Santos-Dumont 14-bis facts for kids

The Santos-Dumont 14-bis.

The Santos-Dumont 14-bis was an early airplane. It was invented in the 1900s by Alberto Santos-Dumont. This special plane made history in Europe. In the fall of 1906, it became the first airplane to fly there.

Building the 14-bis Airplane

The Aero Club of France recorded details about the 14-bis.

• It was about 40 feet (12 meters) wide from wingtip to wingtip.
• It was 33 feet (10 meters) long.
• It weighed about 352 pounds (160 kilograms).
• The plane used an engine called an Antoinette engine.
• It was built from pine wood and bamboo.
• Aluminum was used to hold the parts together.
• Its wings were made from silk cloth.

The 14-bis had three different ways for Santos-Dumont to steer it. Some controls were tied to his shoulders. This made him look like he was dancing or shaking while flying!

First Flights and Records

Santos-Dumont tried many times to fly the 14-bis.

• His first try in July 1906 did not work.
• In September, he made two short "hops" off the ground.
• In October, the 14-bis flew for 50 meters (164 feet). This was the first flight officially seen by the Aero Club of France.
• In November, he flew the 14-bis for 220 meters (722 feet). He was also 6 meters (20 feet) high in the air.

Where is the Original 14-bis Now?

No one knows where the original 14-bis is today. This is the plane that flew in the fall of 1906. Experts think Santos-Dumont took it apart. He might have used its pieces to build other airplanes.

The First Flight Debate

Some people, especially in Brazil, believe the 14-bis was the very first airplane to fly. They think it flew before the Wright Brothers' Flyer.

Here's why there is a debate:

• The Wright Brothers flew their Flyer in Kitty Hawk in 1903. But they did not tell many people about it right away.
• Europeans saw Alberto Santos-Dumont fly the 14-bis in 1906. They saw his flights before they heard about the Wrights' flight in 1903.
• The Wright Brothers wanted to get a patent for their work. They hoped to make money. So, they kept most of their experiments a secret.
• Alberto Santos-Dumont was not trying to make money. He invited almost anyone to come watch him work.

However, the Wright Brothers did invite people to watch their first flight in 1903. They also had a photograph taken. By 1906, the Wright Brothers had flown their planes many times. Some of their flights were as long as 39 kilometers (24 miles). Today, most airplane historians agree that the 14-bis was not the first plane to fly.

Images for kids

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  The 14-bis at the Château de Bagatelle grounds, suspended from the envelope of Santos-Dumont's No. 14 airship

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  The 14-bis flying over the Château de Bagatelle grounds on 23 October 1906

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  Monument at the Château's grounds, to Santos-Dumont's flight of 12 November 1906 and its first world record

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  14-bis on a French postcard

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  Model of 14-bis, with octagonal ailerons

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  14-bis Square in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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  Replica 14-bis at the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

See also

In Spanish: Santos-Dumont 14-bis para niños