Pioneers of Flight
The legend of Wan Hu
1 China launched its first rocket with human beings aboard on October 15, 2003. Astronaut Yang Liwei brought to its fulfillment a dream that probably had its roots in a much earlier time. Although the veracity of the story cannot be confirmed, legend has it that in A.D. 1500 a man named Wan Hu prepared his own mission to the stars. At that time, the Chinese invention of gunpowder was widely used in rockets for military purposes as well as in fireworks. Wan Hu devised a risky plan to harness the power of such rockets to take him to the stars.
2 The story goes that Wan Hu built the first spaceship: a chair with 47 powerful gunpowder rockets and two kites attached to it. On the day of the launch, each rocket was lit by a different servant carrying a torch. The servants then moved back and waited. An earth-shattering explosion followed: Wan Hu and his primitive spaceship had disappeared completely. Although the story may seem a little far-fetched, the principles of rocket-powered spaceflight are contained in Wan Hu's crazy dream.
Howard Hughes's Spruce Goose
3 On November 2, 1947, a crowd of onlookers at San Pedro harbor in Los Angeles witnessed aviation history. An enormous flying boat, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, sped across the bay and rose 70 feet above the water. After just under a minute, it landed perfectly one mile down the bay. It was the first and last time the boat ever flew.
4 The concept for construction of the Spruce Goose came from the need for more effective ways of transporting troops and materials in World War II. The idea came from a man called Henry Kaiser, but it was Howard Hughes, the legendary multi-millionaire, who actually developed the flying boat.
5 The Spruce Goose was the biggest airplane ever built and still holds the record for the greatest wingspan, and it was made entirely of wood. Though it had promise, in the end the project failed for three main reasons: the cost of building the enormous machine; the complexity of working with wood; and Hughes's perfectionist approach, which caused the entire project to finish behind schedule. The Goose was put into storage and remained hidden from view until 1976, when it was put on display for the public. In 1992, the plane was dismantled and transported to the state of Oregon, where it remains today. Many of the design features of the Spruce Goose have been incorporated into modern cargo planes. Like other pioneers in the field of transportation, Hughes was simply ahead of his time.
The futuristic ideas of Leonardo da Vinci
6 Centuries before Hughes was designing the Spruce Goose, another pioneer in transportation design was sketching plans for different kinds of flying machines. Leonardo da Vinci, perhaps the most famous artist of the Renaissance period, planned flying devices with flapping wings controlled and steered by human pilots. His research focused on the complex anatomy of birds in flight, and he based his flying machines on this analogy. It took almost 500 years for da Vinci's sketches to become real. In June 2000, a professional parachutist named Adrian Nicholas jumped out of a hot-air balloon over the South African countryside using a parachute made of wood and canvas based on one of da Vinci's designs. Nicholas landed safely, and Leonardo's dream became reality.
7 These three enigmatic individuals, Wan Hu, Howard Hughes, and Leonardo da Vinci, came from places and cultures that are about as different as we can imagine. What they shared was a fascination with flying, a spirit of innovation, and the courage to try and make their dreams of flight come true.
