The feasibility and effect of heavier than air flight developing earlier?

If instead of at the beginning of the first decade of the 20th century heavier than Air flight was developed in either the 2nd to last decade of the 19th century or even the last decade of the 19th century.

If you look at how fast aircraft developed IOTL essentially a decade from the first Wright flyer to WW1 fighter planes, one wonders what kind of effect an early 10-20 years head start would have done?
 

Driftless

Donor
There were several proto-aviators going back to the 1850's that got relatively close to powered & controlled heavier-than-air flight

Some early fliers (Henson & Stringfellow, Ader, others) actually got their powered vehicles (not planes yet....) off the ground for short uncontrolled hops in the latter portion of the 19th century. Very likely a couple (Pearse, maybe Whitehead)did achieve short controlled powered flights before the Wrights, but sufficient proof acknowledging their success didn't come forth in time for them to be recognized.

The Wrights did put the whole package together - engine, control system (wing warping), scientifically supportable documentation of their work, photos, and some bonafides from well respected sources. Even then, they contended with resistance from the Smithsonian in recognizing their results.
 
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The first successful airplanes built on bicycle, motorcycle, automotive and bowing technology. Advance those and you can fly sooner.
 
The first successful airplanes built on bicycle, motorcycle, automotive and bowing technology. Advance those and you can fly sooner.

That is your solution, but also your problem. It's lkike trying to advance copmputer technology by 20 years - there's a whole slew of developments in manufacturing, materials and engineering you have to advance, and these will have knock-on effects in other fields.

Heavier-than-air flight can be more advanced ion some aspects if you have earlier, more successful pioneers. There's no shortage of potential - people always tried to build flying machines. Let's say Berblinger produces a consistently successful glider in 1811 and gathers enough experience to get a rough theory of aerodynamics down. You could have tinkerers develop working flaps and control systems, and a basic understanding of how to use thermals. Maybe even rope launches. But you'll still have to wait for engines with sufficient weight/power ratio to make airplanes, and it's unlikely these will come much earlier. Without that piece of the puzzle, all you have is nifty toys.
 
Internal combustion engines. Nothing else has the power/weight ratio to make heavier than air flight possible. If you have these earlier then you can have HTA flight earlier, otherwise not happening. Steam or even diesel engines (if early) could give you powered airships, but for true HTA ...
 

Driftless

Donor
Internal combustion engines. Nothing else has the power/weight ratio to make heavier than air flight possible. If you have these earlier then you can have HTA flight earlier, otherwise not happening. Steam or even diesel engines (if early) could give you powered airships, but for true HTA ...

Stringfellow, Ader, and a couple of others did build very light-weight steam aero-engines and they got close to real flight. I do agree that an earlier internal combustion engine was a much better answer. However, if Clement Ader could make that first powered and controlled flight in 1890 with a steam engine, that's a watershed moment. It opens the door earlier to all of the other more developable possibities.

Many of the OTL improvements were incremental steps building on the work of others and those came at their own pace; so a first flight in 1890 vs OTL 1903, doesn't necessarily compute to crossing the English Channel in 1896 vs OTL 1909
 
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