Traian Vuia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Traian Vuia
Vuia, c. 1920
Born	(1872-08-17)17 August 1872 Bujor, Austria-Hungary
Died	3 September 1950(1950-09-03) (aged 78) Bucharest, Romania
Resting place	Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest
Nationality	Romanian
Occupation	Inventor
Known for	Early flying machine

Traian Vuia (born August 17, 1872 – died September 3, 1950) was a brilliant Romanian inventor. He was a true pioneer in aviation, meaning he was one of the first people to explore and develop flying machines. Vuia designed, built, and tested a special type of airplane called a tractor monoplane. This was a big deal because he was the first to show that an airplane could take off from a flat road using its own wheels.

On March 18, 1906, he made a short flight, or "hop," of about 11 m (36 ft). Later, he claimed a hop of 24 m (79 ft). Even though his flights weren't long, Vuia's ideas greatly influenced other airplane designers, like Louis Blériot. Vuia also worked on helicopter designs later in his life. He became a French citizen in 1918 and helped the French Resistance during World War II. He returned to Romania shortly before he passed away in 1950.

Traian Vuia: A Pioneer of Flight
Images for kids
See also

Traian Vuia: A Pioneer of Flight

Early Life and Dreams of Flying

Traian Vuia was born in a village called Bujor, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Romania). His father, Simion Popescu, was a priest. Young Traian went to primary school there.

From 1884, he attended high school in Lugoj and finished in 1892. He then studied engineering at the Polytechnic University of Budapest. After getting his engineering diploma, he also earned a PhD in law in 1901.

After his studies, Vuia returned to Lugoj. He became very interested in how humans could fly. He started designing his first flying machine, which he called the "airplane-car." He wanted to build it, but he didn't have enough money. So, in 1902, he moved to Paris, France. He hoped to find people who would help fund his project.

Many people in Paris were doubtful. They believed that a machine heavier than air could never fly. Vuia met Victor Tatin, a famous expert who had built a flying model in 1879. Tatin found Vuia's project interesting but worried about the engine and how stable the aircraft would be. Vuia then presented his plans to the French Academy of Sciences in Paris in February 1903. Sadly, they rejected his idea, saying that flying with a machine heavier than air was "only a dream."

But Vuia didn't give up! He applied for a French patent for his design in May 1903. He then started building his first flying machine. He also designed his own engine because he couldn't find a suitable one. He received several patents for his engine, starting in 1904.

Building the First Airplane

By December 1905, Vuia had finished building his first airplane, the "Vuia I". It was a monoplane, meaning it had one main wing. The entire plane was made of strong steel tubes. It had a rectangular base with four wheels, and the front wheels could steer. The wing was covered in varnished linen, similar to the gliders designed by Otto Lilienthal.

The plane was powered by a special engine that used carbonic acid gas. This engine drove a single propeller at the front of the plane, pulling it forward like a tractor. Vuia had to adapt the engine himself because no suitable one was available. The fuel supply allowed the engine to run for about five minutes at full power. A company in Paris, Hockenjos and Schmitt, helped Vuia build the aircraft.

The Vuia I Takes Off

Vuia chose a field in Montesson, near Paris, for his tests. First, he practiced controlling the machine on the ground without its wings. In March 1906, he attached the wings. On March 18, 1906, something amazing happened! After speeding up for about 50 m (160 ft), the airplane lifted off the ground. It flew at a height of about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) for a distance of about 12 m (39 ft). Then, the engine stopped, and the plane landed. The wind pushed it into a tree, causing some damage.

On August 19, 1906, Vuia made an even longer hop. He flew about 24 m (79 ft) at a height of about 2.5 meters (8 feet). This flight ended with a hard landing that damaged the propeller.

Improving the Design: Vuia I-bis and Vuia II

In August 1906, Vuia made some changes to his aircraft. He adjusted the wing shape and added an elevator, which helps control the plane's up and down movement. This improved version is sometimes called the Vuia I-bis.

Traian Vuia in his Vuia I flying machine in 1906

A famous aviation historian, Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith, called Vuia's aircraft "the first man-carrying monoplane of basically modern configuration." This means it looked a lot like modern single-wing planes. However, it couldn't fly for long distances.

It was important that Vuia's machine could take off from a flat surface without any help, like a ramp or a catapult. At that time, many people knew about the Wright brothers' flights in America. The Wrights had flown their Wright Flyer in 1903 using a special rail and a strong headwind. They had also made longer, controlled flights by 1904.

A postcard of Vuia and his 1907 airplane Vuia II, shown here with folded wings

In 1907, Vuia built a new plane, the Vuia II. This one used a different engine, an Antoinette 19 kW (25 hp) internal combustion engine. It was smaller and lighter than the Vuia I. On July 5, Vuia made a short hop of 20 m (66 ft) with the Vuia II. He damaged the plane and got slightly hurt during the landing. After this, no more attempts were made to fly this aircraft.

Interestingly, another aviation pioneer, Alberto Santos Dumont, was influenced by Vuia's flight attempts. Dumont later used wheels on his own aircraft, the Santos-Dumont 14-bis, after seeing Vuia's work.

Documenting His Flights

Traian Vuia's first powered hop happened on March 18, 1906, in Montesson, France. His mechanic and two friends were there to see it. The Vuia I airplane lifted one meter off the ground and flew for 12 meters. Stories about this test and his later flights were published in L'Aérophile, a well-known French aviation journal.

Vuia showed his airplane publicly on October 8, 1906. He flew for four meters, with important witnesses like Ernest Archdeacon and Édouard Surcouf watching. Another journal, Flight, also reported his five-meter hop on that day.

Later Inventions and Contributions

Between 1918 and 1921, Vuia continued his work in aviation. He built two experimental helicopters at airfields near Paris.

Vuia helicopter 1918

Vuia was also interested in how society worked. He was a friend of Petru Groza, a Romanian politician. Groza invited Vuia to return to Romania in 1950, which he did shortly before his death.

Vuia's tomb at Bellu Cemetery

Traian Vuia is buried in Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest, Romania.

Remembering Traian Vuia

Traian Vuia invented more than just airplanes. He also created a special steam generator. This generator produces very high pressure steam, which is still used today in power stations that generate electricity. He and his partner, Emmanuel Yvonneau, patented several types of these gas generators.

On May 27, 1946, Vuia was honored as a member of the Romanian Academy.

His hometown, Bujoru, in Timiș County was renamed Traian Vuia after he passed away.

Today, many places are named after him to remember his contributions. The Timișoara International Airport Traian Vuia (TSR) in Romania, one of the country's largest airports, carries his name. Many high schools and streets in Romanian cities are also named in his honor.