Why were early planes biplanes?

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May 04, 2026, 08:23 PM

229DAK

Why were early planes biplanes?

quote:
Originally posted by wrightd:
I was gonna say if one fell off, but after hearing all the aviation knowledge on file, I'm retracting it.

As long as the front doesn't fall off.

_________________________________________________________________________
“A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.”
-- Mark Twain, 1902

May 05, 2026, 05:28 AM

Captain Morgan

If your ever in upstate NY, go to the Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
They have some really old airplanes there that fly. Mock dogfights, aerobatics and a museum.

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.
Benjamin Franklin

May 05, 2026, 06:13 AM

trapper189

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
IIRC, that plane got maybe a couple of feet off the water and crashed. Mostly correct.
quote:
Originally posted by joel9507:
Some took "the more, the merrier" approach to wing count to extremes. For example, the Caproni Ca. 60:

Raise you the Horatio Phillips Multiplanes.

Just decided to wing it?

Seriously, is this where the phrase comes from?