The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-07

vyA.r.,- Pref bsssiey sd ~. Maxi. Ars
ws-tisr TIss-The Prssis. Partly Solves
To THE EprroR OF TBE suN-Sir; OF late sew
sral articles have appeared In TIE sU.
meant 10 throw some Hight on the forces snu
conditions which enable birds to traVe,
through the air without apparent ehorti ana
thus perhaps. to assist in the solution OF the
problem Of rational, practical man-niRht.
Having been engaged in the study Of AVA
ton for twenty-five years. know whereof
speak when say that 80 per cent OF what has
been written on the subject is wlthoueAny
value whatever-if IL has not been positively
harmful BY leading ignorant enthusiasts TO
expend time and money In fruitless effort.
To talk and write intellieently, to instruct
in this field a. In all others broad knowl-
edas OF what has been discovered. DONE and
suggested up to date Is the fret requirement.
and that this requirement 10 lacking TO
peculiar degree in our would-be mentors we
have some notable Instances As has been
pointed out By such unauestioned authorities
as Tissandier and Iillenthal our Prof. Lang
lev has wasted many thousands OF dollars on
experim ents with fiat inclined planes. which
simply conflrme ed what had long been known.
and were the more valuless because It had al
ready been clearly established by others that
far better results can be obtained by the use
Of conceived planes. Again. our Mr.. Hiram
in atten pts to make n monster machine ny.
The form OF his immense aeroplane alone suf-
ago been demonstrated that for best results
an aeroplane must m easure more. much more,
the Maxim seropisne disregards this i'm or..
tant principle. IL is hardly to be wondered
ht fail s to P CT s as
f." deduces from close observation OF the al
bstros. that sailing birds " are sustained in
feathers upon the wings" the Inference being,
OF course. that to schIeve success, aeronnntt-
mechanics. farmers. brokers'. and others are
S over .s o.
1t IL very strange how lit known. even TO
:sG'S wSS Dsss sSs Ss .sna
flight ot man 10 an accompl she'd fact. and fully
pounds. Mr.. Otto .Lllienthal. a practical en-
gineer and owner Of machine works at Berlin.
and 800 yards. and could have gone on and on
Bile. prudent. timidity.. lie had no difficulties
In rising and descending: turning TO the rent
stncies. such as trees. &c.
The ssiIine flieht o. mar f an accomplished
HTss h 10 msns sns ambSns
minds. but II is . distinct blessing that the
b ws9 had led
sense to understand that definite data on
man flight could be obtained only with appa-
ratus Of slzo evidently sum cient to support a
mans .weight-that 1t was won by q master OF
the subject.
Mr. Lilienthal,s success means massive man
fight only IL still remains--for master Of the
subiect--to achieve active flight. Mr. L., In a
late letter to me. states modestly and dis.
tinctly that his successful experiments on
sailing flight were nothing hut preliminary
studiea," with the object Of active absolutely
controllable flight in view
There 10 still much to do--for willing mas
ters OF the subject.
Mr.. Lillenthai proposes to win the greater
crown. for accom- plishing dynamic. flight By
employ oscillating wings aud without fixed
aeroplanea. 1t is possible that he will succeed.
and he certainly deserves success. But am
warranted In stating that tho success OF his
sailing apparatus furnishes conclusive proof
that the neroplane is the simplest and m st
practical form OF aerial vehicle, and that
America may best recover lost ground in this
field by acting on the above suggestion.
And. finally, wish to put on record my be-
llet-and know whereof / speak that 70 an
will navigate the air at will within twelve
months J. RUDOLF ZUBERBiiHLER.
643 EAST TWELFTH STREET. N. Y. March B