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padding-top: 1px } + + .coverpage, .titlepage, + .contents, .foreword, .preface, .introduction, .dedication, .prologue, + .epilogue, .appendix, .glossary, .bibliography, .index, .colophon, + .footnotes, + .cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 1px } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} +</style> +<style type="text/css"> +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 38758 ***</div> +<div class="document" id="story-of-the-aeroplane"> +<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">Story of the Aeroplane</h1> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<div class="container" id="pg-produced-by"> +<p class="noindent pfirst">Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at <a class="reference external" href="http://www.bookcove.net">http://www.bookcove.net</a>.</p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="container titlepage"> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="bold x-large">Story of the Aeroplane</span></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">By</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><span class="large">C. B. Galbreath, M. A.</span></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">PUBLISHED JOINTLY BY</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">F. A. OWEN PUB. CO., Dansville, N. Y.</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">and</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">HALL & McCREARY, Chicago, Ill.</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><span class="small-caps x-small">INSTRUCTOR LITERATURE SERIES--No. 253</span></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="container verso"> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">COPYRIGHT, 1915</div> +<div class="line">F. A. OWEN PUBLISHING CO.</div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Story of the Aeroplane</em></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="contents level-2 section" id="id1"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">Table of Contents</h2> +<ul class="compact simple toc-list"> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-ocean-of-air" id="id2">The Ocean of Air</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#early-attempts-at-aviation" id="id3">Early Attempts at Aviation</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#early-flying-machines" id="id4">Early Flying Machines</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#nineteenth-century-experiments" id="id5">Nineteenth Century Experiments</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#claims-of-maxim-and-ader" id="id6">Claims of Maxim and Ader</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#langleys-tandem-monoplane" id="id7">Langley’s Tandem Monoplane</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#experiments-with-gliders" id="id8">Experiments with Gliders</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#aviation-at-the-beginning-of-the-present-century" id="id9">Aviation at the Beginning of the Present Century</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-kite" id="id10">The Kite</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-plane-defined" id="id11">The “Plane” Defined</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#essentials-of-the-aeroplane" id="id12">Essentials of the Aeroplane</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-wright-brothers-and-their-problem" id="id13">The Wright Brothers and Their Problem</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#balancing-the-machine" id="id14">Balancing the Machine</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#at-kitty-hawk" id="id15">At Kitty Hawk</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-first-flight" id="id16">The First Flight</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#machine-balanced-by-warping-of-planes" id="id17">Machine Balanced by Warping of Planes</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#newspaper-reports-verified" id="id18">Newspaper Reports Verified</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#trial-flights-at-fort-meyer" id="id19">Trial Flights at Fort Meyer</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fatal-accident" id="id20">Fatal Accident</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#wilbur-wright-wins-fame-in-france" id="id21">Wilbur Wright Wins Fame in France</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#wright-brothers-honored" id="id22">Wright Brothers Honored</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#united-states-government-requirements-successfully-met" id="id23">United States Government Requirements Successfully Met</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#recent-improvements" id="id24">Recent Improvements</a></span></li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#future-of-the-aeroplane" id="id25">Future of the Aeroplane</a></span></li> +</ul> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><span class="bold xx-large">Story of the Aeroplane</span></div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="the-ocean-of-air"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id2">The Ocean of Air</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Around the dry land of the earth are the oceans of +water. We may never have seen them, but we have +knowledge of them and their navigation, and their +names suggest very definite and concrete objects of +thought. We sometimes do not realize, however, that +we live and move and have our being at the bottom of +a vaster and deeper ocean that covers to a depth of +many miles the whole earth, and to the surface of which +man nor beast nor bird has ever ascended; an ocean +with currents and whirlpools and waves of more than +mountain height; an ocean in which we are as much at +home as are the finny tribes and the monsters of the +deep in their watery caverns. This is the ocean of the +air. We are about to consider man’s efforts to rise from +the bottom of this ocean and wing his flight a little way +through the atmosphere above him. His excursions +upward are limited, for he could not live near the surface +heights of this ocean, vast and deep and boundless. +The art and science of his flight through the air, because +of its relation to the flight of birds, we call aviation. +(<em class="italics">Avis</em>: Latin, a bird.)</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="early-attempts-at-aviation"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id3">Early Attempts at Aviation</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">“The birds can fly and why can’t I?”</p> +<p class="pnext">This query of Darius Green’s, in various forms, has +suggested itself to man since the dawn of history. Born +with an inspiration to look upward and aspire, the navigation +of the air has appealed with peculiar force to his +imagination and through the centuries has at different +times led bold and adventurous spirits to attempt what +the world long regarded as impossible. The heavens +seemed reserved for winged insects, birds and angels. +Audacious man might not venture out upon the impalpable +air. Can man fly? After more than four thousand +years it was left for man to answer yes, to rise from +the earth on wing and thrill the world “with the audacity +of his design and the miracle of its execution.” +Bold enterprise! Fitting achievement to usher in a new +century! A seeming miracle at first, but destined soon +to excite no more curiosity than the flight of bees and +birds. The solution of the problem of human flight was +no miracle nor was it the swift work of genius accomplished +at a magic master stroke. It was the result of +intelligence and industry patiently applied for years till +the barriers of difficulty gave way and man ventured +out with assurance on the highways of the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Just when he first attempted to fly is not known. +Ancient Greek mythology abounds in stories of flying +gods and mortals. Kites which bear some relation to +the aeroplane were toys among the Chinese thousands +of years ago. A Greek by the name of Achytes is reported +to have made a wooden dove which flew under +the propelling power of heated air. Baldad, a tribal +king in what is now England, so tradition has it, attempted +to fly over a city but fell and broke a leg. A +similar accident is said to have happened to a Benedictine +monk in the eleventh century and to others attempting +like exploits in after years. A fall and a broken +leg seem to have been the usual results of these early +attempts at aerial flight.