第5章
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点击下载App,搜索"Flying Machines",免费读到尾

  Yes,theAirshipIsHere.

  Fromallofwhichwemaywellinferthattheflyingmachineinpracticalformhasarrived,andthatitisheretostay.Itisnoexaggerationtosaythatthetimeiscloseathandwhenpeoplewillkeepflyingmachinesjustastheynowkeepautomobiles,andthatpleasurejauntswillbefullyasnumerousandpopular.Withtheimportantitemofpracticabilityfullydemonstrated,\"Come,takeatripinmyairship,\"willhavemorerealsignificancethannowattachestothevapidwarblingsofthevaudevillevocalist.

  Asafurtherevidencethattheairshipisreallyhere,andthatitspresenceisrecognizedinabusinessway,theactionoflifeandaccidentinsurancecompaniesisinteresting.Someofthemarereconstructingtheirpoliciessoastoincludeaspecialwaiverofinsurancebyaviators.Anythingwhichcompelsthesegreatcorporationstomodifytheirpoliciescannotbelookeduponasamerecuriosityortoy.

  Itissomeconsolationtoknowthatthemovementinthisdirectionisnotthusfarwidespread.Moreoveritismorethanprobablethatthecompetitionforbusinesswilleventuallyinducethecompaniestoactmoreliberallytowardaviators,especiallyastheartofaviationadvances.

  CHAPTERXIX.

  LAWOFTHEAIRSHIP.

  Successfulaviationhasevokedsomepeculiarthingsinthewayoflegalactionandinterpretationofthelaw.

  Itiswellunderstoodthataman’spropertycannotbeusedwithouthisconsent.Thisisanoldestablishedprincipleincommonlawwhichholdsgoodtoday.

  Thelimitsofaman’spropertylines,however,havenotbeensowellunderstoodbylaymen.AccordingtoeminentlegalauthoritiessuchasBlackstone,LittletonandCoke,the\"fathersofthelaw,\"theownerofrealtyalsoholdstitleaboveandbelowthesurface,andthistheoryisgenerallyacceptedwithoutquestionbythecourts.

  RightsofPropertyOwners.

  Inotherwordstheownerofrealtyalsoownstheskyaboveitwithoutlimitastodistance.Hecandigasdeepintohisland,orgoashighintotheairashedesires,providedhedoesnottrespassuponorinjuresimilarrightsofothers.

  Theownerofrealtymayresistbyforce,allothermeanshavingfailed,anytrespassupon,orinvasionofhisproperty.Otherpeople,forinstance,maynotenteruponit,oroverorunderit,withouthisexpresspermissionandconsent.Thereisonlyoneexception,andthisisinthecaseofpublicutilitycorporationssuchasrailwayswhich,underthelawofeminentdomain,maycondemnarightofwayacrossthepropertyofanobstinateownerwhodeclinestoacceptafairpricefortheprivilege.

  PrivilegeSharplyConfined.

  Thelawofeminentdomainmaybetakenadvantageofonlybycorporationswhichareengagedinservingthepublic.Itisbasedupontheprinciplethattheadvancementandimprovementofacommunityisofmoreimportanceandcarrieswithitmorerightsthantheinterestsoftheindividualowner.Butevenincaseswheretherightofeminentdomainisexercisedtherecanbenoconfiscationoftheindividual’sproperty.

  Exercisingtherightofeminentdomainismerelyobtainingbypublicpurchasewhatisheldtobeessentialtothepublicgood,andwhichcannotbesecuredbyprivatepurchase.Wheneminentdomainproceedingsareresortedtothecourtappointsappraiserswhodetermineuponthevalueofthepropertywanted,andthisvalue(inmoney)ispaidtotheowner.

  HowItAffectsAviation.

  Itshouldbekeptinmindthatthisprivilegeofthe\"rightofeminentdomain\"isaccordedonlytocorporationswhichareengagedinservingthepublic.Individualscannottakeadvantageofit.Thusfarallaviationhasbeenconductedbyindividuals;therearenoflyingmachineorairshipcorporationsregularlyengagedinthetransportationofpassengers,mailsorfreight.

  Thisleadsuptothequestion\"Whatwouldhappenifrealtyownersgenerally,orinanyconsiderablenumbers.

  shouldprohibitthenavigationoftheairabovetheirholdings?\"Itisidletosaysuchapossibilityisridiculous——

  itisalreadyanactualityinafewindividualinstances.

  OnepropertyownerinNewJersey,ajusticeofthepeace,maintainsalargesignontheroofofhishousewarningaviatorsthattheymustnottrespassuponhisdomain.Thatheisactingwellwithinhisrightsindoingthisisconcededbylegalauthorities.

  HardtoCatchOffenders.

  But,supposetheallegedtrespassiscommitted,whatisthepropertyownergoingtodoaboutit?Hemustfirstcatchthetrespasserandthiswouldbeaprettyhardjob.Hecertainlycouldnotovertakehim,unlesshekeptaracingaeroplaneforthisspecialpurpose.Itwouldbeequallydifficulttoindentifytheoffenderaftertheoffensehadbeencommitted,evenifhewerelocated,asaeroplanescarrynolicensenumbers.

  Allowingthattheoffendershouldbecaughttheonlyrecourseoftherealtyownerisanactionfordamages.

  Hemaypreventthecommissionoftheoffensebyforceifnecessary,butafteritiscommittedhecanonlysuefordamages.Andindoingthishewouldhavealotoftrouble.

  PointstoBeProven.

  Oneofthefirstthingstheplaintiffwouldbecalledupontoprovewouldbetheelevationofthemachine.

  Ifitwerereasonablyclosetothegroundtherewould,ofcourse,begraveriskofdamagetofences,shrubbery,andotherproperty,andthecourtwouldbejustifiedinholdingittobeanuisancethatshouldbesuppressed.

  If,ontheotherhand;themachinewaswellupintheair,butgoingslowly,orhoveringovertheplaintiff’sproperty,thecourtmightbeinclinedtorulethatitcouldnotpossiblybeanuisance,butrightherethecourtwouldbeinseriousembarrassment.Bydecidingthatitwasnotanuisancehewouldvirtuallyoverridethelawagainstinvasionofaman’spropertywithouthisconsentregardlessofthenatureoftheinvasion.Bythesamedecisionhewouldalsosayineffectthat,ifoneflyingmachinecoulddothisadozenormorewouldhaveequalrighttodothesamething.Whileonemachinehoveringoveracertainpieceofpropertymaybenoactualnuisanceadozenormoreinthesamepositioncouldhardlybeexcused.

  DifficulttoFixDamages.

  Suchaconditionwouldtendtogreatlyincreasetheriskofaccident,eitherthroughcollision,orbythecarelessnessoftheaviatorsindroppingarticleswhichmightcausedamagestothepeopleorpropertybelow.Insuchacaseitwouldundoubtedlybeanuisance,andinadditiontoafine,theoffenderwouldalsobeliableforthedamages.

  Takingitforgrantedthatnoactualdamageisdone,andtheownermerelysuesonaccountoftheinvasionofhisproperty,howistheamountofcompensationtobefixedupon?Theownerhaslostnothing;nopartofhispossessionshasbeentakenaway;nothinghasbeeninjuredordestroyed;everythingisleftinexactlythesameconditionasbeforetheinvasion.Andyet,ifthelawisstrictlyinterpreted,theoffenderisliable.

  RightofWayforAirships.

  Somebodyhassuggestedtheorganizationofflying—

  machinecorporationsascommoncarriers,whichwouldgivethemtherightofeminentdomainwithpowertocondemnarightofway.Butwhatwouldtheycondemn?

  Thereisnothingtangibleintheair.Railwaysincondemningarightofwayspecifytangibleproperty(realty)withincertainlimits.Howwouldanaviatordesignateanyparticularrightofwaythroughtheairacertainnumberoffeetinwidth,andacertaindistancefromtheground?

  Andyet,shouldthehighercourtsholdtotheletterofthelawanddecidethataviatorshavenorighttonavigatetheircraftoverprivateproperty,somethingwillhavetobedonetogetthemoutofthedilemma,asaviationistoofaradvancedtobediscarded.Fortunatelythereislittleprospectofanywidespreadantagonismamongpropertyownerssolongasaviatorsrefrainfrommakingnuisancesofthemselves.

  PossibleSolutionOffered.

  Onepossiblesolutionisofferedandthatistoconfinethepathofairshipstothepublichighwayssothatnobody’spropertyrightswouldbeinvaded.Inaddition,asamatterofpromotingsafetyforbothoperatorsandthosewhomayhappentobebeneaththeairshipsastheypassoveracourse,adoptionoftheFrenchrulesaresuggested.Theseareasfollows:

  Aeroplanes,whenpassing,mustkeeptotheright,andpassatadistanceofatleast150feet.Theyarefreefromthisrulewhenflyingataltitudesofmorethan100

  feet.Everymachinewhenflyingatnightorduringfoggyweathermustcarryagreenlightontheright,andaredlightontheleft,andawhiteheadlightonthefront.

  Thesearesensiblerules,butmaybeimproveduponbytheadditionofasignalsystemofsomekind,eitherhorn,whistleorbell.

  ResponsibilityofAviators.

  Mr.JayCarverBossard,inrecentnumbersof_Fly_,bringsoutsomecuriousandinterestinglegalpointsinconnectionwithaviation,amongwhicharethefollowing:

  \"Privatepartieswhopossessaerialcraft,anddesiretooperatethesameinaerialterritoryotherthantheirown,mustobtainfromlandownersspecialpermissiontodoso,suchpermissiontobegrantedonlybyagreement,foundeduponavalidconsideration.Otherwise,passingoveranother’slandwillineachinstanceamounttoatrespass.

  \"Leavingthishighlytechnicalsideofthequestion,letusturntoanotherview:thecriminalandtortliabilityofownersandoperatorstoairshippassengers.IfAinvitesBtomakeanascensionwithhiminhismachine,andB,knowingthatAismerelyanenthusiasticamateurandfarfrombeinganexpert,acceptsandisthroughA’sinnocentnegligenceinjured,hehasnogroundsforrecovery.ButifAcontractswithB,totransporthimfromoneplacetoanother,foraconsideration,andBisinjuredbythepoorpilotingofA,AwouldbeliabletoBfordamageswhichwouldresult.

  NowinordertosafeguardsuchpeopleasB,curioustothepointofrecklessness,thelawwillhavetorequireallairshipoperatorstohavealicense,andtosecurethislicenseairshippilotswillhavetomeetcertainrequirements.Hereagainisaquestion.Whoisgoingtosaywhetheranapplicantiscompetenttopilotaballoonorairship?

  FineforanAeronaut.

  \"Anaeroplanewhilemaneuveringissuddenlycaughtbyatreacherousgaleandswepttotheground.Acrowdofpeoplehastenovertoseeiftheaeronautisinjured,andindoingsotrampleoverTax—payerSmith’sgarden,muchtothedetrimentofhisgrowingvegetablesandflowers.Whoisliableforthedamages?Queerasitmayseem,acaseverysimilartothiswasdecidedin1823,intheNewYorksupremecourt,anditwasheldthattheaeronautwasliableuponthefollowinggrounds:

  ’Torenderonemanliableintrespassfortheactsofothers,itmustappeareitherthattheyactedinconcert,orthattheactoftheone,ordinarilyandnaturallyproducedtheactsoftheothers,Ascendinginaballoonisnotanunlawfulact,butitiscertainthattheaeronauthasnocontroloveritsmotionhorizontally,butisatthesportofthewind,andistodescendwhenandhowhecan.Hisreachingtheearthisamatterofhazard.

  Ifhisdescentwouldaccordingtothecircumstancesdrawacrowdofpeoplearoundhim,eitheroutofcuriosity,orforthepurposeofrescuinghimfromaperiloussituation,allthisheoughttohaveforeseen,andmustberesponsiblefor.’

  AirNotReallyFree.

  \"Thegeneralbeliefamongpeopleis,thattheairisfree.Notonlyfreetobreatheandenjoy,butfreetotravelin,andthatnoonehasanydefinitejurisdictionover,orinanypartofit.Nowsupposethisweremadealegaldoctrine.Wouldamurderperpetratedabovethecloudshavetogounpunished?Undoubtedly.Forfeloniescommitteduponthehighseasampleprovisionismadefortheirpunishment,butnewprovisionswillhavetobemadeforcrimescommittedintheair.

  RelationsofOwnerandEmployee.

  \"Itisageneralruleoflawthatamasterisboundtoprovidereasonablysafetools,appliancesandmachinesforhisservant.Howthisruleisgoingtobeappliedincasesofaeroplanes,remainstobeseen.Theaeroplaneownerwhohiresaprofessionalaeronaut,thatis,onewhohasqualifiedasanexpert,oweshimverylittlelegaldutytosupplyhimwithaperfectaeroplane.Theexpertissupposedtoknowasmuchregardingthemachineastheowner,ifnotmore,andhisacceptanceofhispositionrelievestheownerfromliability.Whentheownerhiresanamateuraeronauttoruntheaeroplane,andteacheshimhowtomanipulateit,eventhoughtheprescribedmannerofmanipulationwillmakeflightsafe,neverthelessifthemachineisvisiblydefective,orknowntobeso,anyinjurywhichresultstotheaeronauttheownerisliablefor.

  AstoAeroplaneContracts.

  \"Atthepresenttimetherearemanyordersbeingplacedwithaeroplanemanufacturingcompanies.Therearesomeuniquequestionstoberaisedhereunderthelawofcontract.Itisanelementaryprincipleoflawthatnoonecanbecompelledtocompleteacontractwhichinitselfisimpossibletoperform.Forinstance,acontracttorowaboatacrosstheAtlanticintwoweeks,foraconsideration,couldneverbeenforcedbecauseitiswithinjudicialknowledgethatsuchanundertakingisbeyondhumanpower.Again,contractsformedforthedoingofactscontrarytonatureareneverenforcible,andhereiswhereourdifficultycomesin.Isitpossibletobuildamachineorspeciesofcraftwhichwilltransportapersonorgoodsthroughtheair?Thecourtsknowthatballoonsarepractical;thatis,theyknowthatabagfilledwithgashasaliftingpowerandcanmovethroughtheairatanappreciableheight.

  Therefore,acontracttotransportapersoninsuchmannerisagoodcontract,andtheconditionsbeingfavorablecouldundoubtedlybeenforced.Butthepassengers’

  rightofactionforinjurywouldbeverylimited.

  NoRedressforPurchasers.

