The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-19

/ length and five centlmetres or two inches in
diameter. To give rigidity to the skeleton
| longitudinal ribs OF stiff steel are provided,
! intersected at intervals by cross ribs OF pure
| aluminium, the result being lattice frame
work of great strength.
The engines which are in the portion OF
the framework corresponding to the head
of the fish, are of the double facilitating
type. They weigh sixty ounces and devel-
OF one horse power, the Highest
ever made. There are four boi-
lers of thinly hammered copper,
weighing little more than seven pounds
each, and they occupy the middle portion
OF the fish. Instead of water, a very VIOLA.
tile hydrocarbou is employed, the exact
nature Of which is a matter OF secrecy, bus
which vaporizes at q comparatively low
temperature. The fuel used is refined gasO-
line, and tho extreme end Of the tail OF the
fish is utilized for a storage tank, with q
capacity Of one quart. Before passing ON
the boilers the gasoline is volatiized by
going through heated coil
There are twin-screw propellers which
would be made adjustable to different angler
in practice to provide for the steering, bus
which, in simply working model, are neces-
saiiIy flxtd at a certain point for q given triaL
Screws OF various pitches, and ranging
from twenty 20 eighty centimsLres in d.
ameter, have been experimental with, bus
It is not yet definitely determined which
buhil De auDDLBu AOF LElhls w Atu bue SMALL
est the engines develops speed OF roo rev.
olutions a minute With the larger ones
the speed IL somewhat decreased A thin
Jacket OF asbestos covers the upper portion
of the lody Of the fish. IL is unusually
porous. and probably is employed to pre-
vent undue loss Of heat by radiation.
The wings, or aeroplanes, are sector
shaped and consist OF light frames of tubu-
lar aluminium steel covered with China
silk. The front one is fOrty-two inches
wide ia ths widest part aud mas an ex-
treme 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 upward y
aud downwardly through about the middl o
Of the craft, and from its extremities
run stays Of aluminium wire to the tips Of
the aeroplanes and the ends OK the tubular
backbone, and by this trusting Arrange-
ment the whole structure Is rendered ex-
ceediugly stiff.
This machine was constructed aud per-
fected Co its present degree in a secret room
In the Smithsonian Institution. where it
now rests. IL was conceived about twenty
months ago by Prof Langley. who associ-
ated with him In the work Of experiments
ton Chief Clerk w. e. Winlock and DIR. Kid
der, scientific expert employed at that
time in the institution. Four skilled work.
men in mechanics and metallurgy were put
TO work at 50 cents an hour under pledge Of
secrecy. The work went on at odd hours,
mostly at night and on Sundays.
Prof. Langley went to France TO per-
sonally superintend the making Of the cen
trial tube which constitutes the backbone OF
the structure. and brought It back with
him among his personal effects to insure
careful handling. IL is so light that it can
be handled easily by an infant During his
visit TO France he 10 believed TO nave
reached his conclusions as TO the best model
for the general conformation Of the pro-
posed afr craft, namely. the long. thin,
tapering lines OF the mackerel, in the large
lecture room of the National museum Prof.
Langley has succeeded repeatedly in pros
duceing successful fight by small models.
They would fly az long as the power
lasted, the power being applied by means
of lightly wrapped rubber bands, on the
principle Of the string top, The Iightess
of these little models weighs sixteen
grains, and VIII soar from one end Of the
room 10 the other as freely as bird. 10
may be supposed that the gross weight has
been so far reduced as to give hope or
actual success now, inasmuoh az an OUT
door trial has been planned.
The intention Is 70 employ q tug to tow
the experimental party TO a creek about
forty-five miles down tho Potomsc, where
the experiments may be conducted without
fear Of interruption.