In 1863 Jacob Brodbeck built a small model with a rudder, wings, and a propeller powered by coiled springs. Encouraged by the success of his model at various local fairs, Brodbeck set about raising more funds to build a full-sized version of his craft. On September 20, 1865, a small crowd gathered in a field near Luckenbach to see if the spring coil air ship could actually fly. The airship featured an enclosed space for the “aeronaut,” a water propeller in case of accidental landings on water, a compass, and a barometer. According to published accounts, Brodbeck’s air ship managed to lift off from the ground above 12 feet and fly a distance of about 100 feet before the coil came unwound and the ship crashed into a chicken coup injuring the inventor.
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