  \"Inthecaseofgivingwarrantiesonaeroplanes,wehaveyettoseejustwhatacourtisgoingtosay.Itiseasyenoughforamanufacturertoguaranteetobuildamachineofcertaindimensionsandaccordingtocertainspecifications,butwhenheinsertsaclauseinthecontracttotheeffectthatthemachinewillraiseitselffromthesurfaceoftheearth,defythelawsofgravity,andsoarintheheavensatthewilloftheaviator,heistosaytheleastcontractingtoperformamiracle.

  \"Untilaeroplaneshavebeenmadeandacceptedaspractical,nocourtwillforceamanufacturertoturnoutamachineguaranteedtofly.Sopurchaserscanwellrememberthatiftheirmachinesrefusetoflytheyhavenoredressagainstthemaker,forhecanalwayssay,’Theindustryisstillinitsexperimentalstage.’Incontractingforanenginenobuilderwillguaranteethattheparticularenginewillsuccessfullyoperatetheaeroplane.

  Infacthecouldneverbeforcedtoliveuptosuchanagreement,shouldheagreetoastipulationofthatsort.Thebestanyenginemakerwillguaranteeistobuildanengineaccordingtospecifications.\"

  CHAPTERXX.

  SOARINGFLIGHT.

  ByOctaveChanute.

  [5]Thereisawonderfulperformancedailyexhibitedinsouthernclimesandoccasionallyseeninnortherlylatitudesinsummer,whichhasneverbeenthoroughlyexplained.Itisthesoaringorsailingflightofcertainvarietiesoflargebirdswhotransportthemselvesonrigid,unflappingwingsinanydesireddirection;whoinwindsof6to20milesperhour,circle,rise,advance,returnandremainaloftforhourswithoutabeatofwing,saveforgettingunderwayorconvenienceinvariousmaneuvers.

  Theyappeartoobtainfromthewindaloneallthenecessaryenergy,eventoadvancingdeadagainstthatwind.

  Thisfeatissomuchopposedtoourgeneralideasofphysicsthatthosewhohavenotseenitsometimesdenyitsactuality,andthosewhohaveonlyoccasionallywitnesseditsubsequentlydoubttheevidenceoftheirowneyes.Others,whohaveseentheexceptionalperformances,speculateonvariousexplanations,butthemajoritygiveitupasasortof\"negativegravity.\"

  [5]Aeronautics.

  SoaringPowerofBirds.

  Thewriterofthispaperpublishedinthe\"AeronauticalAnnual\"for1896and1897anarticleuponthesailingflightofbirds,inwhichhegavealistoftheauthorswhohaddescribedsuchflightorhadadvancedtheoriesforitsexplanation,andhepassedtheseinreview.Healsodescribedhisownobservationsandsubmittedsomecomputationstoaccountfortheobservedfacts.Thesecomputationswerecorrectasfarastheywent,buttheywerescanty.Itwas,forinstance,shownconvincinglybyanalysisthatagullweighing2.188pounds,withatotalsupportingsurfaceof2.015squarefeet,amaximumbodycross—sectionof0.126squarefeetandamaximumcross—

  sectionofwingedgesof0.098squarefeet,patrollingonrigidwings(soaring)ontheweathersideofasteamerandmaintaininganupwardangleorattitudeof5degreesto7degreesabovethehorizon,inawindblowing12.78

  milesanhour,whichwasdeflectedupward10degreesto20degreesbythesideofthesteamer(theseallbeingcarefullyobservedfacts),wasperfectlysustainedatitsown\"relativespeed\"of17.88milesperhourandextractedfromtheupwardtrendofthewindsufficientenergytoovercomealltheresistances,thisenergyamountingto6.44foot—poundspersecond.

  GreatPowerofGulls.

  Itwasshownthatthesamebirdinflappingflightincalmair,withanattitudeorincidenceof3degreesto5

  degreesabovethehorizonandaspeedof20.4milesanhourwaswellsustainedandexpended5.88foot—poundspersecond,thisbeingattherateof204poundssustainedperhorsepower.Itwasstatedalsothatagullinitsobservedmaneuvers,risingupfromapileheadonunflappingwings,thenplungingforwardagainstthewindandsubsequentlyrisinghigherthanhisstartingpoint,musteithertimehisascentsanddescentsexactlywiththevariationsinwindvelocities,ormustmeetawindbillowrotatingonahorizontalaxisandcometoapoiseonitscrest,thusavailingofanascendingtrend.

  Buttheobservationsfailedtodemonstratethatthevariationsofthewindgustsandthemovementsofthebirdwereabsolutelysynchronous,anditwasconjecturedthatthepeculiarshapeofthesoaringwingofcertainbirds,asdifferentiatedfromtheflappingwing,might,whenexperimentedupon,hereafteraccountfortheperformance.

  MysterytobeExplained.

  Thesecomputations,howeversatisfactorytheywereforthespeedofwindsobserved,failedtoaccountfortheobservedspiralsoaringofbuzzardsinverylightwindsandthewriterwascompelledtoconfess:\"Now,thisspiralsoaringinsteadybreezesof5to10milesperhourwhichareapparentlyhorizontal,andthroughwhichthebirdmaintainsanaveragespeedofabout20milesanhour,isthemysterytobeexplained.Itisnotaccountedfor,quantitatively,byanyofthetheorieswhichhavebeenadvanced,anditistheoneperformancewhichhasledsomeobserverstoclaimthatitwasdonethrough’aspiration.’i,e.,thatabirdacteduponbyacurrent,actuallydrewforwardintothatcurrentagainstitsexactdirectionofmotion.\"

  BuzzardsSoarinDeadCalm.

  Astillgreatermysterywaspropoundedbythefewobserverswhoassertedthattheyhadseenbuzzardssoaringinadeadcalm,maintainingtheirelevationandtheirspeed.AmongtheseobserverswasMr.E.C.Huffaker,atonetimeassistantexperimenterforProfessorLangley.

  Thewriterbelievedandsaidthenthathemustinsomewayhavebeenmistaken,yet,tosatisfyhimself,hepaidseveralvisitstoMr.Huffaker,inEasternTennesseeandtookalonghisanemometer.Hesawquiteanumberofbuzzardssailingataheightof75to100feetinbreezesmeasuring5or6milesanhouratthesurfaceoftheground,andoncehesawonebuzzardsoaringapparentlyinadeadcalm.

  Thewriterwasfairlybaffled.Thebirdwasnotsimplygliding,utilizinggravityoracquiredmomentum,hewasactuallycirclinghorizontallyindefianceofphysicsandmathematics.Ittooktwoyearsandawholeseriesoffurtherobservationstobringthosetwosciencesintoaccordwiththefacts.

  ResultsofCloseObservations.

  Curiouslyenoughthekeytotheperformanceofcirclinginalightwindoradeadcalmwasnotfoundthroughtheusualwayofgatheringhumanknowledge,i.e.,throughobservationsandexperiment.ThesehadfailedbecauseIdidnotknowwhattolookfor.Themysterywas,infact,solvedbyaneclecticprocessofconjectureandcomputation,butoncethesecomputationsindicatedwhatobservationsshouldbemade,theresultsgaveatoncethereasonsforthecirclingofthebirds,fortheirthenobservedattitude,andforthenecessityofanindependentinitialsustainingspeedbeforesoaringbegan.

  BothMr.HuffakerandmyselfverifiedthedatamanytimesandImadethecomputations.

