Lecture on Artificial Flight : Given by Request at the Academy of Natural Sciences at San Francisco, California, August 7th, 1876 With Reference to a Model of His Own Invention (Classic Reprint)

Exploring a 19th‑century vision of human flight, tying ancient ideas to a practical machine. This nonfiction work presents a historical arc from myths and early experiments to a detailed, requested in‑person lecture about achieving aerial travel. It blends commentary on air, weight, and propulsion with a concrete model in the author’s own invention.

The content frames how flight ideas evolved, discusses the three core flight requirements, and outlines a prospective machine that could lift several passengers and mail, using a combination of wings, planes, and propulsion. It emphasizes practical design, safety, and control, while remaining anchored in the era’s scientific thinking.

• Tracing the long history of flight ideas from mythic figures to early balloons and aircraft concepts.


• Explaining core principles like weight, surface area, and propulsion as they relate to lifting off and gliding.


• Presenting a hypothetical flying machine with stated size, weight, and power, plus ideas for its operation and safety.


• Discussing how such technology might evolve, including multi‑unit air systems and passenger capability.

Ideal for readers curious about the roots of aeronautics, engineering curiosity, and historical debates about artificial flight.