1804 Cayley's glider introduced the principles of full-scale model airplanes. The model shown illustrates the first tail, wing and fuselage. The rod through the wing can be adjusted to alter the incidence of the wing (the angle of attack) increasing the amount of air the wing encounters. More air hits the bottom of the wing to create more lift. The small bag at the front adjusted the center of gravity to balance the airplane. The tail on the plane could be adjusted to change the flight path. Cayley described his findings about the model in his paper, On Aerial Navigation (1809-1810).

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