But Will It Fly?: The History and Science of Unconventional Aerial Power and Propulsion

by Iver P. Cooper

Overview

Conventional aircraft today are propelled by the action of propellers or jets, and powered by the internal combustion of petroleum fuels in piston, turboprop or jet engines. But other power sources, powerplants, and propulsion devices, for airships as well as aircraft, have been proposed and even experimented with over the last few centuries. The power sources considered include human muscles, steam, batteries, nuclear reactors, and hydrogen fuel; and the propulsion devices include sails, oars, flapping wings, rockets and cycloidal propellers.

This meticulously researched book presents the history of these unconventional aerial power and propulsion systems, explains the underlying science and technology behind them, and assesses the crucial question of practicality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476696546
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	09/19/2025
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.58(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Iver P. Cooper is a retired patent attorney and is an independent researcher in the history of science and technology. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: Preliminary Considerations
Part I: Unconventional Power
 1. Muscle Power
 2. Steam Power
 3. Alternative External Combustion Power
 4. Battery Power
 5. Solar Power
 6. Nuclear Power
 7. Miscellaneous Power Sources
Part II: Unconventional Propulsion
 8. Buoyancy-Driven Propulsion
 9. Wind Propulsion
10. Oars, Paddle Wheels and Cycloidal Propellers
11. Biomimetic Propulsion (Flapping and Undulating)
12. Miscellaneous Propulsion Methods
Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1: Author’s Airship Aerodynamics Standard Model
Appendix 2: Aerodynamic Modeling of ­­Buoyancy-Driven Propulsion
Appendix 3: Sensitivity of Aereon Predictions to Modeling Method
Appendix 4: Reliability of Wind Speed Estimates by the Aereon Flight Eyewitnesses
Appendix 5: Reliability of Estimates of the Ground Speed of the Aereon
Appendix 6: Analysis of Steam (Rankine) Cycle Thermodynamics
Appendix 7: Thermal Efficiency of Historical and Proposed Steam Locomotives
Appendix 8: Methods of Improving Theoretical Cycle Efficiency of Steam Powerplants
Appendix 9: Improving Actual Cycle Efficiency of Steam Powerplants
Appendix 10: Steam Car Data
Appendix 11: Condenser Pressure
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index