that steam planes are impossible, it would require immense energy and relentless experimentation to explore. Also, wouldn't a steam airplane overlap in function with airships? Even if a steam plane could fly, it couldn't carry as much cargo as an airship."
Arthur shook his head with a smile and replied, "Airships and airplanes don't conflict in function. From what I know, someone in the U.S. has already developed a functioning airplane—it's just still in testing. I want you to treat aircraft research with the seriousness it deserves. For Australia, this is even more important than airships. Once progress has been made on the airship project, shift your focus entirely to developing airplanes. Officially, you will only be responsible for airship research, but in reality, I want you to prioritize aircraft. Understood?"
Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr looked at each other and suddenly understood.
Although Arthur had invited them to Australia to build an LZ-1 replica, that didn't mean airships were Australia's main focus. In fact, steam airplanes—with functions similar to airships—were the true strategic target.
As for why Arthur needed them? Most likely because they were experts in aviation.
"I understand, Your Highness. After completing the LZ-1 rigid airship replica, we'll begin our focused research into steam-powered aircraft," the two replied in unison.
Although the new goal differed from their original expectations for airship work, it still fell within the broader field of aviation.
They were familiar with the general approach to aircraft development and had knowledge of aerodynamics.
And since the funding and salaries they cared about would remain high—or even increase—it didn't matter what they researched.
Moreover, Arthur had promised to bring in more European experts to assist. Previous steam aircraft had all been individual inventions. With the backing of a nation and significant resources, could a successful model really be out of reach?
As for Arthur's claim that someone in the United States had already invented a working airplane, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr had no reason to doubt it.
As a duke, Arthur's words held considerable weight.
Seeing that the two had accepted the aircraft development plan, Arthur nodded in satisfaction and said, "Australia will establish an airship research center, and you will both be its directors. Your initial research funding will arrive soon. I want the LZ-1 replica completed as quickly as possible, and for you to move into aircraft development as soon as it's done. Australia has an engine expert who may be able to help you during the airplane development process. In short, I expect results quickly."
Theodor Kober nodded, glanced at his old colleague, and cautiously said, "Your Highness, we hope Australia can provide us with some literature on aerodynamics and aviation. And we also hope the other experts can arrive soon. We'll devote ourselves to the research and won't let you down."
(End of Chapter)
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