When the man saw a bird in flight, their minds were drifting and started looking for ways to be able to fly like that. This thought process may have begun thousands of years ago. But really they who lived thousands of years ago has found a way to make a plane that could carry them to fly?
This is another question from a reader about a "Ooparts" of Egypt.
Of course we need the tools to be able to fly like a bird. Historically
we know, in 1783 was the first year when the two men could be lifted up
a Frenchman, de Rozier and d'Arlandes managed to fly a balloon over the
city of Paris.
Then we have the technology leap when we can not only float, but actually go flying at high speed. This occurs when the Wright Brothers created the airplane safely and successfully fly over the Kitty Hawk in 1903.
Human dream of flying like a bird finally became a reality.
However, maybe we do not like the history we know so far. Some
people believe that long ago that the technology we have today is
nothing more powerful than the technology of our ancestors, including in
terms of aerodynamics. The discovery of an artefact in Egypt is claimed as evidence.
In 1898, an ancient artifact made of sycamore wood found in a tomb at Saqqara, Egypt. These artifacts are thought to originate from the year 200 BC. But, what is interesting about this object is the fact that it has a shape like an airplane or glider.
The length of this object about 15 cm with a wingspan of 18 cm. He even has a tail like a plane.
When
found, the artifacts are then cataloged as a model of a bird and left
to gather dust in the basement of the museum of Cairo until 1969 when it
was discovered by Dr. Khalil Messiha. It then copies the artifacts on display at the Cairo Museum and attracted the attention of researchers. Since then, several similar artefacts recovered. This discovery is considered important by the Egyptian authorities that they set up a committee to examine it further.
Because of its characteristics are shaped like that, this artifact came to be called as a Bird or Saqqara Saqqara Glider.
In
1991, Dr.Messiha published a paper titled "African Experimental
Aeronautic: A 2000 Years Old Model Glider" which contains his theory of
the Saqqara Bird. He believes that this artifact is an indisputable proof that the Ancient Egyptians already have the technology of aerodynamics.
Dr.Messiha
theory is quite interesting to note because this theory supports the
supposition that in the past our ancestors had actually had a pretty
high tech.
If
so, is it possible that the Saqqara Bird suggests the ancient Egyptians
who lived thousands of years ago has had such aerodynamic technology
that we have in these modern times?
In my opinion no.
I'm not saying that the ancient Egyptians did not have high-tech. I want to say is basing this argument by using the Saqqara Bird is a pretty weak argument.
Let's take a look at these artifacts with a more critical view.
First, we must recognize that what is on display at the Cairo Museum is a replica of the actual artifact. However, this replica is made with high accuracy so that arguably reflects the characteristics of the original artifacts.
If you look at the photo above, perhaps you will believe that it is an artifact of a model airplane as a remarkable resemblance.
But wait, I'll invite you to see the other side of this artifact.
If
we only look at the photographs of artifacts from one side, then we
will be made to believe that this artifact is a model airplane.
Now look from the side.
Then from the front.
Is it still looks like a plane for you?
Unfortunately,
some websites are just showing pictures of artifacts from the rear,
giving rise to the impression that this artifact is a model airplane. However, when we see a pair of eyes in his head, we will be remembered with a bird, not a plane. In fact you can see his beak.
So, we can not blame the archaeologists as they call it a "bird Saqqara".
According to archaeologists, this artifact is actually a bird model Falcon. This bird is commonly used to represent some important god in Egyptian as Horus and Ra.
However,
Dr.Messiha reject the notion that the artifact is an artifact of a bird
because he does not have a pair of vertical legs and a tail like that.
Dr.Messiha forget that even this does not reflect an artifact of a plane. To be able to fly, an airplane takes Tailplane (tail of the transverse plane). At Saqqara Bird, Tailplane not found. Moreover, I also do not see any artifacts that the aircraft wheels.
Tailplane
However,
Dr.Messiha remain at its founding by assuming that the initial design,
the artifact that has the tailplane which for some reason lost some
where. So,
he tried to prove it by creating a replica of a plane similar to the
Saqqara Bird is 6 times the size of the model to be flown. This time, he added tailplane to prove his theory.
"I've
made a similar model of Balsa wood and add Tailplane (which I consider
to have been lost) and I was not surprised to find that a replica can be
suspended in air for several yards when thrown by hand"
These
experiments may confirm his theory, however, Dr.Messiha claim is
disputed by a designer glider (glider) named Martin Gregorie who makes
the same model, also from Balsa wood. According to Martin, Saqqara Bird certainly will not be stable without the Tailplane.
Replika Martin Gregorie
"Even after Tailplane added, Replication performance was very disappointing," said Martin.
Martin
concluded that the Saqqara Bird may be just a toy or a wind indicator,
which is certainly not a proof of the greatness of the ancient Egyptian
technology.
In
2006, the History Channel has also been making a documentary about the
Saqqara Bird where they ask the opinion of an expert in aerodynamics
named Simon Sanderson who immediately made a replica of Saqqara Bird
with a 5 times larger than its original size.
Sanderson
then tested in a simulator and found that the Saqqara Bird was able to
fly under certain conditions, but he needs a rudder to fly with the
right side.
The experimental results confirm the opinion Sanderson Martin Gregorie enough.
So, thus we can conclude that the Saqqara Bird is most likely really a bird model.
Moreover
if it is really the ancient Egyptians had flight technology, why it was
not written in their ancient records or other records of ancient
nations like Greece?
Although
replicas of birds made Dr.Messiha (who happens to be made of Balsa wood
- the lightest wood in the world) can fly, if it proves that the
ancient Egyptians had aircraft technology? It could only prove that the Egyptians were a great toy maker.
If
Dr.Messiha be able to trust that the artifact is a model airplane that
is not perfect, why he could not believe that it is an artifact of a
bird model is not perfect?
(wikipedia, ancientalientblog.com)