Culture Notes
Howard Hughes: An American business tycoon, aviator, aerospace engineer, filmmaker and philanthropist. During his lifetime he gained prominence in Hollywood after making a few big-budget films, formed the Hughes Aircraft Company, set several world air speed records, built the Hughes H-1 Racer and H-4 "Hercules" (the "Spruce Goose"), and acquired Trans World Airlines (TWA). 霍华德·休斯 (1905–1976)，美国富商、飞行家、飞机设计师、电影制片人和慈善家。曾因制作多部大片享誉好莱坞，组建了休斯飞机制造公司，几度创造飞行速度的世界纪录，建造了休斯H-1竞速机和H-4大力神运输机（云杉鹅），并收购了环球航空公司。
Leonardo da Vinci: A painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and inventor. He was one of the great creative minds of the Italian Renaissance. Today he remains best known for his art, including the world’s most famous two paintings: the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. However, Leonardo’s studies in science and engineering are as impressive and innovative as his artistic work. These studies were recorded in 13,000 pages of notes and drawings. 列昂纳多·达·芬奇 (1452–1519)，画家、雕塑家、建筑师、科学家、发明家，意大利文艺复兴时期最富创造力的天才之一。如今他最为世人所知晓的是他的绘画，他的《蒙娜丽莎》和《最后的晚餐》被认为是世界最著名的两幅杰作。其实，他学识渊博，在科学和工程学方面也成就斐然，既多才多艺，又勤奋多产，他全部的科研成果尽数保存在大约13,000页的手稿中。
New words and expressions
legend /ˈledʒənd/ n. 传说
legendary /ˈledʒəndəri/ a. 传说的，传奇的
Legend has it that …据传说
rocket /ˈrɒkɪt/ n. 火箭
aboard /əˈbɔːd/ ad. 在船（飞机、火车）上
astronaut /ˈæstrənɔːt/ n. 宇航员
have one's roots in 起源于
veracity /vəˈræsɪtɪ/ n. 真实性
confirm /kənˈfɜːm/ v. state or show that sth. is true or correct 证实；确认
mission /ˈmɪʃn/ n. particular task or duty 任务，使命；（飞机或宇宙飞船的）飞行任务
military /ˈmɪlɪtərɪ/ a. 军事的
fireworks /ˈfaɪəwɜːks/ n. (pl.) 烟火
devise /dɪˈvaɪz/ vt. think up; plan or invent 设计，发明
risky /ˈrɪskɪ/ a. 冒险的，大胆的
harness /ˈhɑːnɪs/ v. control and direct 利用，控制
spaceship /ˈspeɪsʃɪp/ n. 宇宙飞船
attach /əˈtætʃ/ v. (often followed by to) connect one object to another 系，贴；使附属于
torch /tɔːtʃ/ n. 火把
earth-shattering /ˈɜːθˌʃætərɪŋ/ a. 惊天动地的
primitive /ˈprɪmɪtɪv/ a. 原始的
far-fetched /ˌfɑː ˈfetʃt/ a. 牵强的，不着边际的
principle /ˈprɪnsɪpəl/ n. 原理；原则
spaceflight /ˈspeɪsflaɪt/ n. 航天，宇宙飞行
onlooker /ˈɒnlʊkə/ n. 旁观者
witness /ˈwɪtnɪs/ v., n. 目击（者）；见证（者）
aviation /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/ n. 航空；飞机制造
enormous /ɪˈnɔːməs/ a. 巨大的
nickname /ˈnɪkneɪm/ v, n. （给…起）绰号
concept /ˈkɒnsept/ n. 观念，理念
hold/break/set a record 保持/打破/创造纪录
wingspan /ˈwɪŋspæn/ n. 翼幅
project /ˈprɒdʒekt/ n. 计划，项目
complexity /kəmˈpleksɪtɪ/ n. 复杂性
complex /ˈkɒmpleks/ a. 复杂的
approach /əˈprəʊtʃ/ n. a way of dealing with sth. 方法，途径
behind schedule （进度）落后于计划
put ... into storage 安全的；有把握的将…储藏起来
(put ...) on display 分析（将…）陈列出来，展示（…）
feature /ˈfiːtʃə/ n. 特征；特色
incorporate ... into as part of a system, plan 将…并入
cargo /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ n. 货物
in the field of 在…领域
transportation /ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən/ n. 运输
ahead of one's time 超前
sketch /sketʃ/ v., n. （画）素描；（画）草图
device /ˈɒblɪɡeɪtɪd/ n. a machine or tool that does a special job 装置；器具
flap /flæp/ v. 拍打；振翼
steer /stɪə/ v. control the direction of (a boat, car, etc.) 掌舵，驾驶；操纵
focus on 集中在，聚焦于
anatomy /əˈnætəmɪ/ n. 解剖（学）；剖析
base ... on 将…基于
analogy /əˈnælədʒɪ/ n. 类似；类推，类比
enigmatic /əˈnætəmɪ/ a. 神秘的，难以捉摸的
individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjuəl/ n., a. 个人（的）
fascination /ˌfæsɪˈneɪʃən/ n. 着迷；魅力
