New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-14
PROF. LANGLEY'S SECRET.
HE is BUILDING A FLYING MACHINE IN THE
SMITHSONIAN.
a LARGE WORKING MODEL ALL ETADY TO RUN
BY GASOLINE ENGINEs-DETNLs OF

a LARGE WORKING MODEL ALL ErADY TO RUN
BY GASOLINE ENGINEs-DETNIs OF
TIE CONSTRUCTIONS.
Washington. March I3.-It Is stated that Professor
Samuel Pierpon Langley the successor OF Professor
Henry O. Baird In the control Of the smithsonian
Institution Of this city. has developed firing ma
chine which Re believes Is practicable. The ina
chino Is working model II Is not intended 10
carry passengers. In cnnfeuration the body portion
closely Stimulates mackercl The backbone Is a
light hut rigid Tube Of wat is Technically known
as title mctalo Of the many allows Of aluminium
and steel is fifteen feet IN length and five CEN
timctres or practically two inches in diameter. To
give rg1dty to the skeleton longitudinal ribs OF SIN
steel are provided intescctcd at intervals by cross
fbs Of pure aluminium. the result being lattice
framework Of great strength
The engines. which In the portion OF the frame
work corresponding to the lead OF the fish. arc Of
the double osciating type. They weigh sixty ounces
and develop one horsepower. the lghtest Of that
power ever made. There four boilers Of thinly
hammered copper, Weighing little more than seven
pounds each, and they occnyy the middle portion Oh
the fish. Instead Of water. very volatile hydro
carbon is employed. the exact nature of which Is n
matter Of secrecy, but witch vapOrizcs at com
paratively low temperature. The fuel used is re-
nned gasoline and the extreme end Of the tail OF the
fish Is utilized for a storage tank with capacity Of
one quart. Before passing on TO the boilers TIE
gasoline Is volat'izei by going through heated
coil There twin prope1lers. DIFFERENT
sizes have been tried With TIE smallest the engines
develop a speed Of 100 revolutions minute. with
the larger ones the speed is somewhat decreasd
thin jacket OF asbestos covers the upper portion
Of the body of the Ash. 1t Is unusually porous. ana
probably Is employed TO prevent undue loss OF hea,
by radiation. The wings, or aeropanes are sector
shaped and consist OF light flakes OF tubular ALT
minimum steel, covered with China silk. Both aero
hfSiC cd to lsn 06iu al
cnce to the angle they present TO the air. a tubular
mast extends upwarily and downwardy through about
the middle Of the craft. and from It's eXtrcmitieS run
stays Of aluminium wire 10 the tips of the aeropancs
and the ends Of the tubular backbone. and by this
trusting arrangement the whole structure Is rendered
exceedingly stiff.
The machine constructed and perfected TO its
present degree In n secret in the Smithsonian
Institution where II now rests. II was conceived
about twenty months ago by Professor Langley, who
associated with him in the work OF experimentation
Chief Clerk W. C. winlock and DR.. Kidder. a scien-
tifc expert employed at that time In the institution
-Four skilled workmen put to work under pledges
of secrecy. The work went on at odd hours mostly
at night and on Sundays. At the institution the
strictest injunctions laid on the watchmen TO
keep all intruders off the The watchmen them
selves were instructed 10 turn their backs walk
10 the other end Of the corridor when word passed
from the chief that article was to be conveyed
10 or from the secret chamber. II Is said that one
empoye discharged merely for being seen on the
third floor of the building. None OF the regular en-
ployes supposed to know what was going on
there.
Professor Langley. II Is said, went TO France
personally TO superintcnd the making of the central
tube which constitutes the backbone of the structure.
and brought IL back with him among his personal
effects TO insure careful handling.
In the large lecture-room OF the National Museum
Professor Langley has succeeded repeatedly In pro
ducng successful flight BY small models. They would
Av
applied by rubber bands. the principle OF the
spring top. The ghtest Of these little models weighs
sixteen grams, and will from end OF the
room to the other freely bird. II may De
supposed that the gross weight has been far re-
duced as TO give hope OF actual success now, mas
much outdoor trial has been planned
The intentcn Is TO employ tug 10 tow the cx-
detrimental party 10 a creek about forty live miles
down the Potomac where the experiments may be
conducted without fear OF interruption.