The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12

| feet higher than the place OF alighting.
| This Is 10 prevent the starting from a
| high tower and gradually descending to
the ground, as 50 many machines can
now do.
"The way this difficulty IS overcome
Is by means OF a large air cell IN the top
Of the body Of the whale-like structure.
This great hollow compartment hghtens
| the upper part and prevents the snip
from turning over, and 1t also IS httcd
In such a way that II catches the whole
force Of the wind. The sides open to-
ward whichever way the wind j. blow
ing, and an immense current can De put
on from the wind alone.
"1n addition TO this the professor has
a very ingenious arrangement, something
on the balloon principle, by means OF
which he manages 10 rise from the
ground anywhere. When IN the air this
is cut loose and allowed TO sail away.
With each fight one Of these balloon
affairs must be sacrificed. but the cost
is small compared 10 final savings.
"The second difficulty overcome Is that
Of steering. This IS done in by 'pintln
her nose to the wind az an old sailor
remarked who saw the little model float
ing around a room. There are ways OF
shutting off the air or one side OF her
nose and letting Il in on the other side.
a
occupy. And this. with similar manipu-
lation Of the tail causes the air-ship
to revolve or partly revolvc. or more IN
any desired direction.
ITS WINGS.
"Tho great spreading wings are 10 keep
the ship up In the air. Their resistance
is something mighty. When fully spread
they lie over hundreds Of feet Of atmo-
No
sails can be run up and spread out upon
the great network Of wire until the SKY
will lie fun Of fiat white sails resting APP
parently against the heavens. Consider
ing the weight which a large kite VIII
lift from the ground, the sails VIII De
more than ample 20 hold up the thousand
pounds which the arshlp will weigh,
with its pilot. gunner ammunition ana
all. Three men can entirely operate the
air-ship. And, allowing the inventors
calculation Of 100 pounds each, there viii
be over 800 pounds left for tho air-snip
and its ammunition. OF this. 100 pounds
ought 20 be ample for ammunition, a.
few volleys viii be needed and the re-
manning weight is I'm machine. With its
many air compartments this IS ample
Should the ammunition give out what
easier than 20 descend for more!
and that brings 20 the third hard
difficulty mastered by the inventor, the
work of coming down 10 the ground I'm
the right way without overturning or
dropping with force enough 10 hurt ma
chine or man. This he accOmplishes by
pumping the air out Of his air-cells.
1T is on the same principle as the
torpodo-boats. In the torpedo-boats you
rise 10 the surface by pumping water out
Of the water chambers. thus tightening
the torpedo enough TO rise to the surface.
CO. f.f f4 10 eg1 f.a
torpedo boat heavy enough TO 90 down.
In the air-ship YOU are dealing with
another element, that Of air And you
fall by pumping air out Of the air-shlp
II IS like a balloon when you let the air
out Of IT. IL falls 10 the ground. Tho
great extra sails. lying fat against tho
sky. are hauled in, and only the smaller
pues left for the dAscent. The plan
is to navigate the air-ship to a point