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the fifteenth century students and inventors gave +serious attention to the navigation of the air and trustworthy +accounts of their labors come down to us. Jean +Baptiste Dante, a brother of the great Italian poet, +made a number of gliding flights from high elevations +and while giving an exhibition at a marriage feast in +Perugia, like his predecessors in the middle ages, +alighted on a roof and broke a leg. Leonardo da Vinci, +the great painter and sculptor, was an amateur aviator +of no mean attainment for his day. He invented a +machine which the operator was to fly by using his arms +and legs to set wings into flapping motion, like those of +birds. This was called an orthopter, or ornithopter, a +name which may be properly applied to any similar device. +Another machine invented by him was in the +form of a horizontal screw ninety-six feet in diameter. +By the twisting of this the machine was designed to fly +upward. This was called a helicopter. Da Vinci’s third +invention in this line was the parachute, with which +successful descents were made from towers and other elevations. +In the early half of the eighteenth century the +Swedish philosopher, Emanuel Swedenborg, sketched +in one of his works a flying machine of the orthopter +style which he knew would not fly but which he suggested +as a start, saying “It seems easier to talk of such +a machine than to put it into actuality, for it requires +greater force and less weight than exists in the human +body.”</p> +<p class="pnext">In 1742 the Marquis di Bacqueville at the age of sixty-two +attempted to make a gliding flight from the tower +of his home in Paris across the river Seine to the gardens +of the Tuileries, started successfully in the presence +of a great multitude, but suddenly halted over the +river and fell into a boat, paying the historic penalty of +a broken leg.</p> +<p class="pnext">At this point it may be well to classify the flying devices +thus far considered.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="early-flying-machines"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id4">Early Flying Machines</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">1. The <em class="italics">orthopters</em>, or as they are less commonly called, +the ornithopters. The word “orthopter” means straight +wing and the word “ornithopter” bird wing. This +class of machines includes those designed to fly by the +flapping of wings, somewhat in imitation of birds.</p> +<p class="pnext">2. The <em class="italics">helicopters</em>. The word “helicopter” means +spiral wing. Flying machines of this class are designed +to fly by the rapid horizontal rotation of two spiral propellers +moving in opposite directions but so shaped that +their combined effect is to move the machine upward. +They are like a pair of tractor propellers of the modern +aeroplane but arranged horizontally to lift the machine +instead of drawing it forward in a vertical position.</p> +<p class="pnext">3. The <em class="italics">gliders</em>. As the name suggests, these were designed +to coast or glide down the air, to start from a +high elevation and by sailing through the air in an +oblique direction reach a lower elevation at some distance +from the starting point. Down to the latter part +of the nineteenth century only the gliders were successfully +used in man flight. In reality they can scarcely +be called flying machines for they could not lift their +own weight, though late experiments prove that when +once in air they may rise above their starting point +under the influence of a strong wind. The glider, however, +performed a most important part in the evolution +of the aeroplane. In coasting the air from hills, sand +dunes and towers against steady wind currents a number +of inventors through a series of years learned how +to guide and control these gliders in their downward +flight--an essential preparation for the application of +motive power to lift the glider against the force of +gravity and thus make it a veritable flying machine or +aeroplane.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="nineteenth-century-experiments"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id5">Nineteenth Century Experiments</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In the early part of the last century an Englishman, +Sir George Cayley, made many experiments with gliders +and tabulated with great care the results of his investigations. +He concluded, like Swedenborg, that man has +not the power to fly by his own strength through any +wing-flapping device, or orthopter, but he intimated +that with a lighter and more powerful engine than had +then been invented a plane like those used in his gliders, +if slightly inclined upward, might be made gradually +to ascend through the air. The results of his experiments +he published in 1810. They clearly foreshadowed +the triumph that came almost a century later.</p> +<p class="pnext">In 1844 two British inventors, Henson and String-fellow, +working out the suggestions of Cayley, made an +aeroplane model equipped with a steam engine which is +said to have made a flight of forty yards--the first real +upward flight of a heavier than air machine on record. +This model was a monoplane, that is, the lifting surface +was a single plane like the outstretched wings of a bird. +Twenty-two years later experiments were made with a +biplane, that is, an aeroplane with two lifting planes +or surfaces, one above the other.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="claims-of-maxim-and-ader"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id6">Claims of Maxim and Ader</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">While others had made flying models, Sir Hiram +Maxim in England constructed a multiplane, driven by +a powerful steam engine over a track and rising at one +time, as he declares, a few inches from the ground. He +claims that his was the first machine to “lift man off +the ground by its own power.” This test was made in +1889.</p> +<p class="pnext">Clement Ader, a Frenchman, also claims this honor, +saying that he was the first to make a machine that +would rise and lift a passenger. On October 9, 1890, +his friends say he made a short forward flight of 150 +feet in a monoplane propelled by a forty horse power +steam engine. In 1897 he claims to have made a number +of secret flights, but a little later, in a test before +officers of the French army who had become interested +in the invention, the machine turned over and was +wrecked. The support of the army for further experiments +was withdrawn and Ader in despair abandoned +the problem of aerial navigation which had claimed long +years of study and unremitting effort. He stopped just +short of the goal “with success almost within his grasp.”