diff options
Diffstat (limited to '38758.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 38758.txt | 1418 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 1418 deletions
diff --git a/38758.txt b/38758.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 14e84f9..0000000 --- a/38758.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1418 +0,0 @@ - Story of the Aeroplane - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Title: Story of the Aeroplane - -Author: C. B. Galbreath - -Release Date: February 03, 2012 [EBook #38758] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF THE AEROPLANE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.bookcove.net. - - *Story of the Aeroplane* - - By - - C. B. Galbreath, M. A. - - - - PUBLISHED JOINTLY BY - - F. A. OWEN PUB. CO., Dansville, N. Y. - - and - - HALL & McCREARY, Chicago, Ill. - - _INSTRUCTOR LITERATURE SERIES--No. 253_ - - COPYRIGHT, 1915 - F. A. OWEN PUBLISHING CO. - _Story of the Aeroplane_ - - - - -Table of Contents - - - The Ocean of Air - Early Attempts at Aviation - Early Flying Machines - Nineteenth Century Experiments - Claims of Maxim and Ader - Langley's Tandem Monoplane - Experiments with Gliders - Aviation at the Beginning of the Present Century - The Kite - The "Plane" Defined - Essentials of the Aeroplane - The Wright Brothers and Their Problem - Balancing the Machine - At Kitty Hawk - The First Flight - Machine Balanced by Warping of Planes - Newspaper Reports Verified - Trial Flights at Fort Meyer - Fatal Accident - Wilbur Wright Wins Fame in France - Wright Brothers Honored - United States Government Requirements Successfully Met - Recent Improvements - Future of the Aeroplane - - *Story of the Aeroplane* - - - - -The Ocean of Air - - -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. (_Avis_: Latin, a bird.) - - - - -Early Attempts at Aviation - - -"The birds can fly and why can't I?" - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -At this point it may be well to classify the flying devices thus far -considered. - - - - -Early Flying Machines - - -1. The _orthopters_, 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. - -2. The _helicopters_. 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. - -3. The _gliders_. 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. - - - - -Nineteenth Century Experiments - - -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. - -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. - - - - -Claims of Maxim and Ader - - -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. - -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." - - - - -Langley's Tandem Monoplane - - -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. - -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. - -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 _helicopter_ 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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -Experiments with Gliders - - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -Aviation at the Beginning of the Present Century - - -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. - - - - -The Kite - - -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. - -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. - - - - -The "Plane" Defined - - -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. - - - - -Essentials of the Aeroplane - - -_The planes_, as already described are, of course, a necessary part of -the aeroplane. - -_The propeller_ 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. - -_The engine_ 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. - -_The rudder_, 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. - - - - -The Wright Brothers and Their Problem - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -Balancing the Machine - - -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. - -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. - - - - -At Kitty Hawk - - -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. - -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. - - - - -The First Flight - - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -Machine Balanced by Warping of Planes - - -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. - -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. - - - - -Newspaper Reports Verified - - -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. - - - - -Trial Flights at Fort Meyer - - -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." - -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. - -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! - - - - -Fatal Accident - - -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. - - - - -Wilbur Wright Wins Fame in France - - -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." - -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. - - - - -Wright Brothers Honored - - -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. - -"Look here, Wilbur," said one of the committee, "you'll see all those -folks at the station in a few moments." - -"Why, who is at the station?" asked Wright. - -"Oh, twenty-five or thirty of the boys" was the reply. - -As they entered their home city they saw the streets thronged with -people. - -"I see the twenty-five or thirty," remarked Mr. Wright, "but I thought -you folks knew better than this." - -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. - - - - -United States Government Requirements Successfully Met - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Orville Wright was soon overwhelmed with congratulations. Coming forward -President Taft said: - -"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." - -The President then shook hands with Wilbur, saying, "Your brother has -broken your record." - -"Yes," replied Wilbur, with a smile, "but it's all in the family." - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - -Recent Improvements - - -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. - - - - -Future of the Aeroplane - - -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. - -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: - - "For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, - Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; - - "Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, - Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; - - "Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a - ghastly dew - From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue; - - "Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing - warm, - With the standards of the peoples plunging through the - thunder-storm; - - "Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle-flags were - furled - In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world." - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF THE AEROPLANE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38758 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with - almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away - or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License - included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |