第5章

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(17squared+6squared)=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,butdisappearsentirelyat+4degrees.

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.