New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
11LIENTHAL's TwO-sToRY WINGS.

from some slight elevation he endcavored to glide
forward. By running "A short distance before leap
ing he acquired a certain amount OF momentum;
and the combined action OF the force Of gravita-
ton and the slant Of the wings also favored his
progress Although falling all the time he would
often advance several hundred feet before touching
terra nrma In order to secure strength and light
ness the fabric was made Of steel ribs. cloth and
wire and light trusswork erected over each
half In order to preserve the shape. The wings OF
one of these early machines had an area OF about
lGj square feet and measured 2G feet and Inches
from tip TO tip Subsequently he limited himself to
twenty-thrce feet
Sometimes Herr Lilienthal would jump from a
springboard, sometimes from the roof of a low
house and sometimes from the crest OF cliff. He
found that II he faced the wind on leapng into
the air he would be much better sustained than
otherwise He therefore made this essential
feature of his programme The wind did not al
ways come from favorable quarter, however. His
house or his Gin might not face the right point
OF the compass. Therefore, he built an artificial
mount bout three hundred feet high out In a plain
near Scglitz not far from Berlin. and this sloped
off equally in all directions. He thus enabled
10 launch himself easily against any breeze. After
q little the conical hill was surmounted with a
low sod-covered wooden tower. II the air had
been calm the experiments would have been par
TALLY successful no doubt. but the breeze had an
additional sustaining power. Subsequently he found
one Of the RhinOw Hills. about TWO hundred feet In
height exreently adapted to his use.
At first the attempt was made 10 sail In a
straight line like person going down aerial
toboggan slide. Then by shifting his weight and
bending his body in various ways. the experimental
would slightly alter the angle which his wings
struck the air After dropping rather moro rapidly
than usual for instance. and thus acquiring extra
velocity he would turn the wings up against the
wind little squarey. In this manner he
would be enabled to rise again perceptibly, not OF
course to the full elevation at which he started,
but sufficiently to make his course viewed from
one side undulatory Subsequently he provided his
steering gear with horizontal vane that would
permit him to alter the angle of his with
the horizon, within certain limits. much more
easily than before
After a little he also tried steering himself
around to one side or the other In curve. so as
to sail down the wind. He found that this trick
was attended with Unforeseen difficulties and dam
gers and he never really mastered the art Of per-
forming IL well Sill another advance IN his work
was TO try to flap his wings, which had previously
been rigid. He began by making only the tips NOV
able. and TO operate them he attached light gas
motor TO his machine Thus he spared the
necessity Of exerting any muscular strength for
that purpose. 1t his intention. eventually, to
use the motor TO flap the entire wing but 1t does
not clearly appear that he actually did 80.
Another modification in the construction OF his
apparatus putting joints In the frame. so that
It could be folded up for transportation. A ma
chine measuring twenty-three feet across could not
be convenientlv carried In ones pocket.
The latest recorded Improvement In Herr Llien-
that's apparatus was IA division or the supporting
surface into upper and lower deck. lie thus
had the area. but with less extent. The older
using It In midaiT. and turned rs to have the
wind at right angles with his course, the breeze
leverage and impaired his stability. IT was df-
hcult enough even in plain soaring on straight