Despite our exhibit technology background, we sometimes get an opportunity we just cannot say no to! We were given the opportunity to be part of National Geographic Channel’s documentary, The Confederate Flying Machine.
Mark K. Ragan, a Civil War historian, discovered a letter in the National Archives from a southern inventor to the Confederate President. The writier, Richard Oglesby Davidson, asks for $1500 to create a machine that can “traverse the air at 100 miles per hour” and be made in 6-8 weeks. It was believed this machine could give the Confederacy the tactical advantage it needed to win the war. Since there was no record of this machine actually coming to life, let alone flying, Mark was interested in finding out if this could even be possible. That’s where Mad Systems comes in.
The team spent 3 months creating our own version of the flying machine, facing challenges with the wings and steam engine along the way. In the end we took it out to the desert and put it to the test! Did it fly? Well, we won’t spoil the ending for you!
Our team met with Mark to learn the history and review designs of the machine. It adapted some unique wing design and used a steam powered engine. From there, our and put our engineering skills to the test, with a few caveats. Using as many materials that were available to Davidson, and only referencing designs he had access to, construct the flying in the same amount of time (plus one month of Research and Development), and get it to fly.
Enjoy a clip from National Geographic Channel’s special:
