St. Landry democrat., 1893-06-17
LANGLEY'S AIR SHIP.
A CLEVER DEVICE-A WORKING
MODEL.
A Flying Machine Devised at the
Smithsonian Institute.

Smithsonian Institute.
It is stated that Prof Samuel Pierpon
Langley, the successor of Prof. Henry c.
Baird in the control of the Smithsonian
Institution of Washin ton, which is one
of the recognized leading scientific insti
tutes In the world, and is under control
Of the Government, has developed fly
ing machine which he believes is practi-
cable
The machine Is working model. Il
is not intended to carry passengers. 1r
confguration the body portion closely
Stimulates mackcrel. The backbone is
light but very rigid tube of what is
technically known as "title metal" one
OF the many alloys of aluminium and steel.
1t is fifteen feet in length and FIVE cent?
meters, or practically two inches, in
diameter. To give rigidity to the skele-
ton, longitudinal ribs of stiff steel are
provided, intersected at intervals BY
cross ribs of pure aluminium, the result
being lattice framework of great
strength.
The engines, which are located In the
portion Of the framework corresponding
to the head of the fish, are of the double
oscillating type They weigh sixty
ounces and develop one horse power, the
lightest of that power ever made. There
are fonr boilers of thinly- ham
mered copper weighing a little more
than seven pounds each and they
occupy the middle portion of the
fish. Instead of water, very volatile
hydro carbon is employed, the exact
nature of which is matter of secrecy,
but which vaporizes at comparatively
low temperature. The fuel used is re-
fined gasoline and the extreme end Of
the tail of the fish is utilized for stor-
age tank with a capacity of one quart
Before passing on to the the boilers the
gasoline is volatilized by going through
a heated coil.
There are twin screw propellers, which
would be made adjustable to different
angles in practice, to provide for the
steering, but which in simply working
model are necessarily fixed at certain
point for a given trial Screws of various
pitches, and ranging from twenty to
eighty centimeters in diameter, have
been experimental with, but it is not yet
definitely determined which shall be
adopted for trial. With the smallest the
engines develop speed of 1900 revolu-
tions minute. With the larger ones
the speed is somewhat decreased.
A thin jacket of asbestos covers the
Upper portion of the body of the fish. It
is unusually porous, and probably is EN-
ployed to prevent undue loss of heat by
radiation. The wings or aeroplanes are
sector shaped and consist of light frames
of tubular aluminium steel, covered with
China silk. The front one is forty
two inches wide in the widest part
and has an extreme length of
forty feet from tip to tip. The
rear one is somewhat smaller Both
aeroplanes are designed to be adjustable
with reference to the angle they present
to the air. A tubular mast extends up
wardly and downwardly through about
the middle of the craft, and from its ex-
tremeties run stays of aluminium wire to
tips of the acroplanes and the ends of the
tubular backbone, and by this trusting
arrangement the whole structure is rem
dered exceeding stiff
The machine was constructed and per
fected to its present degree in secret
room in the Smithsonian Institution,
where it now rests. 1t was conceived
about twenty months ago by Prof. Lang
ley, who associated with him in the
work of experimentation Chief Clerk
W. G. Winlock and DR.. kidder, a
scientific expert employed at that time in
the institution. Four skilled workmen
in mechanics and metallurgy were put to
work at so cents an hour under pledge of
secrecy. The work wont Oh at odd hours,
mostly at night and on Sundays. At
the institution the strictest iniunctions
were laid on the watchmen to keep all |
intruders off the scent. The watchmen |
themselves were instructed to turn their |
backs or walk to the other end of the |
corridor when word was passed from the |
chief that some article was to be conveyed |
to or from the secret chamber. 1t is said
hat one employe was discharged merely
for being seen on the third floor of the
None of the regular employees
we're supposed to know what was going
IN there. AS a matter of fact, very few
If them do know that anything is there
1t the present time.
Prof Langley went to France to SUI
3erintend personally the making of the
central tube, which constitutes the back
,one of the structure, and brought it
back with him among his personal effects
o secure careful handling. 1t is so light
hat it can be handled easily by an infant.
During his French visit, while in touch
With the most advanced investigators, he
s believed to have reached his conclu-
ion as to the best model for the general
conformation of the proposed air craft,
amely the long, thin, tapering lines OF
he mackerel.
In the large lecture room of the
Museum Prof. Langley has
ucceeded repeatedly in producing sue
essful flight by small models. They
'ould fly as long as the power lasted,
he power being applied by means of
ghtlywrapped rubber bands, on the
rincipal of the string top. The lightest
f these little models weighs sixteen
rams, and will soar from ono end of
ne room to the other as freely as bird.
may be supposed that the gross weight
as been so far reduced as to give hope
actual success now, inasmuch as an :
utdoor trial has been planned. The in ,
'ntion is to employ a tug to tow the
Experimental party to a creek about
,rty- five miles down the Potomac, ,
here the experiments may be conducted
ithout fear of interruption.