The morning times., 1897-01-31
Watching THEM
FROM THE SKIES

warfare, as by its application the Off
GERS of one warship can be apprised of the
enemy's movements by signals from the
clouds, while the enemy will he ignorant
of being watched This invention is to some
extent modification, and vast improve
ment upon the war balloon, yet il bears so
ht'le resemblance TO the ordinarily con-
ceiNed idea Of that machine that the Oh
server might well be pardoned for mistak-
ing 1t for anything except an air-Ship.
Stationed at Vladivostock, that lonely
Russian naval station on the east coast of
Siberia, Mr.. Skobeloff has during the past
few years had ample tiIGe and opportunity
10 arrange and perfccs his plans for n sue
oesslui trip among the clouds. Being liin.-
self a naval man, and knowing fun wen
the many disadvantages and obstacles
which warship has 60 encounter, ne set
himself TO find if possible the remedy.
As a Result OF his Thought and labor, he
has just completed the aerial ohscrya-
tiog car, and after ha wing successfully tried
a working model, large one is now being
constructed at Vladivostock, and 1T viii in
the early spring be placed in actual serrice
on one of the Russian warshiIIs of the Pa
cific squadron.
This peculiar contrivance, which enables
the officers OF a ship to Learn the plans and
movements of the enemy miles away, con
sists OF three large cylinders, two of equal
size and one larger one, all OF aluminium.
The two cylinders, which are Of equal size,
are cigar shaped. and are held in place
side by side and suspended from the larger
cylinder, which is about eighteen feet long
and eight feet in diameter at tile front,
while the stern is some what smaller. Con
structed as il is Of the lishtcsf of metals,
this largest cylinder is exceedingly light,
notwithstanding its size, andis atfhe same
time very strong.
Projecting from each side OF this main
cylinder are two sheets Of aluminium which
might be termed wings. They are seven
feet long and three feet in width. At the
stern Of the cylinder there is fixed Ia rye
but light fan wheel, or propeller, which
when IN motion acts in the air exactly al
a ships propeller does in the water, fore
ing the car onward through space. Extend
ing downward are four light but ST rnng
steel rods, Ia which are attached the two
smaller cylinders, parallel with each other,
but sufficiently far apart to allow for the
working OF the machinery of the car be-
tween them. THIS machinery is made
upon the bicycle plan and consists OF a
seat, in appearance very Ike that of an
ordinary bicycle, curved handle-bar, and
one wheel This single wheels behind the
riders seat and between the two cylinders,
its run being even with the lower surface
of the cylinders.
The appearance Of this wheel is some
what peculiar, inasmuch as fitted TO the
outer rim are f1anges or paddles. Square
pieces OF metal, which when the wheel is re-
VOWED act on the air as fans and serve 10
help along forward action of the aerial car
The two lower cylinders are held in their
relative positions by steel rods running be-
tween them. A connecting rod or bar runs
parallel with the cylinders between these
crossbaTs, and this serves as support to
the saddle and pedals 1t is forked at one
end in order to allow il to pass on both
sides of the paddle wheel, which turns On
the second cross-rod. A sprocket wheel
and chain is fitted between the pedals and
passing back over a sprocket wheel con-
nected with the paddle wheel works that
part OF the machine. There is, however, a
second sprocket wheel connected with the
paddle wheel, and over this passes an end
less chain, which extends up to and over a
with the propeller at the rear Of the large
upper cylinder.
The steering gear is another peculiar fea
ture Of this unique craft What III bi
cycle is the fork, extending downward
from the handle bar, is in this machine q
straight steel rod, at the end of which is a
horizontal cog wheel, around which passes
a chain. This chain passes forward anC
..,.a.s
end Of a vertical rod running up between
the two forward bars, which connect the
upper cylinder with the two lower ones
At the upper end of this center rod is Sc
a cog wheel similar to the lower one. Thi:
wheel as it revolves when the rod is turne,
works on two smaller cog wheels placed al
right angles with it, and these in turn, by
means OF chains, govern the wings on either
side or the upper cylinder When the rider
turns the handle bar toward the right tn,
left wing of the machine is raised and th'
opposite one depressed TO any desired angle
thus acling upon The principle OF an aero
plane and governing the course OF the ali
craft, either in a diagonal upward or down
ward direction or right or left. The turning
of the handle bar in the opposite direction
has exactly the reverse result.
This unique aerial observation car is FOL
use on the surface of the water as we'll As
in the air, and for that reason the bot
toms of the lower cylinders are ballast ed
with lead so that when in the water the
strange craft VIII retain an upright posi-
lion. All three cylinders are filled with
gas when the machine is in use, and this
gives it rising power. When il is known
that an enemy's ship is in he vicinity. ant
yet too far away to bc sighted from cveI
the masthead. the services Of the aeria
observation car are called iHto requisi.
tion. Tie cylinders are partially filled
with gas. which is carried for that Dur
pose in large storage tank on board the
ship. The car is then lowered over tine
ships side into the water, and the rider, who
IL is suggested by the inventor. be one al
the special corps OF aeronauts attached
to the service for that particular purpose
takes his seat upon the machine. The fill
ing of the cylinders is then completed
and the airship rises from the water like
huge seabird.
Experiments with working models have
shown that the machine is easily controlled
when in the air, by means OF the wings
while the paddle wheel and propeller give
it its forward motion. High up in the All
tie rider has an unobstructed view oyel
miles Of water. No bullets can reach him
and with a powerful glass he can at leisure
locate the hostile ship or ships. and by the
signal code give the information to his owr
ships officers who are watching him
through their marine glasses. When it i.
desired to return to the ship the turning of q
lever beneath the handle bar OF the ma
chine opens set of valves in each Of tia,