  Theseobservationsdisclosedseveralfacts:

  1st.——Thatwindsblowingfivetoseventeenmilesperhourfrequentlyhadrisingtrendsof10degreesto15

  degrees,andthatuponoccasionswhenthereseemedtobeabsolutelynowind,therewasoftenneverthelessalocalrisingoftheairestimatedatarateoffourtoeightmilesormoreperhour.Thiswasascertainedbywatchingthistledown,andrisingfogsalongsideoftreesorhillsofknownheight.Everyonewillreadilyrealizethatwhenwalkingattherateoffourtoeightmilesanhourinadeadcalmthe\"relativewind\"isquiteinappreciabletothesensesandthatsucharisingairwouldnotbenoticed.

  2nd.——Thatthebuzzard,sailinginanapparentlydeadhorizontalcalm,progressedatspeedsoffifteentoeighteenmilesperhour,asmeasuredbyhisshadowontheground.Itwasthoughtthattheairwasthenpossiblyrising8.8feetpersecond,orsixmilesperhour.

  3rd.——Thatwhensoaringinverylightwindstheangleofincidenceofthebuzzardswasnegativetothehorizon——i.e.,thatwhenseencomingtowardtheeye,theafternoonlightshoneonthebackinsteadofonthebreast,aswouldhavebeenthecasehadtheanglebeeninclinedabovethehorizon.

  4th.——Thatthesailingperformanceonlyoccurredafterthebirdhadacquiredaninitialvelocityofatleastfifteenoreighteenmilesperhour,eitherbyindustriousflappingorbydescendingfromaperch.

  AnInterestingExperiment.

  5th.——Thatthewholeresistanceofastuffedbuzzard,atanegativeangleof3degreesinacurrentofairof15.52milesperhour,was0.27pounds.ThistestwaskindlymadeforthewriterbyProfessorA.F.Zahminthe\"windtunnel\"oftheCatholicUniversityatWashington,D.C.,who,moreover,statedthattheresistanceofalivebirdmightbeless,asthedriedplumagecouldnotbemadetoliesmooth.

  Thisparticularbuzzardweighedinlife4.25pounds,theareaofhiswingsandbodywas4.57squarefeet,themaximumcross—sectionofhisbodywas0.110squarefeet,andthatofhiswingedgeswhenfullyextendedwas0.244squarefeet.

  Withthesedata,itbecamesurprisinglyeasytocomputetheperformancewiththecoefficientsofLilienthalforvariousanglesofincidenceandtodemonstratehowthisbuzzardcouldsoarhorizontallyinadeadhorizontalcalm,providedthatitwasnotaverticalcalm,andthattheairwasrisingattherateoffourorsixmilesperhour,thelowestobserved,andquiteinappreciablewithoutactualmeasuring.

  SomeDataonBirdPower.

  Themostdifficultcaseispurposelyselected.Forifweassumethatthebirdhaspreviouslyacquiredaninitialminimumspeedofseventeenmilesanhour(24.93

  feetpersecond,nearlythelowestmeasured),andthattheairwasrisingverticallysixmilesanhour(8.80feetpersecond),thenwehaveasthetrendofthe\"relativewind\"encountered:

  6

  ——=0.353,orthetangentof19degrees26’.

  17

  whichbringsthecaseintothecategoryofrisingwindeffects.Butthebirdwasobservedtohaveanegativeangletothehorizonofabout3degrees,asnearascouldbeguessed,sothathisangleofincidencetothe\"relativewind\"wasreducedto16degrees26’.

  Therelativespeedofhissoaringwastherefore:

  Velocity=squarerootof(17squared6squared)=18.03milesperhour.

  Atthisspeed,usingtheLangleyco—efficientrecentlypracticallyconfirmedbytheaccurateexperimentsofMr.

  Eiffel,theairpressurewouldbe:

  18.03squaredX0.00327=1.063poundspersquarefoot.

  IfweapplyLilienthal’sco—efficientsforanangleof6degrees26’,wehavefortheforceinaction:

  Normal:4.57X1.063X0.912=4.42pounds.

  Tangential:4.57X1.063X0.074=—0.359pounds,whichlatter,beingnegative,isapropellingforce.

  ResultsAstonishScientists.

  Thuswehaveabirdweighing4.25poundsnotonlythoroughlysupported,butimpelledforwardbyaforceof0.359pounds,atseventeenmilesperhour,whiletheexperimentsofProfessorA.F.Zahmshowedthattheresistanceat15.52milesperhourwasonly0.27pounds,17squaredor0.27X———————=0.324pounds,atseventeenmilesan15.52squaredhour.

  Theseareastonishingresultsfromthedataobtained,andtheyleadtotheinquirywhethertheenergyoftherisingairissufficienttomakeupthelosseswhichoccurbyreasonoftheresistanceandfrictionofthebird’sbodyandwings,which,beingrounded,donotencounterairpressuresinproportiontotheirmaximumcross—section.

  Wehavenoaccuratedataupontheco—efficientstoapplyandestimatesmadebymyselfprovedtobemuchsmallerthanthe0.27poundsresistancemeasuredbyProfessorZahm,sothatwewillfigurewiththelatterasmodified.Asthespeedisseventeenmilesperhour,or24.93feetpersecond,wehaveforthework:

  Workdone,0.324X24.93=8.07footpoundspersecond.

  EndorsedbyProf.Marvin.

  Correspondingenergyofrisingairisnotsufficientatfourmilesperhour.Thisamountstobut2.10footpoundspersecond,butifweassumethattheairwasrisingattherateofsevenmilesperhour(10.26feetpersecond),atwhichthepressurewiththeLangleycoefficientwouldbe0.16poundspersquarefoot,wehaveon4.57squarefeetforenergyofrisingair:4.57X0.16X10.26=7.50

  footpoundspersecond,whichisseentobestillalittletoosmall,butwellwithinthelimitsoferror,inviewofthehollowshapeofthebird’swings,whichreceivegreaterpressurethantheflatplanesexperimenteduponbyLangley.

  ThesecomputationswerechieflymadeinJanuary,1899,andwerecommunicatedtoafewfriends,whofoundnofallacyinthem,butthoughtthatfewaviatorswouldunderstandthemifpublished.TheywerethensubmittedtoProfessorC.F.MarvinoftheWeatherBureau,whoiswellknownasaskillfulphysicistandmathematician.

  Hewrotethattheywere,theoretically,entirelysoundandquantitatively,probably,asaccurateasthepresentstateofthemeasurementsofwindpressurespermitted.

  Thewriterdetermined,however,towithholdpublicationuntilthefeatofsoaringflighthadbeenperformedbyman,partlybecausehebelievedthat,toensuresafety,itwouldbenecessarythatthemachineshouldbeequippedwithamotorinordertosupplementanydeficiencyinwindforce.

  ConditionsUnfavorableforWrights.

  Thefeatwouldhavebeenattemptedin1902byWrightbrothersifthelocalcircumstanceshadbeenmorefavorable.

  Theywereexperimentingon\"KillDevilHill,\"

  nearKittyHawk,N.C.Thissandhill,about100feethigh,isborderedbyasmoothbeachonthesidewhencecometheseabreezes,buthasmarshygroundattheback.

  Wrightbrotherswereapprehensivethatiftheyroseontheascendingcurrentofairatthefrontandbegantocirclelikethebirds,theymightbecarriedbythedescendingcurrentpastthebackofthehillandlandinthemarsh.Theirglidingmachineofferednogreaterheadresistanceinproportionthanthebuzzard,andtheirglidinganglesofdescentarepracticallyasfavorable,butthebirdsperformedhigherupintheairthanthey.