</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="langleys-tandem-monoplane"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id7">Langley’s Tandem Monoplane</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">About this time two Americans, Samuel Pierpont +Langley, of the Smithsonian Institution and Octave +Chanute were conducting along scientific lines a series +of experiments in aviation. On May 6, 1896, a steam-propelled +model was started in a flight over the Potomac +River. Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the +telephone, who was present, declared that after a flight +of eighty to one hundred feet the machine “settled +down so softly that it touched the water without the +least shock and was in fact immediately ready for a second +trial.” Other experiments were tried with success.</p> +<p class="pnext">Langley’s first machine was a tandem monoplane, that +is it had two pairs of wings, one immediately following +the other. The engine and the propellers were between +the two pairs of wings. In later models he used the biplane +construction.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally the United States government appropriated +$50,000 to build a machine that would carry a passenger. +In constructing this, Langley equipped it with a gasoline +engine of about three horse power. The machine +was comparatively light, weighing all told only fifty-eight +pounds. On August 8, 1903, a public test was +made “without a pilot,” on the Potomac River near +Washington. Spectators and reporters congratulated +the inventor on the success of the experiment, while he +with modest satisfaction said, “This is the first time in +history, so far as I know, that a successful flight of a +mechanically sustained flying machine has been made +in public.” This statement was no doubt true of machines +of any considerable size, but as we shall presently +see, toy flying machines of the <em class="italics">helicopter</em> type had long +ere this been exhibited to the wondering gaze of boys +who were ultimately to bring to a practical conclusion +man’s long line of effort to rise triumphant and shape +his course through the ocean of air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Langley’s machine had flown without a pilot. A little +later the inventor announced himself ready for the final +test. Like his first model, his machine was a tandem +monoplane. Its weight with pilot was 830 pounds and +its plane or wing surface was 1040 square feet. It was +fifty-two feet long and its arched wings measured forty-eight +feet from tip to tip. The gasoline motor with +which it was equipped developed fifty-two horse power +and with all accessories weighed about 250 pounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">At Widewater, Virginia, September 7, 1903, the machine +was tested. On a barge it was carried out into +the Potomac River, with Charles M. Manley, Professor +Langley’s assistant, who was to pilot it in its first flight. +The moment for the supreme test arrived. A mechanical +device on the barge shot the machine and pilot into +the air. To the disappointment and dismay of the spectators, +the machine plunged front downward into the +water. It was rescued with the young pilot unharmed. +Another attempt was made to launch it in the air with +a similar result, except that this time it dropped into the +water rear end downward. The government gave the +project no further encouragement, and the query ascribed +to Darius Green remained unanswered. Professor +Langley died a few years afterward, his life shortened, +it is believed, through the blighting of the hope that he +had long entertained to be the first successfully to navigate +the air.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="experiments-with-gliders"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id8">Experiments with Gliders</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Through the latter part of the last century experiments +were carried on with gliders. Among those who +achieved much success in this field was the German, +Otto Lilienthal, the “flying man,” who made remarkable +glides in the early nineties. He would run along the +crest of a hill, jump from a precipitous declivity and +sail on the wings of his glider over the valley below, +guiding his course up and down and from side to side +with a rudder attached to the machine. It was his idea +that the problem of aviation was to be solved by perfecting +the glider so that it could be controlled in its +downward flight and then adding a propelling power +that would sustain it and lift it through the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">After the death of Lilienthal by accident in 1896, +others continued experiments along similar lines with +the same purpose in view. Among these were Octave +Chanute and A. M. Herring. They tried at first a monoplane +glider and afterward one of five planes. This +number they reduced to two. The rudder was made of +movable horizontal and vertical blades. It was found +that the glider with two planes, the biplane, was most +satisfactory.</p> +<p class="pnext">Herring made for this a compressed air engine and +claimed that with this he accomplished a flight of seventy-three +feet. There is some doubt, however, as to +this claim and some question as to whether it was an +upward flight or a downward glide.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="aviation-at-the-beginning-of-the-present-century"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id9">Aviation at the Beginning of the Present Century</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">As briefly outlined here, such was the status of aviation +at the beginning of the new century. Much progress +had been made and substantial vantage ground +had been gained, but the problem still awaited practical +solution. At this point it may be well to consider some +of the features of the problem and the devices thus far +evolved by long years of investigation and experiment.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="the-kite"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id10">The Kite</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">One of the simplest forms of the aeroplane is the common +kite. This takes various forms. It is usually made +of a framework of three light strips of wood crossing a +little above the center and secured at the outer ends by +similar strips, or strong cord tautly drawn and making +when covered with paper a six-sided figure. From the +corners of the framework cords are drawn to a common +point near the center and there firmly united. At this +point of union is attached the twine which is held in the +hand of the kite flyer. From the base of the kite is suspended +a string with light horizontal paper rolls, each +about the size of a lead pencil, tied at intervals of a few +inches, and forming the tail which steadies the kite in +air. The paper surface of the kite is the plane on which +the pressure of the air current and the power applied to +the string is to lift the kite upward. As this simple +form of the kite has but one plane, it may be considered +a monoplane. The box kite presents two such surfaces +joined together at the sides by the ends of the “box,” +and may therefore be called a biplane.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the boy flies his kite he first determines the +direction of the wind and runs in that direction. In +other words he flies his kite against the wind. The pressure +of the moving current against the under surface +keeps the kite aloft. When the boy runs against the +wind, moving the kite forward with him, this pressure +is increased and the kite tends to rise higher and higher. +If instead of the long string and the boy there could be +placed with the kite itself a very light motor that would +give to it the same forward impulse, the kite would float +through the air without boy or string and we would +have a small aeroplane flying machine--a monoplane. +If there were two kites, with parallel surfaces a few +inches apart, united with light framework so that the +air would pass between them, we should have a biplane. +For many years the great problem in aviation was to get +an engine of sufficient lightness and power to propel +monoplanes, biplanes and multiplanes at an upward +angle through the air.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="the-plane-defined"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id11">The “Plane” Defined</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It may not be out of place here to consider what Constitutes +a plane, as that term is used in aviation. It is +that part of the aeroplane, the pressure of the air upon +the surface of which, lifts and sustains the aeroplane +aloft. The plane may take a variety of forms; it may +be curved or its parts may meet in an angle; it may be +uniform and unbroken in shape or divided into parts. +The two wings of a bird would constitute a monoplane, +when they are in a horizontal position for soaring, or +when the tips are uplifted and they form an angle like +a broad V, called a dihedral angle. If the aeroplane has +two such planes, one back of the other, it is still called +a monoplane, or, more definitely, a tandem monoplane; +but if one of the planes is above the other it is called a +biplane. A similar arrangement of three planes, one +above the other, could be called a triplane and one of +several planes a multiplane.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="essentials-of-the-aeroplane"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id12">Essentials of the Aeroplane</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The planes</em>, as already described are, of course, a necessary +part of the aeroplane.</p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">The propeller</em> supplies motive power to the aeroplane. +This moves in a circle much like the blades of the electric +fan or the propeller of a motor boat or modern stern ship. +By driving the air backward it propels the aeroplane forward. +While the blades of the propeller are of considerable +length they are usually inconspicuous in photographs, +and as one who has never seen an aeroplane +looks at a photograph he naturally asks, “What moves it +through the air?” The propeller is driven by the engine.</p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">The engine</em> is usually of the gasoline type which develops +high power with light weight, frequently one +horse power for every three pounds of weight and in +rare instances as high as one horse power for every +pound of weight. These powerful little engines are +marvels of mechanism and they have had much to do +in the rapid modern progress of aeronautics.</p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">The rudder</em>, as its name indicates, guides the aeroplane +in its flight. It consists in the main of small horizontal +and vertical planes under the control of the pilot. +These may be in the front of the machine, but they are +usually placed in the rear. By skillful manipulation of +these the aeroplane can be guided upward, downward, +to right or left at will. It is also guided and controlled +as we shall see, by the “warping” or “curving” of the +wings or planes.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="the-wright-brothers-and-their-problem"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id13">The Wright Brothers and Their Problem</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The dawn of the twentieth century was to immortalize +new names in the annals of aviation. In the city of +Dayton, Ohio, two brothers in a modest way were conducting +a bicycle repair shop. From youth they had +been inseparable in their aims and work. They were +the sons of Bishop Milton Wright of the United Brethren +Church. They had each a high school education but had +not attended college. In 1878, when they were boys of +seven and eleven years respectively, their father brought +them one evening a little flying toy, a small helicopter, +the motive power of which was furnished by a rubber +band wound around the shafts of two propellers so as to +drive them, when “wound up” and released, in opposite +directions. The toy was made of light material to resemble +a bird. When the father released it in the presence +of the wondering boys, to their astonishment it +flew upward in the room, rose to the ceiling and after +fluttering there for a little while fell to the floor. They +did not concern themselves much about the name of the +toy, but properly called it what to their minds it most +closely resembled--“the bat.” They afterward made +other toys like it and discovered that as they were increased +in size they flew less successfully. They early +developed a fondness for kite flying and in this were +regarded as experts. When they grew to manhood, +however, they abandoned these boyish sports and devoted +themselves industriously to their machine and repair +shop. “The bat” and the kite became memories, +but the memories of youth have power to shape the +thoughts of manhood, and this early observation and experience +with aerial toys gave to Wilbur and Orville +Wright an interest in the attempts at aviation that were +chronicled in the press from time to time through the +decade immediately preceding this new century.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the year 1896 Orville, the younger of the two brothers, +was convalescing from a serious attack of typhoid +fever. Wilbur, who had been carefully attending him, +was one day reading aloud an account of the death of +Otto Lilienthal, the German aviator, who was killed +while experimenting with his glider. The details of +the tragic accident, together with an account of what +he had accomplished by years of investigation and experiment, +interested the brothers, who resolved as soon +as possible to apply themselves to the construction of a +glider in which flights could be made with comparative +safety. The enthusiasm of Orville over the project ran +so high that it almost caused a return of the fever. As +soon as he had fully recovered, the two brothers returned +to their bicycle shop and applied themselves with +increasing zeal to the study of aeronautics, and after a +time began the construction of a glider.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Wright brothers were peculiarly well equipped +for the work upon which they had entered. They were +men of unflagging industry, abstemious habits, few +words and the happy faculty of keeping their own counsel. +Wilbur was unusually reticent. It is said of him +that he spoke only when he had something to say and +then in a manner singularly brief and direct. “He had +an unlimited capacity for hard work, nerves of steel and +the kind of daring that makes the aviator face death +with pleasure every minute of the time he is in the +air.” Orville, while much like his brother, is more +talkative and approachable. Both were modest and unassuming +when they began their work and continued so +when the world applauded their achievements.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the study of the problem upon the solution of which +they ventured, they had of course the advantage of all +that had thus far been achieved by those who had preceded +them in this field of investigation and experiment. +Professor Langley had already perfected his first monoplane +to such an extent that short flights were successfully +made with a light steam-propelled model. He was +continuing his experiments and the Wright brothers +read with avidity the results of his work. Every scrap +of information that they could gather from others who +had essayed the solution of the problem was now collected +and made the subject of critical study. At first +taking up aeronautics merely as a sport, they soon afterward +with zest began its more serious pursuit. “We +reluctantly entered upon the scientific side of it.” they +said, “but we soon found the work so fascinating that +we were drawn into it deeper and deeper.”