What if Nikolaus Otto didn't finish developing his 4-stroke engine until the 1880's? What if Benz's steel business was a success and he never engaged as deeply into auto mechanics as he did in OTL? Furthermore, what if Otto Lilienthal's glider experiments continued on schedule at the same time as OTL?
What I'm trying to figure out is a way to make airplanes and aircraft in general more commonplace instead of cars. Perhaps more rich people support more aerial-related inventors and purchase gliders and the like instead of automobiles and other machines that break down and keep one around common folk? Maybe von Zeppelin gets official governmental support and a patent for his designs earlier on, in, say, the 1880s?
Is this too ASB? I'm still trying to get the hang of it all.
What I'm trying to figure out is a way to make airplanes and aircraft in general more commonplace instead of cars. Perhaps more rich people support more aerial-related inventors and purchase gliders and the like instead of automobiles and other machines that break down and keep one around common folk? Maybe von Zeppelin gets official governmental support and a patent for his designs earlier on, in, say, the 1880s?
Is this too ASB? I'm still trying to get the hang of it all.