http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/gallery ... ageindex=3Almost-flying car
American engineers Henry Smolinski and Harold Blake had a crazy dream. They wanted to build the first flying car, so they bolted the wings of a Cessna light aircraft to the roof of a Ford Pinto, fitted it with cabin controls and named it the Mizar.
The Mizar would transport owners to airports, where they would detach the wings and drive merrily away.
After two years of development, the inventors took the car on a test flight, with Blake piloting. Once aloft, the wings came off, leaving pilot and passenger hurtling towards the ground in a pimped-out Ford Pinto.
http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/gallery ... ageindex=6And still they try…
Otto Lilienthal, known as the German Glider King, set out in one of his own gliders on August 9 1896. Sadly his gliding reign came to an abrupt end when he fell 17 metres, breaking his spine in the process.
On his death bed one day later, Lilienthal uttered his final words: "Small sacrifices must be made." What, for the greater good of gliding? Now that's a true enthusiast. Eurekaaaargh!
Up, up and... down
Since man could walk, he's longed to reach for the skies. Nobody felt the desire to soar like a bird more than Austrian tailor Franz Reichelt, who designed a parachute-like overcoat that would float its wearer to the ground.
In 1912, Reichelt stood on the first deck of the Eiffel Tower, then the world's tallest building, and showed off his fashionable flying invention.
In front of an expectant crowd and the press, he stepped off and softly wafted to the ground, landing safely. No, of course he didn't; he plummeted to his demise.
http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/gallery ... ageindex=7
Inventors Killed by their inventions
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