Evening star., 1903-08-31
NEW FLYING MACHINE
MR.. BERLINER'S EFFORTS TO
MAKE ONE.
Has Constructed One Model That
Operated Successfully Tor
Brief Period. s.

Emile beTnner, VINO rs Ut pTeSeHI dt mar
veys Lake. near Wilkesbarre. Pa. is ev-
pected to return to this city next week. and
push forward the work on his new flying
machine. His son, Edgar Berliner, who has
been developing the models and conducting
the preliminary lights, under the direction
of his father said this morning that he was
going to leave for Boston in about two
weeks, to remain all winter, and that hits
father would complete the three models on
which he (the SOM has been working. The
next flight will probably not occur for
month or more, although the young Mr..
Berliner said that even such general
statement of the time as this might be in
correct for 1.-The flying machine is not
thing that can be perfected in day or
month"; and new things are constantly de-
veoping to make the time OF the test at
present uncertain
Mr. Berliner's son said further that his
fathers model seemed to be entirely differ
ent from the model which Prof. Langley is
experimenting upon. However, he said,
Il know no more about Prof. Langley'S fly
ing machine than is known by the general
public, which is too little to make an accu-
rate comparison" AS to his father plans
for the future he would say nothing. In
fact, Mr.. Berliner'S experiments have not
been carried far enough to enable him to
make definite plans. When he will make
the details of his model public he cannot
yet say. His object in publishing as much
as he has is chiefly to let it be known that
he is striving in this particular direction,
and to provide printed evidence that might
be useful in patenting the invention later.
Models Now Under Construction.
The models now under construction are
improvements on the which flew
successfully at the test on the 10Th of Au-
gust They are notifications of the first
one. and each is for the purpose of testing
some particular new idea. The work on the
models is being carried on in Mr.. Berliner's
laboratory on Columbia road. The former
tests were made on roads nearby early in
the morning before most persons were
about.
On August 10 the model lifted itself from
the ground. after a slight push and sus-
tanned itself in steady. even flight for fifty
feet. at almost even height of three
and onehalf feet from the ground. 1t
also raised itself steadily to a height of
eight feet from the ground No throwing
devise of any kind was employed, a mere
push of the hand being given in starting.
Small wheels. mounted elaStically, are pro-
vided. to aid in attaining the initial speed.
These. it is said are all that is necessary
on fairly smooth surface.
The so-caled flying machine usually be-
longs to one of two classes. the steerable bal
loon, or the rapidly moving aeroplane; and
the latter is generally admitted to contain
the true principle of the future flyer as it
is constructed upon the principle of birds
flight. 1t is to this latter class that Mr..
Berliner'S model belongs.
Thirty years ago Mr.. Berliner proposed,
In a communica ton to the Scientific Amert-
can, as a principle of propulsion for flying
machines. a stream of compressed air or
gas. the same that he is using at present.
Elshteen years ago he constructed a full
sized model, which. however. was unsuc-
cessful
According to his analysis of the birds
nlght, Its two principal actions are the
producing OF current of compressed air
by the beating of the wings and the lift
Ing forward of the body of the bird on this
current. The second motion, like that of
a kite, Is, he thinks, greatly aided by the
tall, or by back wings, where the tail 10
small Therefore, in the inventors opinion,
flying machines should be successful that
are made to produce current of COM
pressed air In their fight, with a tail sur
move the whole forward-a small, light
motor.
1t is on these lines that Mr. Berliner re-
Gently constructed a small model of a fly
ing machine, which at this early stage in
the experiments lifts. in its flight. weight
of over one pound for every square foot
of horizontal area, at speed estimated at
less than twenty miles hour.
The Model Flying Machine
The model is of aluminium and tinpIate with
oak rods and metal tubing for supports,
and weighs about thirty pounds including
ballast. The motive power for the horizon
tai flight was supplied by two common
skyrockets, attached horizontally. to the
rear of the machine. The machine meas
ures 31ax5 feet in width by about feet
long from tip to tip.
The main body consists of three alumni
mum arches. open below and arranged side
by side. These open at the front to
admit air freely They are fourteen inches
wide and describe third of circle One
foot from the rear they begin to incline and
gradually slope down to the tail, which is
made of pieces of tin about 1la feet long
Ihe test demonstrates that the model flies
bes5 with the rear slightly lower than the
front. The ballast was suspended from the
portion just under the tail where
the propellfng machinery will very likely |
be placed when the machine is made large |
enough to carry a man to operate 1t.
There are no wings of any kind to the
machine No silk nor canvas is used in
its construction, but it is said that it may |
be found advisable to substitute something
OF this kind for the metal now being used. |
The part of the machine which is movable |
In any way like wings Is the tail con
like the spreading tail of a bird
Mr.. Berliner and his son have made a |
thorough study of this principle of bird |
navigation. In the future the tail will re- |
ceive special study. Mr.. Berliner thinks |
that 1t should be made of overlapping steel |
blades, and be capable of being expanded |
or contracted, or quickly given any angle, |
in imitation of a birds tail 1t is believed |
descent in case of sudden accidents In the |
air, because of the sustaining power of the |
arches. In case the machine should fall |
into the water in any of its future flights, |
enough cork sheathing will be used to float |
1t safely.