The predominant structures of most early aircraft incorporated extensive use of external struts and wires to achieve stability, especially for wings. While this concept worked well to a point, there was a significant penalty in drag.
To my knowledge, while there may have been other proponents of cantilever construction to achieve structural strength and reduce drag; Hugo Junkers was the engineer who first achieve production success. Even then, it took a number of years for the method to fully take hold.
Was there a practical POD for making this shift in design be accepted as a better answer, at an earlier date?
*edit* What might have been some impacts of an earlier acceptance of that construction method?