In 1910, during the International Aeronautics Exhibition in Paris, the public witnessed an unusual aircraft unlike anything seen before: a red airplane with double wings, a single seat, and no propellers. The aircraft, called the “Coandă 1910,” was designed and built by the Romanian inventor Henri Coandă and is considered by many historians to be one of the earliest jet-powered aircraft concepts in the world.
At the time, the invention was received with skepticism because it seemed impossible for an aircraft to fly without propellers. On December 16, 1910, Henri Coandă personally tested the airplane on a field near Paris. During the experiment, due to his limited piloting experience, he lost control of the aircraft and crashed. However, this test led to the discovery of the aerodynamic phenomenon that would later become known worldwide as the “Coandă Effect.”
Henri Coandă was born in Bucharest in 1886. He was the son of Constantin Coandă, former Prime Minister of Romania, and Aida Danet, the daughter of a prominent French physician. Although he initially followed a military career, his exceptional talent and curiosity soon directed him toward engineering and scientific research.
He studied in Germany and Belgium before graduating from the Superior School of Aeronautics and Construction in France.
Between 1911 and 1914, Coandă worked as technical director at the Bristol Aviation Factories in England, where several successful aircraft were built based on his designs. Later, he returned to France and developed new airplane models equipped with propellers mounted near the tail section. Among these projects was the “Coandă 1916” aircraft.
In 1970, Henri Coandă became a member of the Romanian Academy. He passed away in 1972, leaving behind some of the most remarkable inventions and visionary concepts created by a Romanian scientist.
The “Flying Disc” and Other Lesser-Known Inventions Designed by Henri Coandă
One of Coandă’s most fascinating projects was the “lenticular aerodyne,” often referred to as the “flying disc.” The concept was based on the Coandă Effect and was developed around 1930. In 1932, the first experimental prototype was tested near Paris, while further experiments continued until 1956. Due to a lack of investor interest and financial support, the project was eventually abandoned.
Coandă’s final aerodyne concept, published in 1970 in collaboration with engineers from the United States, proposed a system of four flying discs supporting a central fuselage. Although the device was never officially flown, it later generated numerous speculations connected to UFO theories.
Another ambitious project designed by Henri Coandă focused on seawater desalination. His system aimed to transform seawater into drinking water using solar energy and an innovative technological process.
He also envisioned a futuristic architectural concept called the “cruciform building,” a gigantic pyramid-shaped structure designed as a symbol of the building of the future.
Today, Henri Coandă’s ideas and contributions to aeronautics continue to inspire researchers and engineers in Romania. His legacy is studied and promoted by the Romanian Association for Cosmonautics and Aeronautics (ARCA), an organization dedicated to innovation and aerospace research.
International editions: