The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-22
EDISON ON AIRSHIPs.
STARTLING PLAN sycc-ST=p TO
SOLVE THE rLYlNa PROBLEM.
How Yachts Miga. Taco and Fleets Ma
newer Among the CloGds-Worid Have
Actual Ships, Will Cas5ags az Sails.

AIfAia pm Wv fAfflF|f
that the day is coming when men will ly.
But no does not think this will bo accom-
plishod either with q balloon or with an
%acroplano.
"Tho trouble with the ecropianc, said
Mr.. Edison one Cay last week. lis that 1t
is cumbersome and unwlcldy. l have
watched with much Interest the progress
made in the experiments Of Hiram Maxim
In England. lilo has expended some $780,
900 in buildinga track and constructing
an immense machine on the acroplane
principle, while Professor Langley az
Washington has been making experiments
along the same line in this country, but
on a smaller scale.
Theoretically these gontlcmen have do
velopcd the principle shown by q bird In
soaring, such rs the eagle and the !
tross, either Of which can sail for hours In
the air without a motion OF the wings. 1
do not believe, however, that the aeroplane
principle can ever be developed successful
ly SO hat mcn can fly.
IAN Immense aeroplane machine hkc
that Of Maxim. which carries several men
and a small engine, could not possibly be
managed in the air. Neither could "a mall
aeroplano sufficient TO carry n single man,
for il would not BIO under proper control.
"As for the balloon or gasbag princi-
pie" said Mr.. Edison, that has bccn
practically abandoned by all recent expert
monts along this line. The reason for this
Is that o balloon forms "a body OF n large
bulk, which Is at the mercy Of the wind.
"In other words, Ii Is impossible at pres
ent to construct "a balloon which Will carry
a machine or engine sufficiently powerful
10 force 10 against tho wind. The more
powerful Is your engine or storage bat
terry, tho heavier 4 must be and the larger
the balloon TO carry IL.
"What Is wanted is q flying machine
that will go In any desired direction under
ordinary circumstances. The balloon Is
unwieldy, and the aeroplane Is unman-
ageable. Now, I have III idea that the
proper solution of this problem Is TO DO
sought in an entirely different direction.
We must abandon both the balloon and the
~aeroplanc.
II would construct actual ships of the
air-yachts. schOoncrs and brigantincs-
which would tack and gybe and sail before
the wind. Ny idea il that the lifting pow
or for these airships should DO gas stored
IN the sails.
"In other words, you apply tho balloon
principle In such n way than the gashac,
instead Of being m impediment as IL is at
present, would DO the actual means OF
propulsion. would construct gasbags
shaped like tho sails of a yacht.
Take tic mainsail, for instance. You
could have that matc out Of two sheets Of
canvas, say. ONO or two Feet apart and kept
In shape by % ret. I'll that with gas. DO
the same with the jlb, Ito topsail and the
flying jib.
"Thcso sails would te actually balloons,
which would hold tho ship up s~ssn tho
earth, but they could be so set against tho
wind ut angles as to drive her In n Ci-
roation. Tho musts and spars could be
made of bamboo or any light material.
"In this way an airship could rise from
tho ground. and it would mako 10 differ
enco To her what way the wind was blow
ing. a yacht can sail 10 any particular
point so Song as there Is wind enough TO
Ill tho sails. An airship Of this kind
would only need n good wind, and sho
could 60 anywhere, either tacting or run
ming on "a beam wind or running before
tho wind"
but how would you keep your airsbips
from nIal;iug lcewayY'
with ballast" answered Mr.. Edison.
"YGu could. of course, havo a ccnterboard.
But l do not think that would be neccs-
sary.
"A proper amount ofballast would keep
Che airship upright and steady, just rs it
does WHOM o ship is in the water. She
would not then make lccway. She would
not blow sideways. Sho would sail edge
ways, just Us all ships do at present in the
water.
1.-THE balloons. in the form of mainsail,
j'b and topsail, would form n big surface
for the wind 10 blow upon and would fierce
her ahead while ct the Same time keeping
hor of tho ground.
I'm this way squadrons and fleets could
navigate the upper air. We could have
yacht races. Who knows but that tho
near future may witness races for a cup
taking place on marked ont courses of the
sky just as we had the Falkyrie and De-
fender this year rucing on the wators The
thing IL by no means impossible. / am no
flying machine crank, but this Is n tho
DRY which / am surprised has not occurred
TO those who arc dcyoting serious thought
and largo expenditure to the solution Of
this problem.
According to the plan which I have
mapped out, the II great obstacle In all
this question has been overcome. That Is
the motive power. A balloon cannot carry
an engine strong enough 20 drive IL against
tho Ind, and neither eau an %aeroplane.
"-~cording to my plan. no engine, ma
chine, spring, dynamo or motor Is ncccs-
sary. All that weight is dispensed with.
We make the wind itself supply the mo
tive power. Thcrc are no fans, screws or
%windInills, no propollers, no wheels or
other whirligigs.
1.-THE mere blowing Of the wind on the
balloon rails drives the ship ahead In any
desired direction. and she can no stccrod
from the stern by an ordinary rudder.
Thore would DO less danger In such navi-
CATION Of the air than In yachting on the
water. With an airshlp properly ballastcd
and balanced there would be no fear of
capsizing, AID sudden squalls would DO
harmless.
81 merely throw this out ms n crudo
suggestion ard leave IL TO others TO work
up. IL l. apparent TO me that the posi-
bilitics OF The a%eroplane. which W or
three years agn was thought to hold the
solution Of this problem, have been OK
haustUd. and that we must turn elsewhere.
"Mhcro else can VIC find n plan which