The sun., 1893-03-14
A NEW FLYING MACHINE.
ProG Langley Constructs One Which He
lfelieves VIII be Successful.

WASHINGTON. March 13-Proi Samuel Pier
pont Langley. the successor OF Prof. Henry O.
Baird in the control Of the Smithsonian 1ns;i-
tuition. has developed flying machine which
he believes Is practicable. Tho machine is n
working model. 1t is rot intended to carry
passengers. In conflEuration the body portion
closely Stimulates - mnckcreL The backbone Is
light but very rigid tuLe OF Enthusiastically
known as little metal" one OF the many alloys
OF aluminium aud steel. 1t is fifteen feet in
length and five centinetres or two inches in
diameter. To give rgidity to the skeleton
longitudinal ribs OF stiff steel are provided in
tersected Mt intervals by cross ribs OF pure
aluminium. the result being lattice frame
work OF great strength.
Tho engines. which are in the portion OF
tho 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 four boilers OF th:nly ham
mcred copper. weighing little more than
seven pounds each. and they occupy the mid
die portion Of the FISH. Instead OF water. u
very volatile hydrocarbon is employed. tho
exact nature Of which is matter OF secrecy.
but which vnporizes Mt a comparatively low
Temperature. The fuel used is refined Easo-
line. AMI the extreme end OF tho tail OF the fish
of one quart. Petore passing on to the boilers
tie sasoline is volatilized by going through a
Th'r. arc twin; screw ,r5ooelers Which would
t!ce to provide for the steering "ut which. IN
simr ly a working moi"!. ara necessarllS liked
at a ccrlaln point ior given trial. Screws Of
various pitches. and hanging ir,m twenty to
determined which snail b. aiopted for tra;
ones the srced is somewhat decreased. ,Aihi!
i % S eo'fts is tue Tnr
| and probably IS employed to prevent undue
los; Of heat fy radiation. .,.o,
ium st.ri covered WIN CHINA siIk: The front mt
AMI has an extren,s length Of forty feet from
| tin to tip. The rear one IS somewhat sna Ter
10 ore
| air A tubular mast cxtenGS unwardly and
downwnrdly through about the middle OF tn.
| aluminium wire to the tips OF the nerorlanes
and the ends OF the tubular back Tone, and by
IS render"d cxceednGIy s'iii:
| The machine was constructed and perfected
Smithsonian Institution. where ii now rests.
| 1t was conceived about twenty months ago hy
Prot, LANGLEY Who ass9ciated w,th % him u me
%Grf %Wlniosi (! snd Dr. Kdaer % seenc expert
employed at that time in the institution. -Four
| skilled workmen In mechanics an'l metal
under pledge of secrecy: The work went on
at odd hours. mostly at night and on sundays.
Prof Langley went to France to personally
surerintend the making Of tho central rt tube tub,
turc. and brought it hack with him among his
| 1t is so light that It can be handled easily by
| an infant During his visit to France he Is
| believed to have reached his conclusion as tn
the best model for the general conformation
q the pIonosed air cr1is namely the 1onG tS
lecture room OF the NATIONAL M%sssT
in producing successful flight by small
models. They would ny MS long as
| the powor lasted. the power. being
applied by, means Of lightly wrapped rubber
bands. on the principle OF ,hs string top; Ins ns
grains. and viii soar from one ent q mn the
be supposed that the gross weight has beer
| so far reduced as to give hone OF actual sue
cess now. inasmuch as IN outdoor trial ha'
| been planned.
experimental party tn n creek about forty-hvt
miles down the Potomac. where the expert
ments may be conducted without fear OF inter
| ruptiop.