The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27

4 SAIL THROUGH SPACE DER FALMOUTH TOWN.
Copyrtght BY c. II. Ldntson.
Reproduced by special permission to THE sUS.
the kite recently flown at Falmouth Fireside
was constructed. 1t having been found that
slight changes In the position OF the weight
carried were sufficient for steering. no rudder
was attached TO this last ship. We are by no means
certain that We have yet %arrive'!. at the proper
iorln for aefo-p!anes or curves. IN tact. we itei
Quiie certain that we are some dist, nee from 1t,
although these kites have demonstrate that
they are com paratIveIy safe and stable while In
the air. may be pAr"oned Ior saying that tbs
comparative safety TO the navigator 10 a great
pom gained. The immense danger. to hum IN
life IN u, IL mpts at aerial navigation has been a
tremcndOus draw back 10 scientific experiment.
ing heretofore, With danger 10 lie anu liuhb re,
duced TO a minimum. we certainly shall md
scientific experimenting much more easy OF ac-
comp ishinent in the future. The fact that a
SCIENTIST can now. with Almost absolute safety
pertinent In aetna practice while saiiing in mid
AR Is tho biggest aavance yet made along The
The lest practice seems to show that the
principal supporting surface s OF air ships should
DC uear he front, and tn 1t the following suria.es
shOui" lie llghtened and Simply used 10 Keep The
main or supporting suriacts at The proper . ng!le
to the wind. One o. III. most disheariening aim.
.uiiies Lhal ! have lound in these large kiles is
Their liability 10 injury when on the ground and
IN starting or .ilghting. Un!ess they 70 up ON
an even k CT one size may catch in the ground
must Land on an even Keel. lnasmuch ms close
10 me ground tho curreIts OF air sweryo around
'bb Fobb NoioAtit 80 "
ehstfy 10 make ~ fair start and ming. have
lound II n great advantage 10 have the airship
run on wheels, and 80 have used pneumatic.
tIieA biCyCIe wheels III my late experiments. ana
nave IoUnu them yust he thing needed Tor Tho
tFick. A lish, small wheel or castor o. this sort
" NE III oI each wing might prevent serious
injury 10 n'nCh.Ies, as l. IL nccess ry 10 make
IN III light and strong. The larger the kites the
I'oE, d'Iilcult II 10 TO make hem light ana strong.
aIlhO gil our / rye kite weighed 1875 than three
o"heto 10 the square .oDi o. Sustaining surface,
Srl Il Wound y silly sustain "a man when sus-
ppH'!ei ron either Two OF The outer. ribs a DIS
tahte 0I twenty feet, and AS In The air ~ was
g'oh'S supported over The Whole surface, IL was
ua NE amply strong.
! 10uA pains to nave each vertical strain sup
poit4 ~ three piano wires, each capable or
1hllhS 300 podnus. On our first trial, a year
~ We Dana ire vertical struts separating tho
70 slf.hcts were not quite sufficient 10 stand
.nt strain, and ia } were replatci by stronger
ones Weakness In these points caused, you
s"..o. 900 iecl. A dummy was on board, but
nm would not have been hurt, Tor he fail
"oa"S Eehile as u uOve's lighting on the RrOunl.
me anchor we. invented by myself. "as
saHst slca uy Mr. WOy!om's plan OF handling. a
Tahueul string oi HIS NJ lay kites. That is the
""u,iG.I method, using snatch and cleti."
TN klnL o, rope do you use in your work T.
'nEhuN correspond, nj asked.
thp udS o. rope has passed with mo as far
sud M. LaInson. II use piano wiz suCh as Is
ITbelht bIue itill. The limit 10 the height OF
~ hlsh' OF An air ship il the woignt and wind
rIn'slre against the string. The strongest mate.
n piano ware, and there ore Inc highest nights
m'nG Zen o~ntlined by its u.s.. In 0ur prolim!-
800 HlShiS we h ~ to lso re. 20; but tho days OF
''pV III scientific kite lying are over"