Why was using rockets to propel a winged vehicle not proposed in the 19th century?

Asked Dec 06 '20 at 20:05

Active Dec 06 '20 at 23:36

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My understanding that among the key technologies that allowed manned flight was a powerful enough engine that was also lightweight. Steam was attempted but the gasoline engine turned out to be key.

Two other technologies besides steam and gasoline occur to me: rockets and compressed air, both of which were well understood in the 19th century.

edited Dec 06 '20 at 23:36

asked Dec 06 '20 at 20:05

releseabe

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See Wikipedia's Rocket, history section:"William Leitch first proposed the concept of using rockets to enable human spaceflight in 1861. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky later (in 1903) also conceived this idea, and extensively developed a body of theory that has provided the foundation for subsequent spaceflight development." – Conifold Dec 06 '20 at 21:52
@Conifold winged vehicles – releseabe Dec 06 '20 at 22:36
Wikipedia has an article on Rocket-powered aircraft too, and also with a history section. – Conifold Dec 06 '20 at 23:05
@conifold: Nothing about wings though. – Mozibur Ullah Dec 06 '20 at 23:49
@MoziburUllah Click on the links and look at the pictures. – Conifold Dec 07 '20 at 00:06
@conifold: No need - I've looked through it once. There's a separate article on Wikipedia on the history of rockets which mentions Fontaines bird like rocket. – Mozibur Ullah Dec 07 '20 at 00:09

Why was using rockets to propel a winged vehicle not proposed in the 19th century?

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