The Washington critic., 1889-04-19
A FLYING MACHINE THAT FLIES.

Through the efforts Of Professor Langley
there was secured few days ago for the
National Museum what Is the only flying
machine In the country that ever flew. 1t
was built over score OF years ago, and
practically, notwithstanding the scientific
advance OF the last score of years, IL makes
the nearest approach to a practical flying
machine ever built. 1t is only small
model--a toy, In fact-but II worked and
flew. The Aeronautical Society offered
prize OF 100 guineas for the best flying ma
chine to be exhibited at the Aeronautical
Exhibition In the Crystal Palace in London
In 1868 This machine took the prize. 1t
was built by F. J. Strlngfellow, and after
attracting great deal OF attention
| at the exhibition 1t was packed
away in garret and the inventor devoted
| his attention TO other pursuits, intending,
doubtless, to build flying machine like his
model, only on scale enough larger to
make practical commercial use possible.
| Before he did this, though, he died, and the
wonderful toy remained In the garret. Pro
| fessor Langley appreciated the great interest
attaching to the affair, and secured II by
| purchase from the inventors son. The ma
chine arrived a week or two ago, and has
been set up in glass case In that portion of
| the Museum devoted to means OF tranporta-
| tion. With its wings taken of, as they are,
| the machine is an Insignificant looking
affair Its framework is Of wood three or
four feet high, three long and a foot or 30
| wide The wings or fans are placed above
the heavier part Of the structure so that IL
| will be ballasted right The Professor says
that there is nothing particularly
interesting about the affair as a
flying machine, because 1t does not
ombody any new ideas about flying, but 1t
is the engine that is interesting. He says II
is the most wonderful little steam engine
that was ever built. The engine, boiler
and all, only weighs about thirteen pounds,
but on its trial II developed over 1-horse-
power This seems almost incredible.
An ordinary engine and boiler such as are
used to run light printing press or light
machinery requiring three or four-horse-
power usually weighs ton or two. But
this little 13-pound engine that looks like n
toy and is really wonderful piece Of
scientific mechanism, is capable Of doing a
|
power engine such as is used to run a saw
mill. 1t has never been equaled or even
approached by anything before or since as
TO lghtness The problem Of aerial navi-
cation is merely one of lightness OF power
and Mr.. Stringfellow's engine went farther
toward II than anything since because the
model machine he constructed did fly. OF
course IL could not be controlled, nor could
any one ride on it. 1t was regarded at the
time as wonderful that II should lift itself
A wire was stretched across from one side
of the Crystal Palace to the other and Mr.
Strngfellow's flying machine, fastened by 8
light rope to ring that slid easily along
the wire. The spirit lamp under the little
boiler was liz and when the steam pressure
was sufficient the valve TO the little cylinder
Of the engine was opened. The tiny piston
moved slowly up, then down, and the ex-
haust steam spurted outwith shrill whist
ling hiss. The six fans, looking lik,
immense red butterfly wings, began to re
volve slowly, then faster, aud gently
steadily as balloon, Mr. Stringfellow'i
flying machine robe from the floor ant
straight up in the air till 1t reached the full
length Of the string that held 1t down. Tn,
inventor changed the direction Of the fan
and his flying machine went forward, th'
. ring tied to it by the string slipping easil.
along the wire. Another change and !
went backward. These performances wol
Mr.. Stringfellow the ten guinea prize
The machines framework is made Of ligh
wood, bamboo and cork. The six wing
are light frames, covered with fine red silk
The boiler is Of the multi-tubular type an,
the engine is simple and direct in its bear
ings to the gears that whirl the fans. 1t |
by far the lightest engine Of its strength
that was ever constructed. 1t runs at
. very high steam pressure and this is the ex
PLANTATION, of its power, so disproportionat
to its size. 1t is the only flying machine 4
0 the National Museum and is great acqu
| sition.