An early war plane, the "Eindecker" ("one wing" or "monoplane") was a crude machine. Before the invention of the aileron system, the "Eindecker" was outfitted with cables with which the pilot could tweak the plane's entire wing thus causing it to make changes in flight patterns. Two of Germany's great "aces", Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann, began their climb towards the "Blue Max" while flying these "Eindeckers.". Only one original "Eindecker" survives today and it can be seen at the London Science Museum (its canvas covering has been removed to show the construction of the plane). |