Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23

over 200 pounds in the air at horizontal
velocity Of about forty-five miles per hour
and still more at higher velocity, the sur
face Of the aeroplanes being appropriately
until the eventful 9th day of the present
month that one Of these compact steam en-
g1nes was arranged upon the aerodrome
sSfully.
1t is reasonably certain that aerial flight
by mechanical means, will be practically
Successtul within a very few years after
proi Langley lays bare all of the details
many engineers in this and foreign coun-
tries who. after some practice will be COM
petent to build giant aerodrome when
gwen small model to fashion after. The
hlShest authorities on aerodynamics agree
that the first practical adaptation of the
vehicle will be as means of warfare
Attacked From Above.
Notifications for which Uncle Sam now
proposes to eApend millions would be use
less wrecks If attacked by such vessels
fashioned TO drop explosives from aloft
Battle SHIPS would likewise be wiped from
the BOSOM OF The sea in the twinklng of an
eye. Batteries on land would have to tie
ueFtscu 1or shooting vertically, as birds are
snot on the wing. Il would be much more
difficult to hit an acrodrome in this manner
imam q balloon, on account of the former S
much smaller surface and much greater
velocity.
A well-informed aerodynamist who ex-
pressed this View t, the writer gave it as
his further belief that the speed of aero
dromes will some day leach as high a.,
l', miles an hour 1t would be very dill
cut 10 hit one while in motion and if
struck the chances are that a PROTECTIVE
would pass through it without impaiiilg
us h'Sht. Aerodromcs, he says, will not
Larry guns OF present design heavier thar
slXty to seventy ponds. A successful
aer|ufo1ne Will doubtless be able to run all
udS WITHOUT renewing fuel or water if a
sufficiently light condenser can be perfect
'u. otlei military values of aerodromes
VIII De their uses as signaling apparatus
ana as observatories for investigating the
Notifications Of an enemy
Although Secretary Langley has ignored
me adaptation OF buoyant gas to his fly
ing machine, IL is the opinion of many thai
without this the airship will never he
come commercial success Gas eny.Iopes
"oulu impair the speed of such vehicle
however, and make it a prey for the wind
Sun 1t is said that as his ascent is CON
uhued the aeronaut will sooner or later
una some air current blowing in the de-
sired direction.
For Long Distance Lines
An engineer who has paid great atten-
uon to the practical and economic view of
aerial navigation tells the writer that it is
improbable that any system of airshps
can ever compete successfully with rail-
ways or steamships, as far as short dis
tances are concerned. Their use will be for
shooting over long distances quickly Long
distance airship lines he SAYS, will at
Hrst compete only for passenger business
lreieht being carried more cheaply by
rail or water
Ihere Is no reason, however in his opin-
ION, why airships may not insure as great
comfort ana safety as the I1odern steam
snip. 10 insure safety the terodromta Of
,he iuture must be provided with life
poats ana full complement of parachutes
II must nave reserve set of engines and
proPeiers, and II buoyant envelope be
eseu, there must be carried generators
Tor manufacturing gas en- route
Hundreds of inventors, anticipating the
successful invention of the airshin. have
patented al sorts of devices Tor aerial nav
lgauon. None, however, has ever flown
over lao patents for arShips have been
granted by our government. Almost all
are LOT vessels with the balloon attach
ment. None resembles the Langley aero
drome in principle.