The herald., 1896-03-21

after the manner of birds wings, are
slightly vaulted upwards. The wings
are fixed by two rods laid crosswise, one
upon the other. and firmly connected
together. thus forming carrying frame,
or part Of Il carrying frame, to which
ihe perscn intending to fly may hold. so
as to be suspended between the two
wings. The inventor says:
"One can fly long distances with quito
simple devices. without taxing his
strength at all. and this kind of safe and
free motion through the air affords great
er pleasure than any other kind of sport.
From Il raised starting point. particular.
~ from the top of hill, one can. afte.
some practice. soar through the air.
reaching the earth only after having
gone Il great distance. For this purpose
have hitherto employed sailing appar
atus very like the outspread pinions of
soaring bird. The apparatus consists
Of Il wooden frame. covered with cotton
twill. which Is taken hold of by the
hands. the arms resting between cusl-
ions. The steering is brought about by
changing the center Of gravity. This
apparatus | had constructed with sup
porting surfaces Of ten to twenty square
metres. The large sailing surfaces move
in an incline Of one TO eight. so that one
is led 10 fly eight times as far as the
starting hill is high. The rudder is fast
eleu firmly behind in a horizontal and
vertical position.
"The machines weigh frGm 33 to 50
pounds. In order to practise flying with
these sailing surfaces one first takes
short jumps on a somewhat inclined sur
face. till he has accustomed himself to
be borne ny the air. Finally he is able
to sail over inclined surfaces as far as
lie wishes. The charm of such flight is
Understandable. and there could not he n
healthier motion or more exciting sport
in the open air. The present rivalry in
these exercises cannot but lead to Il con-
slant perfecting of the apparatus. The
construction is such that it resembles in
Ill its parts Il strut-frame. the joints of
which are calculated to stand pull OF
pressure. in order to combine the great
est strength with the least weight. A
single grip Of the hands is sufficient to
attach the apparatus safely to the body.
and one gets out of the apparatus just as
quickly on landing. In case Of a storm
the flying sail is folded up in half Il min
ute and can belaid by anywhere. If one
should not care to fold the apparatus. he
may await the end of the storm under
the cover of the wings. which are capa-
bic of protecting twenty persons. Even
the heaviest rain will not damage the ap-
paratus.
My experiments tend particularly in
two directions. On the one side | en-
deavor to carry my experiments in sail
ing through the air with immOvable
wings to this extent: I practise the
overcoming of the wind in order to pen
citrate. if possible into the secret of con-
tinued soaring flight. On the other hand
| try to attain the dynamic flight by
means of Tapping wings, which are in
troducel simply as an addition to my
sailing flight. The mechanical contri-
vances necessary for the latter, which
can reach Il certain perfection only by
gradual development do not allow yet
Of my making known any definite re-
suits. But | may state that since my
flights of last summer l am ON much
more intimate terms with the wind. 1t
strikes the flying surface from above,
the flying body shoots downward like
an arrow, and might so be smashed to
pieces.
Just as the starting from the earth
is rather difficult for the larger birds.
the human body being still heavier,
meets with peculiar difficulties at the
first flight upwards. The larger birds
take a running start against the wind
or throw themselve into the air from
elevated point. in order to obtain free
use of their pinions. The case Is SINH
lar in human flight. But on taking
running start from Il cOrrpespOndingly
inclined surface. it is easy to begin ones
flight, even if there is no wind. Man
must follow the example of the birds
and start against the wind. but he needs
Il hill in the shape Of fiat cone, from
the top of which he may take starts
against the wind in any direction. For
this purpose have an artificial hill. tif-
teen metres high. erected near my house
not far from Berlin.
The energetic effect of changing the