</p> +<p class="pnext">In their efforts to construct a practical flying machine +they adopted the plan of Lilienthal and Chanute. They +sought to construct a machine which they could control +and in which they could make glides with safety. This +they built in the form of a biplane glider and with it +they experimented industriously for years. The +successful construction of the machine required a high degree +of skill. The length and width of the planes, their +distance apart, the materials to be used, the shape, size +and position of the rudder and numerous other details +were to be worked out only by patient study and frequent +tests. They were now in the field of original experiment +and soon found that they had to reject as useless +many theories that had been carefully elaborated by +scholarly writers.</p> +<p class="pnext">The brothers soon learned that a long narrow plane in +a position nearly horizontal, moved in a direction at +right angles to one of its lateral edges and inclined or +“tipped” slightly upward would develop greater lifting +power than a square or circular plane. This discovery +was not indeed original with them, but their experiments +confirmed the conclusions of their predecessors.</p> +<p class="pnext">The surface shape of the plane is an important consideration. +It has been found that a slight upward arch +from beneath, making the under surface concave, gives +the best results. The concavity should reach its maximum +about one-third of the distance from the front or +entering edge to the rear edge of the plane and should +be the same whether one or more planes are used. In +flight the forward or entering edges of the planes are +tipped slightly upward to give the machine lifting power +for the same reason that the top of a kite is given an +angle of elevation so that the air will lift it as it is +drawn forward by the string.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="balancing-the-machine"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id14">Balancing the Machine</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The balancing of a machine in mid-air is one of the +most difficult problems in aviation. In the balloon this +is easily accomplished because the principal weight, the +basket with the passenger, is below the gas-filled sphere +or compartment, and the balloon tends to right itself +after any disturbance by the wind, much like a plummet +when swayed out of its position.</p> +<p class="pnext">Professor Langley, Lilienthal and others had sought +to take advantage of this tendency in the construction +of their machines by placing or arching the wings above +the pilot or heavier portion of the mechanism. After +a slight disturbance in mid-air the machine would then +tend to right or balance itself and assume its former position. +The practical difficulty of this arrangement, +however, arose from the fact that when once set to +swaying the gliders thus constructed continued to sway +like the pendulum of a clock. The Wright brothers +set themselves the task of finding some other method of +preventing the biplane from dipping downward or upward +at either side with the shifting of air currents. +The first device to give steadiness of motion was a small +movable horizontal plane, supported parallel with and +in front of the two main planes, and by means of a +lever, under control of the pilot.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="at-kitty-hawk"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id15">At Kitty Hawk</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Having after much study completed their glider, the +Wright brothers sought a suitable place for their first +tests. By correspondence with the United States +Weather Bureau they learned that at Kitty Hawk, North +Carolina, the winds are stronger and more constant than +at any other point in the United States. This treeless +waste of sand dunes along the solitary shore near the +village afforded the privacy where they might carry on +their work unmolested. Here in October, 1900, they +spent their vacation testing their biplane glider. They +sought to fly it in the face of the wind like a kite. This +they succeeded in doing but it would not support the +weight of a man. They then experimented with it, +using light ropes from below to work the levers and +guide it through the air. It was sufficiently responsive +to encourage them and they went back home to make at +their leisure a number of improvements.</p> +<p class="pnext">The year following they returned to the same place +with a larger machine considerably improved, but it +still failed to lift the operator. Octave Chanute, of +Chicago, with whom they had been in correspondence, +came to witness their tests and examine their glider. +They now decided to abandon much of the “scientific +data” which they had collected from the writings of +others and proceeded in the light of their own experience. +They coasted down the air from the tops of sand +dunes and tested with satisfaction their devices for +guiding their air craft. In 1902, with additional improvements, +they made almost one thousand gliding +flights, some of which carried them a little over six hundred +feet, more than twice the distance attained the +previous year. All this time their object had been to +control the machine while in air. Only after this was +accomplished did they propose to add motive power to +keep it above the earth. They wisely reasoned that it +would be useless to apply this power to a machine that +could not be directed and controlled.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="the-first-flight"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id16">The First Flight</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The Wrights had now reached a point where they felt +that they were ready to apply motive power, rise like a +bird from the earth and direct their course through the +air. A new machine was built with two planes, each +six feet six inches wide and measuring forty feet from +tip to tip. The planes were arranged one directly above +the other with an intervening space of six feet. An +elevating rudder of two horizontal planes ten feet in +front of the machine, and a rudder of two vertical planes +about six feet long and one foot apart in the rear of the +machine were under control by levers close to the hands +of the pilot, who, prostrate on the lower large plane, +directed the course up or down, to the right or left at +will. But the most remarkable features of all were the +gasoline engine that was to give motive power and the +propellers by which that power was to move the machine +in its flight through the air. The mechanism, +the result of patient study and arduous labor, had been +perfected in the little shop at Dayton and had been +brought to the barren sand coast of North Carolina for +its first practical test. The engine, which developed +sixteen horse power, was connected by chains with the +two propellers, each eight feet in diameter at the rear +of the biplane. The total weight was 750 pounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">To give the machine a “start” it was driven rapidly +along an iron rail by a cable attached to a weight of one +ton suspended at the top of a derrick. When everything +was at last