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À terre & en l'air... / Mémoires du Géant

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About This Book

The author recounts aeronautical experiments and balloon ascents, describing practical plans to achieve controlled, heavier-than-air flight using propellers and steam engines. He combines technical reasoning about lift, propulsion, and engine endurance with reports of organized trials and the formation of a society to promote aerial locomotion. The text advocates gradual, measured experimentation, surveys competing proposals and skepticism, and considers possible applications and social consequences of human flight, including exploration and rescue as well as military uses, while emphasizing perseverance, careful measurement, and the need to convert ideas into workable machines.

About the Author

Nadar, Félix portrait

Félix Nadar

Félix Nadar, born Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, was a French photographer, caricaturist, and writer, renowned for his pioneering contributions to the field of photography in the 19th century. He is particularly celebrated for his innovative portraiture, capturing notable figures of his time, including artists, writers, and intellectuals. Nadar's memoir, "À terre & en l'air... / Mémoires du Géant," reflects his adventurous spirit and experiences, providing insights into the artistic and cultural milieu of Paris during his lifetime. His work not only influenced photography but also left a lasting mark on the visual arts, making him a significant figure in the history of French literature and photography.

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