Aero engines of the future

Abstract

One hundred and two years ago, after the Wright brothers had just attempted another unsuccessful flight, they predicted that it would be another 50 years before manned flight was achieved. Only two years later and 100 years ago this year, Orville Wright achieved the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, illustrating just how difficult it is to predict the future and at the same time launching the pioneering age of aviation.