Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06

with the Denver exposition, to open july l,
1896. This exhibit will Illustrate many of
the conspicuous phases of military aero
rautics whole department of the EXPOSE
ton will be devoted to aerodynamcs. Dur
ing the Intervening year previous to the
opening of the Colorado fair every effort
will be made to construct an apparatus
which may actually carry a man.
The mechanism to be constructed is what
only kind of flying machine on the aero
plane order which has actually succeeded
In transporting a man in free air. One of
these has been built and successfully used
by Herr Lillienthal. German engine man
ufacturer, who succeeded in flying several
hundred yards by it's means. The same de-
vice has been made and improved by an
American engineer living in New York city.
new apparatus on these linel>will be con-
structed for the exhibit mentioned.
The New Soaring Apparatus.
Capt. Glassford is a sanguine enthusiast,
both as to the future of his balloon expert
ments and the accomplishment Of mechan-
ical flight by means of the aeroplane. He
believes that Prof. Maxim. in his late ex-
periments, has presented many new fea-
lures of the flying machine The new soar
ing apparatus will greatly resemble a 81
gantic butterfly. with large curved. but
fixed. wings. provided with fiat TAIL and
upright keel projecting out behind 1t will
be about thirty feet across from tip to tip
OF wings. and about seven feet from front
to back.
1t will expose about 1GO square feet of
surface. This surface will consist of fine
cloth stretched tightly over a framework
of light wood, held in place by fine steel
wire. There will be no movement of the
wings whatever. The whole surface will be
rigid, without hinges or joints for the
movement of one part against another. The
whole is designed to represent the eagle in
the act of soaring. From the center of the
machine to the front edge will be left an
t, ha nod 1yt Ia
who flies in a standing position.
Herr Lillienthal, the German who made
the first soaring apparatus on this pattern,
started from the top of hill with his fly
ing machine, and by running against the
wind was able to sail forward and down.
ward, holding fast to the framework in the
center. He made many such flights of sew
eral hundreds of yards the hill being about
200 feet high. He has since built an arti-
fetal conical hill, about fifty feet high, on
which he has been experimenting during
the past year and half.
According to an English army officer who
witnessed his experiments. the average
length Of his soaring was generally about
ninety yards. Lillienthal conceived the idea
of initiating the soaring of those birds
which appear to fly for hours at a time
without the slightest effort, apparently
utilizing every change either of direction
or intensity of wind. He believes that soar
ing birds. like the eagle or buzzard. for in
stance, while thus in motion, derive their
entire support and motive power from the
rising currents of air believed to exist at
certain attitudes. The soaring apparatus,
therefore, If perfected and engineered by
one who well understands the science of
the birds soaring, will be sent high in the
air without aid of any motive power, either
steam or electricity.
As IL Military Adjunct.
Military aeronautics has become special
study in all of the great European armies,
including those of England. France, Ger
many, Russia, Austria, Italy, Spain. Bel
GUM and Holland. Congress, however, has
made little or no appropriation for this
valuable adjunct to our army. Expert
ments in all countries so far, have been
made with balloons only. But upon the
perfection of an apparatus which may be
propelled and steered rapidly from place to
place the functions of the balloon as a
military agent will be lost.
Our army's first balloon experiments were
made with the captive balloon exhibited at
the Columbian exposition. still larger
balloon than this has since been built in
France, under Capt Glassford's supervi-
sion. This is called the General Myer."
1t is spherical. having capacity of over
1900 cubic feet. The envelope is of thou
sands of pieces of the thinest membrane,
stripped from the intestines of oxen. Each
piece is so thin that it would require about
600 pieces, If piled upon one another, to
make the thickness Of an inch. For the
sake of strength, however, the large bag
is made in several layers. The whole bal
leon is kept captive by cable fastened to
the ground.
In the day time signals are sent from this
by means of the Telegraph. Search lights in
the military field can also be turned upon
the balloon, at night, to indicate signals in
much the same manner. A search light
may also be erected in the car that dis
tinct view of the movements of an enemy
may be seen at night, from distances of
many miles.
Capt. Gassford las studied the English,
French and German systems of military
ballooning. He spent considerable time at
A'dershor, Err gland, where many expert
ments in this science have been made I'M
der direction of the British army. In a re-
cent sham battle near Aldershot balloon
was used, but although the aerCrauts We're
able to study the movements of the enemy,
they could not save the balloon itself from
being captured. The approach of the en-
envy, however, was observed, and although
these below were unable to save the bal
locn from capture, the balloon signaled to
the latter to remove the gas tanks and
other supplies to a place of safety All of
this goes to show that the balloon, al
though in peril itself, is an invaluable
means of defense and information to the
army manipulating it. The English bal
loon, like Ours, cannot, of course, be allow
ed to feat freely in the air. 1t would be
at the mercy of the wind and might float
directly over the territory of the enemy
and eventUally fall within their lines.
Every military balloon except that used in
France is a captive.
Disadvantages of Balloons.
In France the dirigble or steerable bal
loon has received considerable attention.
The large French war balloon, known as
La France" consists Of a cigar-shaped
envelope containing hydrogen gas. Inside
is a smaller bag, which may be pumped
full of air. thus keeping the outer envelope
stiff ard of proper shape. In the car is
kept powerful bichromate battery, which
runs an elt ctric motor, driving in the rear
very large light, covered cloth screw
propeller. This balloon on the very calm
est of days has made trip. of several miles,
returning safely to its starting point.
The speee of balloons CT this pattern,