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A comment on Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II. Parent comment

Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by goto11 on Friday July 15, 2022 @06:58AM (#32106846)
Probably because sustained heavier-than-air flight requires an engine. So same reason the car was not invented earlier - a coal-powered steam engine is too heavy.
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Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by dredmorbius on Friday July 15, 2022 @07:08AM (#32106913)
Steam has other disadvantages.

It's quite good at steady-power output. Throttle response is poor.

Both automobiles and aircraft operate with quite variable power requirements. Though at least for long-range air travel, once the take-off / climb portion of flight has been completed, cruise is typically at a fairly constant setting.

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Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by Koshkin on Friday July 15, 2022 @05:03PM (#32112794)
I does not have to be "sustained" for more than a few minutes to be called a flight.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltaplane

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Re:Why wasn't the steam engine invented earlier? Part II by goto11 on Saturday July 16, 2022 @04:11AM (#32116131)
Sure, but beside the point. There are many historical examples of heavier-than-air flight (kites, gliders etc.), but without means of self-propulsion it is not very practically useful.
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