Boltzmann and the art of flying

One of the less known facets of Ludwig Boltzmann was that of an advocate of Aviation, one of the most challenging technological problems of his times. Boltzmann followed closely the studies of pioneers like Otto Lilienthal in Berlin, and during a lecture on a prestigious conference he vehemently defended further investments in the area. In this article I discuss his involvement with Aviation, his role in its development and his correspondence with two flight pioneers, Otto Lilienthal e Wilhelm Kress.