  Langley’sIdeaofAviation.

  ProfessorLangleysaidinconcludinghispaperupon\"TheInternalWorkoftheWind\":

  \"Thefinalapplicationoftheseprinciplestotheartofaerodromicsseems,then,tobe,thatwhileitisnotlikelythattheperfectedaerodromewilleverbeabletodispensealtogetherwiththeabilitytorelyatintervalsonsomeinternalsourceofpower,itwillnotbeindispensablethatthisaerodromeofthefutureshall,inordertogoanydistance——eventocircumnavigatetheglobewithoutalighting——needtocarryaweightoffuelwhichwouldenableittoperformthisjourneyunderconditionsanalogoustothoseofasteamship,butthatthefuelandweightneedonlybesuchastoenableittotakecareofitselfinexceptionalmomentsofcalm.\"

  Nowthatdynamicflyingmachineshavebeenevolvedandarebeingbroughtundercontrol,itseemstobeworthwhiletomakethesecomputationsandthesucceedingexplanationsknown,sothatsomeboldmanwillattemptthefeatofsoaringlikeabird.Thetheoryunderlyingtheperformanceinarisingwindisnotnew,ithasbeensuggestedbyPenaudandothers,butithasattractedlittleattentionbecausetheexactdataandthemaneuversrequiredwerenotknownandthefeathadnotyetbeenperformedbyaman.Thepuzzlehasalwaysbeentoaccountfortheobservedactinverylightwinds,anditishopedthatbythepresentselectionofthemostdifficultcasetoexplain——i.e.,thesoaringinadeadhorizontalcalm——somebodywillattempttheexploit.

  RequisitesforSoaringFlights.

  Thefollowingaredeemedtobetherequisitesandmaneuverstomasterthesecretsofsoaringflight:

  1st——Developadynamicflyingmachineweighingaboutonepoundpersquarefootofarea,withstableequilibriumandunderperfectcontrol,capableofglidingbygravityatanglesofoneinten(53/4degrees)instillair.

  2nd.——Selectlocationswheresoaringbirdsaboundandoccasionswhererisingtrendsofgentlewindsarefrequentandtobereliedon.

  3rd.——Obtainaninitialvelocityofatleast25feetpersecondbeforeattemptingtosoar.

  4th.——Solocatethecenterofgravitythattheapparatusshallassumeanegativeangle,foreandaft,ofabout3degrees.

  Calculationsshow,however,thatsufficientpropellingforcemaystillexistat0degrees,butdisappearsentirelyat4degrees.

  5th.——Circlelikethebird.Simultaneouslywiththesteering,inclinetheapparatustothesidetowardwhichitisdesiredtoturn,sothatthecentrifugalforceshallbebalancedbythecentripetalforce.Theamountoftherequiredinclinationdependsuponthespeedandontheradiusofthecirclesweptover.

  6th.——Risespirallylikethebird.Steerwiththehorizontalrudder,soastodescendslightlywhengoingwiththewindandtoascendwhengoingagainstthewind.Thebirdcirclesoveronespotbecausetherisingtrendsofwindaregenerallyconfinedtosmallareasorlocalchimneys,aspointedoutbySirH.Maximandothers.

  7th.——Oncealtitudeisgained,progressmaybemadeinanydirectionbyglidingdownwardbygravity.

  Thebird’sflyingapparatusandskillareasyetinfinitelysuperiortothoseofman,butthereareindicationsthatwithinafewyearsthelattermayevolvemoreaccuratelyproportionedapparatusandobtainabsolutecontroloverit.

  Itishoped,therefore,thatiftherebefoundnoradicalerrorintheabovecomputations,theywillcarrytheconvictionthatsoaringflightisnotinaccessibletoman,asitpromisesgreateconomiesofmotivepowerinfavorablelocalitiesofrisingwinds.

  Thewriterwillbegratefultoexpertswhomaypointoutanymistakecommittedindataorcalculations,andwillfurnishadditionalinformationtoanyaviatorwhomaywishtoattemptthefeatofsoaring.

  CHAPTERXXI.

  FLYINGMACHINESVS.BALLOONS.

  Whilewonderfulsuccesshasattendedthedevelopmentofthedirigible(steerable)balloonthemostardentadvocatesofthisformofaerialnavigationadmitthatithasseriousdrawbacks.Someofthesemaybedescribedasfollows:

  ExpenseandOtherItems.

  GreatInitialExpense.——Themoderndirigibleballooncostsafortune.TheZeppelin,forinstance,costsmorethan$100,000(theseareofficialfigures).

  ExpenseofInflation.——Gasevaporatesrapidly,andaballoonmustbere—inflated,orpartiallyre—inflated,everytimeitisused.TheZeppelinholds460,000cubicfeetofgaswhich,evenat$1perthousand,wouldcost$460.

  DifficultyofObtainingGas.——Ifaballoonsuddenlybecomesdeflated,byaccidentoratmosphericconditions,farfromasourceofgassupply,itispracticallyworthless.

  Gasmustbepipedtoit,ortheballooncartedtothegashouse——anexpensiveproceedingineitherevent.

  LackofSpeedandControl.

  LackofSpeed.——Underthemostfavorableconditionsthemaximumspeedofaballoonis30milesanhour.

  Itsgreatbulkmakesthehighspeedattainedbyflyingmachinesimpossible.

  DifficultyofControl.——Whilethemoderndirigibleballoonisreadilyhandledincalmorlightwinds,itsbulkmakesitdifficulttocontrolinheavywinds.

  TheElementofDanger.——Numerousballoonshavebeendestroyedbylightningandsimilarcauses.OneofthelargestoftheZeppelinswasthuslostatStuttgartin1908.

  SomeBalloonPerformances.

  Itisonlyamatteroffairnesstostatethat,underfavorableconditions,someverycreditablerecordshavebeenmadewithmodernballoons,viz:

  November23d,1907,theFrenchdirigiblePatrie,travelled187milesin6hoursand45minutesagainstalightwind.Thiswasalittleover28milesanhour.

  TheClement—Bayard,anotherFrenchmachine,soldtotheRussiangovernment,madeatripof125milesatarateof27milesanhour.

  ZeppelinNo.3,carryingeightpassengers,andhavingatotalliftingcapacityof5,500poundsofballastinadditiontopassengers,weightofequipment,etc.,wastestedinOctober,1906,andmade67milesin2hoursand17minutes,about30milesanhour.

  Thesearethebestballoontripsonrecord,andshowforcefullythelimitationsofspeed,thegreatestbeingnotover30milesanhour.

  SpeedofFlyingMachines.

  Opposedtotheballoonperformanceswehaveflyingmachinetrips(ofauthenticrecords)asfollows:

  Bleriot——monoplane——in1908——52milesanhour.

  Delagrange——June22,1908——101/2milesin16minutes,approximately42milesanhour.

  Wrights——October,1905——themachinewastheninitsinfancy——24milesin38minutes,approximately44milesanhour.OnDecember31,1908,theWrightsmade77

  milesin2hoursand20minutes.

  Lambert,apupiloftheWrights,andusingaWrightbiplane,onOctober18,1909,covered29.82milesin49

  minutesand39seconds,beingattherateof36milesanhour.Thisflightwasmadeataheightof1,312feet.

  Latham——October21,1909——madeashortflight,about11minutes,intheteethofa40milegale,atBlackpool,Eng.HeusedanAntoniettemonoplane,andtheofficialreportsays:\"Thisexhibitionofnerve,daringandabilityisunparalledinthehistoryofaviation.\"

  Farman——October20,1909——wasintheairfor1hour,32min.,16seconds,travelling47miles,1,184yards,adurationrecordforEngland.

  Paulhan——January18,1901——471/2milesattherateof45milesanhour,maintaininganaltitudeoffrom1,000

  to2,000feet.

  ExpenseofProducingGas.

  Gasisindispensableintheoperationofdirigibleballoons,andgasisexpensive.Besidesthisitisnotalwayspossibletoobtainitinsufficientquantitieseveninlargecities,asthesupplyonhandisgenerallyneededforregularcustomers.Suchascanbehadiseitherwaterorcoalgas,neitherofwhichisasefficientinliftingpowerashydrogen.

  Hydrogenisthelightestandconsequentlythemostbuoyantofallknowngases.Itissecuredcommerciallybytreatingzincorironwithdilutesulphuricorhydrochloricacid.Theaveragecostmaybesafelyplacedat$10per1,000feetsothat,toinflateaballoonofthesizeoftheZeppelin,holding460,000cubicfeet,wouldcost$4,600.

  ProportionsofMaterialsRequired.

  Inmakinghydrogengasitiscustomarytoallow20

  percentforlossbetweenthegenerationandtheintroductionofthegasintotheballoon.Thus,whiletheformulacallsforiron28timesheavierthantheweightofthehydrogenrequired,andacid49timesheavier,therealquantitiesare20percentgreater.Hydrogenweighsabout0.09ouncetothecubicfoot.Consequentlyifweneedsay450,000cubicfeetofgaswemusthave2,531.25

  poundsinweight.Toproducethis,allowingforthe20

  percentloss,wemusthave35timesitsweightiniron,orover44tons.Ofaciditwouldtake60timestheweightofthegas,ornearly76tons.

  InTimeofEmergency.

  Thesefiguresareappalling,andunderordinaryconditionswouldbeprohibitive,buttherearetimeswhentheballoonoperator,unabletoobtainwaterorcoalgas,mustfootthebills.Inmilitarymaneuvers,wherethefieldofoperationisfixed,itispossibletofurnishsuppliesofhydrogengasinportablecylinders,butonlongtripswheresuddenleakageorothercausemakesdescentinanunexpectedspotunavoidable,itbecomesaquestionofmakingyourownhydrogengasordesertingtheballoon.

  Andwhenthisoccurstheballoonistisupagainstanotherseriousproposition——canhefindthenecessaryzincoriron?Canhegettheacid?

  BalloonsforCommercialUse.

  Despiteallthistheballoonhasitsuses.Ifthereistobesuchathingasaerialnavigationinacommercialway——thecarryingoffreightandpassengers——itwillcomethroughtheemploymentofsuchmonsterballoonsasCountZeppelinisbuilding.Buteventhenthecarryingcapacitymustofnecessitybelimited.ThelatestZeppelincreation,amonsterinsize,is450feetlong,and421/2feetindiameter.Thedimensionsaresuchastomakeallotherballoonslooklikepigmies;evenmanyocean—goingsteamersaremuchsmaller,andyetitspassengercapacityisverysmall.Onits36—hourflightinMay,1909,theZeppelin,carriedonlyeightpassengers.

  Thespeed,however,wasquiterespectable,850milesbeingcoveredinthe36hours,atrifleover23milesanhour.Thereservebuoyancy,thatisthetotalliftingcapacityasidefromtheweightoftheairshipanditsequipment,isestimatedatthreetons.

  CHAPTERXXII.

  PROBLEMSOFAERIALFLIGHT.

  InalecturebeforetheRoyalSocietyofArts,reportedinEngineering,F.W.Lanchestertookthepositionthatpracticalflightwasnottheabstractquestionwhichsomeapparentlyconsideredittobe,butaprobleminlocomotiveengineering.Theflyingmachinewasalocomotiveappliance,designednotmerelytoliftaweight,buttotransportitelsewhere,afactwhichshouldbesufficientlyobvious.Neverthelessoneoftheleadingscientificmenofthedayadvocatedatypeinwhichthis,themainfunctionoftheflyingmachine,wasoverlooked.

  Whenthemachinewasconsideredasamethodoftransport,theverticalscrewtype,orhelicopter,becameatonceridiculous.Ithad,nevertheless,manyadvocateswhohadsomevagueandill—definednotionofsubsequentmotionthroughtheairaftertheweightwasraised.

  HelicopterTypeUseless.

  Whenefficiencyoftransportwasdemanded,thehelicoptertypewasentirelyoutofcourt.Almostallofitsadvocatesneglectedtheeffectofthemotionofthemachinethroughtheairontheefficiencyoftheverticalscrews.Theyeitherassumedthatthemotionwassoslowasnottomatter,orthatapatchofstillairaccompaniedthemachineinitsflight.Onlyoneformofthistypehadanypossibilityofsuccess.Inthisthereweretwoscrewsrunningoninclinedaxles——oneoneachsideoftheweighttobelifted.Theactionofsuchinclinedscrewwascurious,andinapreviouslecturehehadpointedoutthatitwasalmostexactlythesameasthatofabird’swing.Inhigh—speedracingcraftsuchinclinedscrewswereofnecessityoftenused,butitwasatasacrificeoftheirefficiency.Inanycasetheefficiencyoftheinclined—screwhelicoptercouldnotcomparewiththatofanaeroplane,andthattypemightbedismissedfromconsiderationsosoonasefficiencybecametherulingfactorofthedesign.

  MustCompeteWithLocomotive.

  Tojustifyitselftheaeroplanemustcompete,insomeregardorother,withotherlocomotiveappliances,performingoneormoreofthepurposesoflocomotionmoreefficientlythanexistingsystems.Itwouldbenouseunlessabletostemaircurrents,sothatitsvelocitymusthegreaterthanthatoftheworstwindsliabletobeencountered.

  Toillustratethelimitationsimposedonthemotionofanaeroplanebywindvelocity,Mr.LanchestergavethediagramsshowninFigs.1to4.Thecircleineachcasewas,hesaid,describedwitharadiusequaltothespeedoftheaeroplaneinstillair,fromacenterplaced\"down—wind\"fromtheaeroplanebyanamountequaltothevelocityofthewind.

  Fig.1thereforerepresentedthecaseinwhichtheairwasstill,andinthiscasetheaeroplanerepresentedby_A_hadperfectlibertyofmovementinanydirectionInFig.2thevelocityofthewindwashalfthatoftheaeroplane,andthelattercouldstillnavigateinanydirection,butitsspeedagainstthewindwasonlyone—

  thirdofitsspeedwiththewind.

  InFig.3thevelocityofthewindwasequaltothatoftheaeroplane,andthenmotionagainstthewindwasimpossible;butitcouldmovetoanypointofthecircle,butnottoanypointlyingtotheleftofthetangent_A__B_.Finally,whenthewindhadagreaterspeedthantheaeroplane,asinFig.4,themachinecouldmoveonlyindirectionslimitedbythetangents_A__C_

  and_A__D_.

  MatterofFuelConsumption.

  Takingthecaseinwhichthewindhadaspeedequaltohalfthatoftheaeroplane,Mr.Lanchestersaidthatforagivenjourneyoutandhome,downwindandback,theaeroplanewouldrequire30percentmorefuelthanifthetripweremadeinstillair;whileifthejourneywasmadeatrightanglestothedirectionofthewindthefuelneededwouldbe15percentmorethaninacalm.This30percentextrawasquiteaheavyenoughadditiontothefuel;andtosecureeventhisfigureitwasnecessarythattheaeroplaneshouldhaveaspeedoftwicethatofthemaximumwindinwhichitwasdesiredtooperatethemachine.Again,asstatedinthelastlecture,toinsuretheautomaticstabilityofthemachineitwasnecessarythattheaeroplanespeedshouldbelargelyinexcessofthatofthegustsofwindliabletobeencountered.

  EccentricitiesoftheWind.

  Therewas,Mr.Lanchestersaid,alooseconnectionbetweentheaveragevelocityofthewindandthemaximumspeedofthegusts.Whentheaveragespeedofthewindwas40milesperhour,thatofthegustsmightbeequalormore.Atonemomenttheremightbeacalmorthedirectionofthewindevenreversed,followed,thenextmoment,byaviolentgust.Aboutthesameminimumspeedwasdesirableforsecurityagainstgustsaswasdemandedbyotherconsiderations.Sixtymilesanhourwastheleastfiguredesirableinanaeroplane,andthisshouldbeexceededasmuchaspossible.Actually,theWrightmachinehadaspeedof38milesperhour,whileFarman’sVoisinmachineflewat45milesperhour.

  Bothmachineswereextremelysensitivetohighwinds,andthespeaker,inspiteofnewspaperreportstothecontrary,hadneverseeneitherflowninmorethanagentlebreeze.Thedampingoutoftheoscillationsoftheflightpath,discussedinthelastlecture,increasedwiththefourthpowerofthenaturalvelocityofflight,andrapiddampingformedtheeasiest,andsometimestheonly,defenseagainstdangerousoscillations.A

  machinejuststableat35milesperhourwouldhavereasonablyrapiddampingifitsspeedwereincreasedto60milesperhour.

  ThinksUseIsLimited.

  Itwas,thelecturerproceeded,inconceivablethatanyveryextendeduseshouldbemadeoftheaeroplaneunlessthespeedwasmuchgreaterthanthatofthemotorcar.

  Itmightinspecialcasesbeofservice,apartfromthisincreaseofspeed,asintheexplorationofcountriesdestituteofroads,butitwouldhavenogeneralutility.

  Withanautomobileaveraging25to35milesperhour,almostanypartofEurope,Russiaexcepted,wasattainableinaday’sjourney.Aflyingmachineofbutequalspeedwouldhavenoadvantages,butifthespeedcouldberaisedto90or100milesperhour,thewholecontinentofEuropewouldbecomeaplayground,everypartbeingwithinadaylightflightofBerlin.Further,somemarinecraftnowhadspeedsof40milesperhour,andefficientlytofollowupandreportmovementsofsuchvesselsanaeroplaneshouldtravelat60milesperhouratleast.Hencefromallpointsofviewappearedtheimperativedesirabilityofveryhighvelocitiesofflight.Thedifficultiesofachievementwere,however,great.

  WeightofLightestMotors.

  Asshowninthefirstlectureofhiscourse,theresistancetomotionwasnearlyindependentofthevelocity,sothatthetotalworkdoneintransportingagivenweightwasnearlyconstant.Hencethequestionoffueleconomywasnotabartohighvelocitiesofflight,thoughshouldthesebecomeexcessive,thebodyresistancemightconstitutealargeproportionofthetotal.Thehorsepowerrequiredvariedasthevelocity,sothefactorgoverningthemaximumvelocityofflightwasthehorsepowerthatcouldbedevelopedonagivenweight.Atpresenttheweightperhorsepoweroffeather—weightmotorsappearedtorangefrom21/4poundsupto7

  poundsperbrakehorsepower,someactualfiguresbeingasfollows:

  Antoinette5lbs.

  Fiat3lbs.

  GnomeUnder3lbs.

  Metallurgic8lbs.

  Renault7lbs.

  Wright6lbs.

  Automobileengines,ontheotherhand,commonlyweighed12poundsto13poundsperbrakehorsepower.

  Forshortflightsfueleconomywasoflessimportancethanasavingintheweightoftheengine.Forlongflights,however,thecasewasdifferent.Thus,ifthegasoleneconsumptionwas1/2poundperhorsepowerhour,andtheengineweighed3poundsperbrakehorsepower,thefuelneededforasix—hourflightwouldweighasmuchastheengine,butforhalfanhour’sflightitsweightwouldbeunimportant.

  BestMeansofPropulsion.

  Thebestmethodofpropulsionwasbythescrew,whichactinginairwassubjecttomuchthesameconditionsasobtainedinmarinework.Itsefficiencydependedonitsdiameterandpitchandonitsposition,whetherinfrontoforbehindthebodypropelled.Fromthistheoryofdynamicsupport,Mr.Lanchesterproceeded,theefficiencyofeachelementofascrewpropellercouldberepresentedbycurvessuchasweregiveninhisfirstlecturebeforethesociety,andfromthesecurvestheover—allefficiencyofanyproposedpropellercouldbecomputed,bymereinspection,withafairdegreeofaccuracy.Thesecurvesshowedthatthetipsoflong—bladedpropellerswereinefficient,aswasalsotheportionofthebladeneartheroot.Inactualmarinepracticethebladefrombosstotipwascommonlyofsuchalengththattheover—allefficiencywas95percentofthatofthemostefficientelementofit.

  AdvocatesPropellersinRear.

  Fromthesecurvesthediameterandappropriatepitchofascrewcouldbecalculated,andthenumberofrevolutionswasthenfixed.Thus,foraspeedof80feetpersecondthepitchmightcomeoutas8feet,inwhichcasetherevolutionswouldbe600perminute,whichmight,however,betoolowforthemotor.Itwasthennecessaryeithertogeardownthepropeller,aswasdoneintheWrightmachine,or,ifitwasdecidedtodriveitdirect,tosacrificesomeoftheefficiencyofthepropeller.

  Ananalogouscasearoseintheapplicationofthesteamturbinetothepropulsionofcargoboats,aproblemasyetunsolved.Thepropellershouldalwaysbeaft,sothatitcouldabstractenergyfromthewakecurrent,andalsosothatitswashwasclearofthebodypropelled.

  Thebestpossibleefficiencywasabout70percent,anditwassafetorelyupon66percent.

  BenefitsofSoaringFlight.

  Therewas,Mr.Lanchesterproceeded,somepossibilityoftheaeronautreducingthepowerneededfortransportbyhisadoptingtheprincipleofsoaringflight,asexemplifiedbysomebirds.Therewere,hecontinued,twodifferentmodesofsoaringflight.Intheonethebirdmadeuseoftheupwardcurrentofairoftentobefoundintheneighborhoodofsteepverticalcliffs.Thesecliffsdeflectedtheairupwardlongbeforeitactuallyreachedthecliff,awholeregionbelowbeingthustheseatofanupwardcurrent.Darwinhasnotedthatthecondorwasonlytobefoundintheneighborhoodofsuchcliffs.

  Alongthesouthcoastalsothegullsmadefrequentuseoftheupcurrentsduetothenearlyperpendicularchalkcliffsalongtheshore.

  Inthetropicsupcurrentswerealsocausedbytemperaturedifferences.Cumulusclouds,moreover,werenearlyalwaystheterminationsofsuchupcurrentsofheatedair,which,oncoolingbyexpansionintheupperregions,depositedtheirmoistureasfog.Thesecloudsmight,perhaps,proveusefulinthefutureinshowingtheaeronautwhereupcurrentsweretohefound.An—

  othermodeofsoaringflightwasthatadoptedbythealbatross,whichtookadvantageofthefactthattheairmovedinpulsations,intowhichthebirdfitteditself,beingthusabletoextractenergyfromthewind.

  Whetheritwouldbepossiblefortheaeronauttoemployasimilarmethodmustbelefttothefuturetodecide.

  MainDifficultiesinAviation.

  Inpracticalflightdifficultiesaroseinstartingandinalighting.Therewasalowerlimittothespeedatwhichthemachinewasstable,anditwasinadvisabletoleavethegroundtillthislimitwasattained.Similarly,inalightingitwasinexpedienttoreducethespeedbelowthelimitofstability.Thisfactconstitutedadifficultyintheadoptionofhighspeeds,sincethelengthofrunneededincreasedinproportiontothesquareofthevelocity.Thisdrawbackcould,however,besurmountedbyformingstartingandalightinggroundsofamplesize.

  Hethoughtitquitelikelyinthefuturethatsuchgroundswouldbeconsideredasessentialtotheflyingmachineasaseaportwastoanocean—goingsteamerorasaroadwastotheautomobile.

  RequisitesofFlyingMachine.

  Flyingmachineswerecommonlydividedintomonoplanesandbiplanes,accordingastheyhadoneortwosupportingsurfaces.Thedistinctionwasnot,however,fundamental.Togettherequisitestrengthsomeformofgirderframeworkwasnecessary,anditwasamerequestionofconveniencewhetherthesupportingsurfacewasarrangedalongboththetopandthebottomofthisgirder,oralongthebottomonly.Theframeworkadopteduniversallywasofwoodbracedbytiesofpianofortewire,anarrangementgivingthestiffnessdesiredwiththeleastpossibleweight.Somekindofchassiswasalsonecessary.

  CHAPTERXXIII.

  AMATEURSMAYUSEWRIGHTPATENTS.

  OwingtothefactthattheWrightbrothershaveenjoinedanumberofprofessionalaviatorsfromusingtheirsystemofcontrol,amateurshavebeenslowtoadoptit.Theyrecognizeitsmerits,andwouldliketousethesystem,buthavebeenapprehensivethatitmightinvolvetheminlitigation.Thereisnodangerofthis,aswillbeseenbythefollowingstatementmadebytheWrights:

  WhatWrightBrothersSay.

  \"Anyamateur,anyprofessionalwhoisnotexhibitingformoney,isatlibertytouseourpatenteddevices.

  Weshallbegladtohavethemdoso,andtherewillbenointerferenceonourpart,bylegalaction,orotherwise.

  Theonlymenweproceedagainstarethosewho,withoutourpermission,withoutevenaskingourconsent,coollyappropriatetheresultsofourlaborsandusethemforthepurposeofmakingmoney.Curtiss,Delagrange,Voisin,andalltherestofthemwhohaveusedourdeviceshavedonesoinmoney—makingexhibitions.Solongasthereisanymoneytobemadebytheuseoftheproductsofourbrains,weproposetohaveitourselves.

  Itistheonlywayinwhichwecangetanyreturnfortheyearsofpatientworkwehavegiventotheproblemofaviation.Ontheotherhand,anymanwhowantstousethesedevicesforthepurposeofpleasure,ortheadvancementofscience,iswelcometodoso,withoutmoneyandwithoutprice.Thisisfairenough,isitnot?\"

  BasisoftheWrightPatents.

  Inaflyingmachineanormallyflataeroplanehavinglateralmarginalportionscapableofmovementtodifferentpositionsaboveorbelowthenormalplaneofthebodyoftheaeroplane,suchmovementbeingaboutanaxistransversetothelineofflight,wherebysaidlateralmarginalportionsmaybemovedtodifferentanglesrelativelytothenormalplaneofthebodyoftheaeroplane,soastopresenttotheatmospheredifferentanglesofincidence,andmeansforsomovingsaidlateralmarginalportions,substantiallyasdescribed.

  Applicationofverticalstrutsneartheendshavingflexiblejoints.

  Meansforsimultaneouslyimpartingsuchmovementtosaidlateralportionstodifferentanglesrelativelytoeachother.

  Referstothemovementofthelateralportionsonthesamesidetothesameangle.

  Meansforsimultaneouslymovingverticalruddersoastopresenttothewindthatsidethereofnearestthesideoftheaeroplanehavingthesmallestangleofincidence.

  Lateralstabilityisobtainedbywarpingtheendwingsbymovingtheleverattherighthandoftheoperator,connectionbeingmadebywiresfromthelevertothewingtips.Theruddermayalsobecurvedorwarpedinsimilarmannerbyleveraction.

  WrightsObtainanInjunction.

  InJanuary,1910,JudgeHazel,oftheUnitedStatesCircuitCourt,grantedapreliminaryinjunctionrestrainingtheHerring—CurtissCo.,andGlennH.Curtiss,frommanufacturing,selling,orusingforexhibitionpurposesthemachineknownastheCurtissaeroplane.TheinjunctionwasobtainedonthegroundthattheCurtissmachineisaninfringementupontheWrightpatentsinthematterofwingwarpingandruddercontrol.

  Itisnotthepurposeoftheauthorstodiscussthesubjectproorcon.Suchdiscussionwouldhavenoproperplaceinavolumeofthiskind.ItisenoughtosaythatCurtissstoutlyinsiststhathismachineisnotaninfringementoftheWrightpatents,althoughJudgeHazelevidentlythinksdifferently.

  WhattheJudgeSaid.

  Ingrantingthepreliminaryinjunctionthejudgesaid:

  \"Defendantsclaimgenerallythatthedifferenceinconstructionoftheirapparatuscausestheequilibriumorlateralbalancetobemaintainedanditsaerialmovementsecureduponanentirelydifferentprinciplefromthatofcomplainant;thedefendants’aeroplanesarecurved,firmlyattachedtothestanchionsandhenceareincapableoftwistingorturninginanydirection;thatthesupplementaryplanesorso—calledruddersaresecuredtotheforwardstanchionattheextremelateralendsoftheplanesandareadjustedmidwaybetweentheupperandlowerplaneswiththemarginsextendingbeyondtheedges;thatinmovingthesupplementaryplanesequalanduniformanglesofincidencearepresentedasdistinguishedfromfluctuatinganglesofincidence.Suchclaimedfunctionaleffects,however,arestronglycontradictedbytheexpertwitnessforcomplainant.

  SimilartoPlanofWrights.

  \"UponthiscontentionitissufficienttosaythattheaffidavitsforthecomplainantsoclearlydefinetheprincipleofoperationoftheflyingmachinesinquestionthatIamreasonablysatisfiedthatthereisavariablenessoftheangleofincidenceinthemachineofdefendantswhichisproducedwhenasupplementaryplaneononesideistiltedorraisedandtheotherstimultaneouslytiltedorlowered.Iamalsosatisfiedthattherearrudderisturnedbytheoperatortothesidehavingtheleastangleofincidenceandthatsuchturningisdoneatthetimethesupplementaryplanesareraisedordepressedtopreventtiltingorupsettingthemachine.

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