Jacob Ellehammer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer
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| Born | 14 June 1871 Bakkebølle
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| Died | 20 May 1946 (aged 74) Copenhagen
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| Nationality | Danish |
| Education | Watchmaker, mechanic |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Aviation |
| Significant design | Ellehammer semi-biplane |
Jacob Christian Hansen-Ellehammer (born June 14, 1871 – died May 20, 1946) was a Danish inventor. He was born in Bakkebølle, Denmark. He started as a watchmaker. He is famous for his important work in making planes fly.
His Amazing Career
Early Inventions
After finishing his training as a watchmaker, Jacob moved to Copenhagen. There, he worked with electronics. In 1898, he started his own company. At first, he made machines like those for cigarettes or drinks. In 1904, he built his first motorcycle. It was called the Elleham motorcycle. This motorcycle had its engine under the seat. This design was made 40 years before the famous Vespa scooter.
Building Engines
Between 1903 and 1904, Jacob used his motorcycle building skills. He created the world's first air-cooled radial engine. This engine had three cylinders. He used parts from Peugeot Frères engines. At first, the engine was not strong enough. So, he made bigger parts for it. This stronger engine eventually helped him get into the air.
The first engine was not thrown away. It was saved for later use. This happened when he started working on helicopters. We have photos of his helicopter tests. Later, a smaller model of his helicopter was found. It had a small three-cylinder radial engine. This is thought to be his original engine. It is now at the Danish Museum of Science & Technology in Helsingør. You can even see it started up every day!
The knowledge from this three-cylinder engine helped him. In 1907, he built an even more powerful five-cylinder engine. This engine was put into his triplane. It helped the plane make several short flights.
First Flights
In 1905, he built a monoplane. The next year, he made a "semi-biplane". On June 12, 1906, he made a special flight. He was tied to a pole, but his machine lifted off the ground. This made him the first European to ever make a flight!
Jacob Hansen-Ellehammer later invented other flying machines. These included a successful triplane and a helicopter. His helicopter had two sets of blades spinning in opposite directions. A famous photo from 1914 shows it hovering. However, we don't know if it could fly forward.
Hansen-Ellehammer also looked into a special type of helicopter. It had blades that could stretch out for hovering. Then, they could pull back for fast flight. He built a model for wind tunnel tests. But it seems he did not build a full-sized one.
Smart Designs
His first flight tests happened on a small island. It was far from Copenhagen, where he lived. Once his planes started lifting off, he moved his tests closer to the city. His workshop was not near the new flight areas. So, he had to make his second aircraft's wings fold. This made it easier to move.
His first aircraft looked a bit like a kite. The pilot and engine hung separately to keep it balanced. This means Hansen-Ellehammer invented a type of motorized hang glider. His idea of folding wings was very new. Most planes at that time were stiff, box-like biplanes.
In 1986, Jacob Hansen-Ellehammer was honored. He was added to the International Air & Space Hall of Fame. This is at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
See also
- Early flying machines
