The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-05
LOOKING DOWN ON WARSHlPS
An Aerial Observation Machine With
GaS-Pilled Aluminium Cylinders,
OBSERVING The ENEMY'S MOVEMENTS
The Observer from His Lofty Perch, which
Widens Greatly the Angle Of Vision,
VIII Telegraph by Signals to
His squadron Below.

pert, Is destined to be OF great service in
marine warfare as by its application inc
officers OF one warship can be apprlsed
of the enemy movements by signals
from the clouds while the enemy viii be
ignorant of being watched.
This invention Is 10 some extent a mod
ifcation. and a vast improvement upon
the war balloon. yet it bears so little
resemblance TO the ordinarily conceived
idea of that machine that the observer
might well be pardonod for misiakins u
for anything except an airship.
II is in fact a combination OF all the
practicable features Of air crafts con-
structed during the past quarter OF a
century, and ia addition has a number OF
entirely new and novel features which
give il a success heretofore unattained 10y
any invention for aeriai navigation.
With this car the manOeuvres OF nos
tile ships can be observed long before
they come within the range OF VISION
Of anyone aboard ship, and high among
the clouds. the rider OF this novel ma
chine signals his fellows by means OF
colored flags just what the enemy j.
doing.
Stationed al Vladivostock. That lonely
Russian naval station on the east coast
Of Siberia, Mr.. SkObclon has during the
past few years had ample time TO arrange
and perfect his plans ior "a suoceas-"
trip among the clouds.
Being himself a naval man and moving
full well the many Disadvantages ana
obstacles which a warslip has 10 en-
counter he set himself 10 find If possible
the remedy.
AERIAL OBSERVATION AR
AS a result of his thought and labor
he has Just completed the aerial Observa-
ton car and after having successfully
tried a working model. "a large one is no"
being constructed at NladiVostock ana
IL will IN the early spring be placed li
actual service on one of me RUSSIAN war
ships Of the Pacific squadron.
This peculiar contrivsnce which enables
tho officers OF q ship TO learn the plans
and movements Of the enemy miles away
consists Of three large cylinders. TWO OF
equal size and one larger one, all OF
aluminium.
The two cylinders which arc Of equal
size are cigar-shaped and arc held in
place side by side and are suspended
from the larger cylinder. which is about
eighteen feet long and eight feet in diam
eter at the front. while the stern is some
what smaller.
Constructed as il is OF the iehtest of
metals. this larger cylinder Is exceedingly
light. Notwithstanding its size and IL al
the same time very strong.
Projecting from each side of this nam
cylinder are two sheets of aluminium
which might be termed wings. Trey are
seven feet long and three feet ia width.
At the stern OF the cylinder there is
fixed a large but light fan-wheel or pro-
peilor. which when I'm motion acts I'm the
air exactly as a ships propeller does li
the water. forcing the car onward through
space.
Extending downward are four light
but strong steel rOos 10 which are at
tached the two smaller cylinders par
| .NH.I .rN.I .ugI. thor lfFf EufHHHLnHNN Tar
apart TO allow for the working OF the mt
cnincry of the car between them.
UPON THE BICYCLE PLAN.
This machinery is made upon the hl-
pearance very ike that OF AN ordinary
si,,cle curved handle bar and one wheel.
This single wheel is behind the rider s.
seat ana between the two cylinders
its run being even with tho lower surface
ef the cylinders.
The appearance Of his wheel Is some
What peculiar inasmuCh AS uttcd TO the
outer rim are fiangcs or paddles. Square
pieces OF metal which when the wheel ls
r~evOlyed act on the air rs fans and serve
TO help along the forward motion Of the
aerial car.
The two lower cylinders are held in their
relative position by steel rods unnlne
between them. 4 connecting rod or bar
runs parallel with the cylinders bctween
these crOssbars ana this serves as sup
port TO the saddle and pedals. IL Us FORK
ed az one end I'm ardcr 10 allow D. 90
pass on both sides of the paddle wheel
which turns on the second cross rod.
A sprOckct wheel and chain Is fitted be-
tween the PEDALS and passing back over
"a sprocket wheel connected with the pad
die wheel works that part OF the machine.
There u.s.. however. a second SprOckct
wheel connected with the paddle wheel
and over this passes an endless chain
which extends mp 10 and over "a small
wheel at one side of and connected with
the propeller al the rear of the large
upper cylinder.
The steering gear is another peculiar
feature Of this unique craft. What IN q
bicycle Is the fork. extending downward
from the handle bar. IS. In this machine.
a straight steel rod. at the end of which
is q horizontal cog-wheel around which
passes q chain.
This chain passes forward and around
another cOg-whccl which is at the end
OF a vertical rod running uD between On
two forward bars which connect the up
per cylinder with the TWO lower ones.
At the upper end Of this center rod IS
set "a cog-wheel similar 10 the lower one.
This wheel as II r%evOlvcs when the rod
is turned. works ON two smaller cog
wheels placed at right angles with 30.
ana these in turn. by means of chains.
govern The wings on either side OF the
upper cylinder.
on WATER TOO.
When the rider turns the handle bar
toward the right. the left VIM OF the
machine As raised and the opposite Que
depressed 10 any desired angle. thus act
ing upon the principle Of an acrOplane
governing the course of the air
craft. either in q diagonal upward or
downward direction. or right or left.
The turning Of tho handle bar I'M the
opposite direction has exactly the re-
verse result.
This unique aerial observation car IS
FOR use on the surface of tho water as
well as i'm the ain and for that reason
the bottoms Of the lower cylinders are
ballastcd with lead so that when in the
water the strange craft Will retain am
upright position.
All three cylinders arc filed with gas.
when the machine is I'm use and this gives
II rising power.
When II is known that an cnemy's shin
IS in the vicinity and Vet too far away
TO be sighted from even the masthead.
the service OF the aerial observation car
are called into requisition.
The cylinders are partially filed with
gas which IS carried fer that purpose in
a large storage tank on board the ship.
The car IS then lowered over the ships
side into the water. and the rider, who
is suggested by the inventar he one
OF the special corps Of experienced aero
rluts. attached TO the service for that
particular purpose. takes his seat upon
the n achlne.
The filing Of the cylinders is then
completed ana the air shin rises from
the water like a huge sea bird.
Experiments with working models have
shown tnat the machine Is as easily con-
trolled when I'm the air. by means or the
wings. while the paddle wheel and pro-
pellor give IL its forward motion.
ITu-l. - In I'll I'm tn. VHNLY IAm IN