First Steam Powered Airplane

The Besler brothers developed steam engines that they hoped would be adopted for all modes of transportation including airplanes. In 1933, George D. Besler and William J. Besler’s prototype steam biplane, based on a Travel Air 2000, flew several times at Oakland airport. It was powered by a two-cylinder, 150 hp (110 kW) reciprocating engine designed by the Doble Steam Motors Company and Besler weighing about 500 lbs. and was capable of short takeoff and landing, (STOL) operation due to the ease of revers