Evening star., 1896-09-26
The Flying Machine.

himself with aeroDlane capable merely
of sustaining MIN for a time, while the
soaring depended upon the force of Sravi-
tation on one hand and the force of the
wind on the other. Lilfenthal always soar
ed against the wind. while Freymann says
that with his machine it will be possible
to fly both with the wind and against it.
The most vital defect of Liienthars
aeroplane was the difficulty Of accurately
calculating the downward soar and the
point at which the machine would reach
the earth. Lilienthal got many bruises and
sprairs in aliChting. and was finally killed.
a few weeks ago. in the course of his ex-
periments. Freymann contends that his
machine will overcome this defect, and
one of the means by which he hopes to
bring this about iS more perfect arrange
ment for changing the plane of the wings.
Liltenthal managed the alteration of plane
by throwing the weight of his body to the
front or the rear end of mis- machine.
Bicycle Arrangement.
When approaching the earth at too sharp
a grade he threw his weight back. thus
fitting the forward end of the aeroplane
upward. The force of the wind raised the
machine and made his ultimate descent
more gradual. By this means alone Lilien-
thai succeeded frequently in risiRg to a
plane as high as that from which he start
ed. or even higher. 1t will be recalled
that in starting 1t was necessary for him
to launch himself from high hill Frey
> =
by means of which the tilt of the wings
may be changed accurately and gradually
as the emergency requires Another novel
feature of his machine is a bicycle arrange
ment. one of the functions of which Is to
assist in starting and in alighting.
Freymann's plan is to start from the or
binary ground level. The bicycle Is ridden
along for short distance, aud when a
certain degree of speed is attained the air
pressure opens the wings and the machine
begins to rise from the earth. the wing
mechanism beirg worked also by the BIZ
cycle pedals Thus FreymanE's machine
differs from Lillenthars In being fitted for
motive power, to be supplied by the legs.
The hands are left free to manipulate two
levers. one which regulates the tilt of the
virgs and another which operates a tall or
ruddnr. fixed in a vertical plane behind
FreyHann is a Russian, about forty years
old and he has been studying the flying
machine problem for nearly fifteen years
He was born in Mitau Livonia, and studied
mechanical engineering in Germany. While
at the university he studied the literature
Of the subject and went over carefully the
plans of other inventors. He also eXamin-
ed mary models of flying machines and
studied their defects. Soon after gradual
ing he went to work as an engineer In the
construction of railroads in Russia, and
for twelve years he mas been developing
his. idea of flying machine. subject to
The Interruptions caused by his profession
al duties.
Description of the Machine.
The plans for Freymanns machine pro-
vide for eight wings. four on each side.
They are to be concavo-convex. the form
which nearly all recent inventors have
agreed upon as essential They come to a
point where they join the body of the ma
chine, and at the extremity are broad and
rounded. They are to be of silk, stretched
on frame of light steel or of willow, and
stoutly brdced on the convex side to pre-
vent them from breaking or being turned
inside cut by the pressure of the air. The
moticr of the wings is based upon that OF
an eagles.
Mr.. Freymann is sportsman, and ne
studied this motion while stationed in Asia
Minor. The tips of the wings, all of which