Otto Lilienthal quotes

Otto Lilienthal was a German aviation pioneer known as the "flying man." His successful glider flights marked a turning point in the quest for human flight. He inspired generations of inventors and engineers, including the Wright brothers. Here are 17 of his quotes:

To design a flying machine is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.

Otto Lilienthal

The difficulty of rising into the air increases rapidly with the size of the apparatus. The uplifting of a single person, therefore, is more easily attained than that of a large flying machine loaded with several persons.

Otto Lilienthal

Gradual development of flight should begin with the simplest apparatus and movements, and without time complication of dynamic means.

Otto Lilienthal

The maintenance of equilibrium in forward flight is a matter of practice, and can only be learned by repeated personal experiment.

Otto Lilienthal

By practice and experience a man can (if the wind be of the right strength) imitate the complete sailing flight of birds by availing himself of the slight upward trend of some winds, by performing circling sweeps, and by allowing the air to carry him.

Otto Lilienthal

The sailing flight of birds is the only form of flight which is carried on for some length of time without the expenditure of power.

Otto Lilienthal

The increasing size of the apparatus makes the construction more difficult in securing lightness in the machine; therefore the building of small apparatus is to be recommended.

Otto Lilienthal

Experience alone can teach us the best forms of construction for sailing apparatus in order that they may be of sufficient strength, very light, and most easily managed.

Otto Lilienthal

Actual practice in individual flight presents the best prospects for developing our capacity until it leads to perfected free flight.

Otto Lilienthal

The contrivances which are necessary to counteract the wind effects can only be understood by actual practice in the wind.

Otto Lilienthal

I, too, have made it a lifelong task of mine to add a cultural element to my work, which should result in uniting countries and reconciling their people.

Otto Lilienthal

Numerous technicians in every state are doing their utmost to achieve the dream of free, unlimited flight and it is precisely here where changes can be made which would have a radical effect on our whole way of life.

Otto Lilienthal

Artificial flight may be defined as that form of aviation in which a man flies at will in any direction by means of an apparatus attached to his body, the use of which requires personal skill.

Otto Lilienthal

We are getting closer to this goal. When we will reach it, I do not know.

Otto Lilienthal

Artificial flight may be defined as that form of aviation in which a man flies at will in any direction by means of an apparatus attached to his body, the use of which requires personal skill. Artificial flight by a single individual is the proper beginning for all species of artificial flight, as the necessary conditions can most easily be fulfilled when man flies individually.

Otto Lilienthal