The evening times., 1899-10-17
FLYING MACHINES OF OLD
Ingenious Models Said to Have
Been Made by the Ancients.
Public Opinion 81 Stumbling Block in
the Why Of Such Inyentions-S0ne
Amusing Comments on Methods
Recommended for Successfully
Navigating Devices In the Air.
Grors de London standardA

During the last few years great interest
has been excited by the experiments made
by various scientists with flying ma
chimes OF varied design. We are in III :
habit of looking on balloons as the inven-
ton, Il not of this century at least OF
quite recent times, for it escapes our no
tice that in ages past there existed fables
OF certain enterprising moItals who es-
sayed 10 fly. The fate OF Icsru5 the first
aeronaut Of any consequence, no doubt dis
couraged the scientific world Of the time
but after certain interval the ancients
seem to have returned to the search. and.
like wise men, made things TO hy by them
selves which did lot require human be-
ing on board as steersman, 50 TO speak.
According to 4 sayant of the seventeenth
century, the vclant, or flying autouata,
are such mechanical contrivanee5 as have
self motion, whereby they are carried
aloft In the open air like the fight Cf
birds"
Many ingenious models were manufas-
tured by the philosophers of old, and
among noted ''yolant automata" may be
mentioned that wooden dove made by
Archytas. a citizen OF Fayentum, and one
Of Plato's acquaintance; and that wooden
agile framed by Regiomontanus IT Novem-
berg which. by way of triumph, did fly out
of the city 10 meet Charles V" fowl of
some discernment by faith, although OF
wood The talented RegiorlontanuS is
also reported to have made an iron fly,
which. when he invited any of his friends,
would fly to each OF them, round the
table, and at length (as being weary re-
turn unto its master" But this should
be taken with a grain of salt, and even
Carbon, 10 whom all things were possible,
''sse:ns 10 doubt the possibility CT any such
coatrivance." His objection is on the
ground OF weight, for TO have sufficient
strength such toy must, he thinks, be
too heavy to hy; but yet (saith hx, if
il be little helped in the first rising and
If there be any wind to assist il in the
fight, then there is nothing TO hinder. but
that such moticls may be possible" Our
seventeenth century authority, in answer
to this objection, states that il Is easy
tc contrive such springs, and other instru-
ments, whose strength shall much exceed
heir heaviness.
This is humbly submitted to Mr. Maxim
as a good sendcd for his flying machine;
let it leap into the air by means OF strong
springs and SC dispense with cumbersome
rails. Such contrivance could net fail
to strike terror into the hearts of an
enemy. although it might be equally dis
turbing to those with whom it jumped. We
are told that "Scaliger conceived the fran
ing of such volant automata to be very
easy" but yet he failed to solve the prob
lem satisfactorily. The use OF various gases
lighter than the surrounding atmosphere
was not then discovered. although chose
ancient motions were thought to be con-
triyed by the force of some included air. as
il there had been some lamp or other fire.
within it which might produce such forei-
Bile rarefaetion, as should give motion to
the whole frame" However this may have
bopp r n Il
time scientist, for this may be better
performed by the strength of some such
Spring as is commonly used in Watches"
Wings .of one continuate substance like
those of Bats" are most strongly recon-
mended, but nothing in this kind can
be perfectly determined without particu-
lar trial." Ii only this can be successfully
carried out, there is not any imaginable
Invention that could prove of greater ban-
eft in the World or Glory to the Author;
and, therefore. it may justly deserve their
Enquiry, who have both Leisure and Means
for such Experiments
Public opinion has always been a great
stumbling block in the way of the realiza-
ton of such strange invention being
esteemed only as the dreams of a melan-
choly and distempered Fancy" We are
informed that there are four several ways
whereby this flying in the air hath been
or may be attempted viz: First, by spir-
its or angels; second, by the help of fowls:
third, by wings fastened Immediately TO
the body; fourth, by flying chariot. The
first two means seem too uncertain. as one
would be too mach at the mercy of the
spirit or fowl, even II such ar agent could
be procured ready and able to perform the
required service. Marcus Polus mentions
a fowl in Madagascar which he calls a
Ruck which can with as much
ease soop rp an Elephant as our Kites do
a Mouse" but this bird is hard 10 catch.
To fly with wings attached to the body
seems even more dangerous than descend
ing in a parachute. and those who have
tried this means of iocomotion have been
unsuccessful. for the truth Is most OF
these Artists did unfortunately misearry by
falling down, and breaking their Arms or