Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-05-06
Aerial Machine.

The European Times, published by Messrs. Wilmer &
Smith, (Which collects for American readers all the inter
estng items of the old world the departure of
each steamer for shores,) contains under date of April
"pqsf m P 81 5h and details Our readers
gain idea of its from the following
account:
Its chief bulk consists of expanse, which may call
the wings, but with this reservation that instead of moving
like this important members it is perfectly jointles rigid
and with the OF The machine mo,onless. II
s remarkable for its extraordinary dimensions (heng $50
long and 81 wide and for its great ghness and strength
is framework covered with any light and oleraby air
tight web, az silk or linen To the middle of this and
it, suspended which contains engines
passengers, and and relatively wings
the place of the body of bird In fight wings
long sides foremost, and little
rased the middle of the other side attached tail of
SO feet long, which be raised lowered
Oh, as TO elevation: beneath il il vertical rud-
der which has the Offices horizontal direction
Immediately the vertical web placed
the wings intended TO check lateral oscIi,tion Tho
drives propellers,
in each se like the sails of windmill aud 30 feet in di
these placed each side
tail their Office keep the velocity of flight by bal
ancing the resistance of the air i'll front.
The carriage thus and prepared for fight
from tho of inclined plane of cheap and ready
constructions a before 1t has accomplished its descent
down the piano. it has acquired velocity that the
impact of the slightly sloping under surface its wings
the air IS sufc ens TO sustain its weight If that velocity
maintained increased, the weight would continue
10 be sustained raised but the resistance of the
which avas for sustaining the machines opposes though
feebly, its fight which inevitable and concomitant
opposition shortly destroy original velocity,
bring the carriage gradually the ground. Now the
of the acting through propeers,
simply to keep the original velocity, if be powerful
enough improve it, This effected the carriage remains
supported during the whole of its flight by virtue of the
downward resistance of the air. due to its original and
| tinued speed.
The principle which the machine rted upon
aerial flight is taken from supposed analogy with the
principle which large bird begins its the
In starting from tree high rock the bird makes
downwars velocity; gained,
little effort rise again. and increase his speed. The
lent efforts made by slow and heavy birds rising
the gTound and the g of the birds after
attained suhcien, velocity show the operation and
of the principe
The power Of the engine employed by Mr.. Henson
about that of 20 horses weight including that of
used is about GOO pounds. The whole machine,
all appliances and passengers, will weigh i,
is estimated about 1900 pounds Its sustaining surfaces
500 the load is therefore, thirds
pound each square foot. which s less than that
many birds
II does appear that experiments of conclusive
character have been made this invention The
opinions entihc in favor of its prac:ca
by, while in the of Others the thing absurd
Newton Journal of Arts Sciences declares
be s'nost visionary and faacous But bill is be fore
Parliament for forming joint stock company Try the
ven,ion by practical experiment..