in readiness, the engine was started, +the propellers were set in rapid motion, the weight at +the top of the derrick was released, the biplane was +driven rapidly forward, and lo! bearing a man, it +skimmed over the sand dunes! It continued only eleven +seconds but landed without injury to pilot or machine. +A small beginning indeed, but it proved the practicability +of man flight and ushered in the era of aviation. +A few days earlier in the same month on the +banks of the Potomac a crowd of witnesses saw with +keen disappointment the failure of Professor Langley’s +flying machine, and as they turned away said mentally +and not a few of them audibly, “Impracticable!” “It +can’t be done.” On the sand near Kitty Hawk, in the +presence only of the inventors and five others, life +savers and fishermen from Kill Devil Hill Station near +by, fortune rewarded two brothers unknown to the +world and they achieved what had long been regarded +as impracticable and impossible. Professor Langley +worked long and patiently on his models and was very +properly given $50,000 by the government to aid in an +enterprise that was to give man dominion of the air. +The Wright brothers with the same faith and unflagging +zeal worked secretly in their little shop at Dayton without +financial assistance and out of their small earnings +conducted experiments on the Carolina coast, doing +their own cooking to lighten expenses, and solved the +problem that had thwarted the inventive genius of the +world. No crowds, appreciating the significance of the +event were present to applaud, nor did the brothers +exult over the achievement. It was indeed only what +they had confidently expected.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the day of their initial success two other nights +of slightly longer duration were made. The fourth +flight continued fifty-nine seconds, almost a minute, and +extended over a distance of 853 feet. The machine was +then carried back to camp. In an unguarded moment +it was caught by a gust of wind, rolled violently over +the ground and was partially wrecked. But what mattered +the loss? For the first time in the history of the +world a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its +own power into the air in free flight, had sailed forward +on a level course without reduction of speed and had +landed without being wrecked.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="machine-balanced-by-warping-of-planes"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id17">Machine Balanced by Warping of Planes</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The Wrights found one of the greatest difficulties to +be overcome was the balancing of their machine. This +was only measurably and unsatisfactorily accomplished +by the horizontal rudder. They began to study the +flight of soaring birds for a solution of the difficulty. +They found that the hawk, the eagle and the gull maintained +a horizontal position by a slight, almost imperceptible +upward or downward bending of the extreme +tips of their wings. They then began experiments with +slightly flexible planes that could be bent or warped at +will by the pilot. This was one of their most important +and original contributions to the problem of aviation, +and it gave the pilot in a marked degree control of his +machine. The scientific arching of the planes to give +them the maximum lifting effect was also the result of +their investigations.</p> +<p class="pnext">They now removed the field of experiment to Hoffman +Prairie near Dayton where at first they met with indifferent +success. They invited friends and reporters +from their home city to witness a flight, but the machine +acted badly in the presence of company. While the +spectators were not favorably impressed the inventors +were in no wise discouraged. Their perseverance was +later rewarded in 1904 by a flight of three miles in five +minutes and twenty-seven seconds. The year following +a flight of 24.20 miles was made in thirty-eight minutes, +thirteen seconds, at heights of seventy-five to one +hundred feet. These attracted small attention. The +inventors fully satisfied with their success and working +industriously to perfect their machine were also safeguarding +the results of their labors by carefully patenting +every device that helped them to the goal of practical +aviation. While Europe was applauding the achievements +of the intrepid and wealthy Brazilian, Santos-Dumont, +who made public flights near Paris, the world +was practically unaware of the greater achievements of +the Wright brothers a year earlier. Newspaper accounts +of their flights were received with a degree of incredulity, +but the indifference of the public was favorable to +the modest brothers who with tireless energy and slender +means triumphed over difficulty after difficulty as +they moved toward the larger success that they ardently +desired and the fame that they sought not.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="newspaper-reports-verified"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id18">Newspaper Reports Verified</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In 1907 the United States Government asked for bids +for a flying machine that would carry two men, remain +in the air an hour and make a cross-country flight of +forty miles an hour. The Wright brothers entered into +a contract to build such a machine. This fact and +rumors of their success that reached the large cities +from time to time led a party of newspaper reporters to +organize themselves into a spying party to trace the +Wrights to their secret retreat and verify the claims +made in their behalf or publish the deception to the +public. After a long and tedious journey from Norfolk +they finally sighted the rude hut of these birdmen. +They then secreted themselves until they were rewarded +with evidence that the reports were true and promptly +announced to the world that these quiet men had actually +solved the problem of aerial flight.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="trial-flights-at-fort-meyer"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id19">Trial Flights at Fort Meyer</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In 1908 Orville Wright began trial flights at Fort +Meyer preliminary to the tests required by the government +contracts. A record flight was made in June. +The morning was still and beautiful; the leaves hung +motionless on the great plane trees of Washington as +Orville Wright and August Post, Secretary of the Aero +Club of America left the city about six o’clock and proceeded +by way of Georgetown to Fort Meyer where trial +flights were to be made with the biplane. It was taken +from its shed and placed on the starting rail. The +weights were lifted into position, the engine started, +the propellers set in rapid motion and all was in readiness +for starting. Only a few persons were in sight, +including a squad of soldiers who were cleaning the guns +of a field battery. Mr. Wright took his place on the +machine. At a signal the weights were released, it +was drawn forward, and rising gracefully at the end of +the rail gradually ascended in a circuitous course upward. +Mr. Post kept time and marked circuits on the +back of an envelope. Round and round went the machine, +rising higher and higher. After a little the spectators +realized that a record flight was in progress. +Ten--twenty minutes passed. Higher and higher circled +the aeroplane. Now it has been aloft on wing for +half an hour! The spectators stand rigid and look upward. +Mr. Taylor, chief mechanic, in almost breathless +interest exclaims, “Don’t make a motion. If you do +he’ll come down.”</p> +<p class="pnext">In the city, word had reached the newspaper reporters +that Mr. Wright had gone out for a flight. “Does he +intend to fly today?” came the question over the telephone. +“Yes, he is in the air now and has been flying +for more than half an hour,” was the answer.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then came the rush for fuller details and the results +of the record-making trial were flashed over the country +and cabled under the seas to distant lands. Senators, +congressmen, departmental officials and representatives +of every walk of life in the national capital were a little +later on their way to witness another exhibition of the +wonderful flying machine. Mr. Wright in the afternoon +made another world’s record, remaining in the air +an hour and seven minutes. In the evening with Lieutenant +Lahm at his side he performed without accident +the greatest two-man flight ever made. These achievements +awed and thrilled the great throng of spectators +who greeted the triumphant conclusion of each with +tumultuous cheers. The problem of the centuries had +been solved. The “impossible” had been accomplished! +The dream of the visionaries had become a reality!</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="fatal-accident"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id20">Fatal Accident</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">On the 17th of September occurred a sad accident that +brought to a close for the year the preliminary tests +that had been carried on thus far with marked success. +When Orville Wright and Lieutenant Selfridge were +flying at a height of about seventy-five feet, one of the +propellers struck a stray wire which coiled around and +broke the blade. This precipitated the machine earthward +and fatally injured Lieutenant Selfridge who died +three hours afterward. Orville narrowly escaped the +same fate with a number of broken bones. Aviation at +this time was attended with great dangers and the daring +spirits who ventured aloft on the wings of the wind +were in constant peril of their lives.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="wilbur-wright-wins-fame-in-france"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id21">Wilbur Wright Wins Fame in France</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Meanwhile Wilbur Wright who had gone to France +was making a series of record flights. Early in the +month of August near Le Mans he flew fifty-two miles +and was in the air one hour and thirty-one minutes. A +few days later he broke the previous record for altitude, +attaining an elevation of 380 feet. On the 31st day of +December he won 20,000 francs for the longest flight of +the year. His modest bearing, simple habits and wonderful +achievements called forth great praise from the +impressionable French. When he took up his quarters +at Le Mans he arranged to prepare his own meals as he +had previously done on the coast of North Carolina, but +the French would not hear to this and furnished him a +cook. In speaking of this incident afterward Wilbur +Wright said in a jocular way: “Not knowing enough +French to dismiss him or find out who sent him, I permitted +him to remain.”</p> +<p class="pnext">In January, 1909, Orville Wright, who had recovered +from his injuries, joined his brother at Pau, France. +Here they gave many exhibition flights that were witnessed +by the great scientists and the nobility of +Europe. Here their feats were witnessed by the King +of England and the King of Spain who personally extended +hearty congratulations. Wilbur took his machine +to Rome where King Emanuel attended his exhibition +flights. Later the two brothers were the guests, +in London, of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain +and received its gold medal. Their bearing and achievements +abroad gave them world-wide fame.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="wright-brothers-honored"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id22">Wright Brothers Honored</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Arriving in Washington June 10th, they received a +medal at the hands of President Taft from the Aero +Club of America. Continuing their journey homeward, +they were met at Xenia, Ohio, by a delegation from +Dayton. They at once began to inquire about their fellow +townsmen.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Look here, Wilbur,” said one of the committee, +“you’ll see all those folks at the station in a few +moments.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Why, who is at the station?” asked Wright.</p> +<p class="pnext">“Oh, twenty-five or thirty of the boys” was the reply.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they entered their home city they saw the streets +thronged with people.</p> +<p class="pnext">“I see the twenty-five or thirty,” remarked Mr. +Wright, “but I thought you folks knew better than +this.”</p> +<p class="pnext">Later they were honored in their home city with a +two-day celebration, at the climax of which medals were +presented to them from Congress, from the State of +Ohio and from the city of Dayton. Their fame was +world-wide and at last their own city had “discovered” +them and welcomed them with enthusiastic pride.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="united-states-government-requirements-successfully-met"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id23">United States Government Requirements Successfully Met</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Soon afterward they returned to Fort Meyer to continue +their work preparatory to the final tests. They +had entered into a contract with the United States Government +which was to pay $25,000 for a machine which +would carry two men one hour in a circuitous course and +perform a cross-country flight of ten miles at the rate +of forty miles an hour. On the day of the final tests the +people of Washington came forth in greater crowds than +ever before. Officialdom, including representatives of +foreign embassies, army officers, newspaper correspondents +and civilians, were present to witness the crucial +test. Among the spectators was Miss Katherine Wright, +the scholarly sister of the two brothers, who had followed +with deep and sympathetic interest every step in +the progress of her brothers up to this hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">At a signal, Orville Wright, with Lieutenant Lahm +again at his side started on his time-test flight. Upward +in spiral course they rose. At length the hour +limit was passed and a mighty cheer from the multitude +announced the result. Still the machine with its two +passengers remained aloft. Nine minutes more passed. +The world’s record made by Wilbur Wright was broken.</p> +<p class="pnext">Wilbur, who was present, announced the result by waving +a handkerchief and calling aloud, “Give him a cheer, +boys.” Soon after this the machine gently descended, +having been in the air an hour, twelve minutes and +forty seconds, the longest two passenger flight that had +been made to that date.</p> +<p class="pnext">Orville Wright was soon overwhelmed with congratulations. +Coming forward President Taft said:</p> +<p class="pnext">“I am glad to congratulate you on your achievement. +You came down as gracefully and as much like a bird +as you went up. I hope your passenger behaved himself +and did not talk to the motorman. It was a wonderful +performance. I would not have missed it.”</p> +<p class="pnext">The President then shook hands with Wilbur, saying, +“Your brother has broken your record.”</p> +<p class="pnext">“Yes,” replied Wilbur, with a smile, “but it’s all in +the family.”</p> +<p class="pnext">On August 30 came the speed trial over a course from +Ft. Meyer to Alexandria five miles distant. This at that +time was considered the most difficult test of all. The +course was over a broken and uneven country, valleys, +ravines, hills, forests and open fields alternating. Lieutenant +Benjamin D. Foulois was chosen to accompany +Orville Wright on this perilous trip. The machine arose +and circled between the two flags that marked the starting +line, and amid cheers of the spectators started on +its flight toward the two captive balloons that marked +the limit of the course. Smaller and smaller it grew in +the distance as it was swayed slightly out of its path by +the wind. It at length turned the goal on the hill at +Alexandria. On the return it was borne downward +until it disappeared. Would it rise again or would it +be swept down by a treacherous current and wrecked +in the valley? After a moment’s suspense it again appeared +in clearer outline over the treetops. Nearer and +nearer it came until in the midst of waving handkerchiefs +and thunderous cheers, it softly alighted near its +starting place. The daring aviator was heartily congratulated +again by the President and other eminent +men who thronged about him. His sister told him that +the glad news had already been telegraphed to his aged +father in Dayton. The machine had successfully met +all requirements and had made in the cross-country flight +42.6 miles an hour, entitling the brothers in addition to +the $25,000 to a bonus of $5,000, making in all $30,000. +Wonderful as was this record at the time, succeeding +flights with improved machines now make it seem +trivial and commonplace.</p> +<p class="pnext">Later in the year 1909 Orville Wright went back to +Europe where he achieved distinction in a number of +nights while Wilbur remained at home to participate in +the Hudson-Fulton celebration and thrill his countrymen +by encircling in a flight the statue of liberty and +returning to his starting point on Governor’s Island.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is not necessary to follow further the aeronautic +achievements of the Wright brothers. While they were +the first to construct a successful aeroplane, inventors +in America and abroad quickly followed them and machines +of various forms and construction but based on +the same principle were soon making record flights in +many lands. The simultaneous development of the +aeroplane in the United States and Europe is explained +by the fact that the progress of the experiments of the +Wright Brothers was promptly reported and eagerly +noted on the other side of the Atlantic. Octave Chanute +immediately after his visit to Kitty Hawk made a trip +abroad and gave a detailed account of what the Wright +brothers had accomplished. This account with drawings +was published and European inventors had this +information on which to work. In 1909 Louis Bleriot, +a French aviator, who had sprung into prominence the +preceding year, crossed the English Channel in his beautiful +birdlike monoplane. In 1910 George Chauz, flying +upward 7,000 feet, crossed the Alps amid the treacherous +and frozen winds of the snow-capped peaks only +to meet a tragic death as he neared the goal in sunny +Italy. Equally daring and dangerous was the trip of +the brilliant American aviator Glenn Curtis in his biplane +from Albany to New York City, followed a few +days later by the notable achievement of Charles K. +Hamilton who in a machine of the same make flew from +New York City to Philadelphia at the average speed of +fifty and one-half miles an hour. Aviation meets and +record breaking flights in this country and Europe now +followed in such rapid succession that the long list +would only weary the reader. In this rapid and spectacular +progress that gave man dominion over the air +and the power to surpass the eagle’s flight it is interesting +to note how well the Wrights kept in the forefront +of the era that they ushered in. Frequent changes +have greatly improved the efficiency of their machine. +In 1910 it made the greatest altitude flight, reaching a +height of 11,476 feet. In 1911 C. P. Rodgers, in successive +stages, flew in one of their biplanes from New +York City to Long Branch, California, a distance of +4,029 miles, the longest flight ever made.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="recent-improvements"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id24">Recent Improvements</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Improvements are still in rapid progress. The hydroaeroplane +has been invented. This is a slightly modified +aeroplane with equipment that will keep it afloat +on the water from which it may rise and fly at the will +of the pilot. Aviators have developed high skill in the +control of their machines in mid-air. They have at +high speed described intricate figures, sustained themselves +in inverted positions and performed the dangerous +and thrilling feat of “looping the loop” in their +swift downward flight. They have ascended high in +air, reaching an altitude of over 20,000 feet, and increased +their speed rate to 126 miles an hour. Swifter +than flight of bird and outspeeding the winged tempest, +man has cleft the highways of the air. A long line of +fatal accidents has marked his progress, but with reckless +and audacious courage he has kept his course until he +has added the “upper deep” to the realm of his dominion.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="future-of-the-aeroplane"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id25">Future of the Aeroplane</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Future achievements in this new field are of course +matters of speculation. Man has flown across the Alps, +the Rocky Mountains, the English Channel, the Straits +of Florida and the Mediterranean Sea. Even now there +is reported a contemplated airship for the crossing of +the Atlantic.</p> +<p class="pnext">Thus far the chief use of the aeroplane has been for +sport and armament. The leading nations of the world +have equipped their armies with flying machines from +which it will be possible at a safe height to spy out the +position of the enemy, carry messages across besieging +lines and drop destructive explosives in the midst of +hostile fortifications. What effect this will have on the +future of war can only be conjectured. Some have predicted +that when further perfected it will bring to an +end this era of vast armaments and defenses by making +them useless. If it does this, it may indeed be hailed +as the beneficent invention of this new century, for it +will have realized the vision of the poet Tennyson who +crowned with his immortal verse the century that is +gone:</p> +<blockquote><div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">“For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,</div> +<div class="line">Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">“Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,</div> +<div class="line">Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales;</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">“Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly dew</div> +<div class="line">From the nations’ airy navies grappling in the central blue;</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">“Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing warm,</div> +<div class="line">With the standards of the peoples plunging through the thunder-storm;</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">“Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle-flags were furled</div> +<div class="line">In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world.”</div> +</div> +</div></blockquote> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 5em"> +</div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 38758 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |