Mr. Jacob Christian Annasti Nees publishes a book in 1860 called “Om Luftsejlads baseret paa Fugleflugt” (loosely translated as “Flying based on the study of Birds”). In the publication, Mr. Nees explains the “mechanics of flight”. He mentions the forces on a bird in flight, including lift, thrust and drag. He explains the propulsion of a birds wing when it flaps up and down, as well as as prepares and solves equations for the forces acting on the wing.

He argues that a flying machine with moving wings (ornithopter) must be the correct solution to heavier-than-air flight. His machine has a steam-engine in the center of the body. The wings are to move up and down for propulsion, and the tail is for directional control. Nees also discusses the difficulty of take-off, and imagines his airship be placed on a railway car and accelerated until take-off speed.

He estimated that an airship with a wingspan of about 36 feet would be able to carry 9 persons (130 pounds each) and with a 20 “Horses Power” engine. He had though out a steam-engine that would weigh around 25 pounds per horse power, and would cost 32 skilling per HP-hr. The daily wages for a worker was about 25 skilling per day. (1 rigsdaler = 6 mark, 1 = mark 16 skilling , 1 rigsdaler = 96 skilling). The price of an aircraft in 1860’s prices was estimated to 30,000 rigsdaler.

He assumed that regular flights between Copenhagen and Paris would take place with 5 flights a day, and started calculating operating costs and profits. Talking about selling the skin before the bear was shot!

Mr. Nees apparently worked in Sweden from 1849 to 1850, according to this website: carlotta.gotlib.goteborg.se/pls/carlotta/VisaPerson?pin_perMasidn=222160

visat namn: Nees, Jacob Christian Annasti
efternamn: Nees
förnamn: Jacob Christian Annasti
tidspunkt – födelse: 1812-03-07
tidspunkt – död: 1901-10-17
yrke: fotograf
land: sverige
adress: Dahlanders hus [1849-1850]

Mr. Nees apparently tried to find investors for his project, but failed.

J.C.A. Nees was born March 7rd, 1812 in Hjørring. Was educated as “Polyteknik Kandidat” (Engineer). Worked at Mønten (Royal Mint). Was working as Daguerrotypist (Photographer) and as a telegraphist. Died Oct. 10, 1901

Ornithopter
The ornithopter is a machine with flapping wings that  is designed to fly like a bird. The German brothers Gustav and Otto Lilienthal came to the result that a man with two pairs of wings is able to “lose” half his body weight. In other words, humans are too heavy and deliver too few “horse” power to the wings to sustain powered flight – It was necessary to find another means of lift. I have included this page here, as I find the aparatus used for testing so ingenius.