Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
WINGS HAULED DOWN
Again Was the Airship Test
Postponed.
WIND BLEW BRISKLY
PROF. LANGLEY DID NOT GO TO
Underwater TODAY.
Evening Star Correspondent Gets First
! Complete and Accurate De-
scription Of Buzzard.
WIND BLEW BRISKLY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.


Underwater, Va. August 22.-The
| morning and early afternoon passed with
| cut the expected launching of the Langley
sixty-foot aerodrome. 1t must have been
the wind, which sprang up at sunrise and
continued blowing briskly that deferred
Prof. Manley trusting the big machine in
the air.
Until II o'clock there was an air Of eX-
pectancy about the houseboat. Prof. Man
ley. Mr. Reed and the others seemed to be
looking for the wind to calm down.
But 1t did not, and then Prof. Manley Or
dered q part of the force on top. This was
to remove the wings. which had been kept
there throughout the night in readiness for
an experiment today.
The big main doors were thrown open,
the float was moved around into position
and then everybody in the flotilla of pleas
ure yachts and press boats, which had
gathered around the Buzzard. expected to
see the big aerodrOme hoisted to the
launching car and sent off.
But Prof. Manley's intention was soon
evident, and there was much disappoint-
ment.
White Wings Hauled Down.
Each wing was carefully handed down
from It's compartment on the superstruc-
ture. During the process it was necessary
to open wide the end folding doors. The
aperture admitted an excellent view Of the
interior, showing the main body of the
flying machine.
Divested OF rudder and bowsprit. it was
hanging from wires across the house boat
instead of in the long direction
Close by was seen the steering appara-
tus, which is very much like that of the
model. 1t Is about eight feet long and
has four blades, adapting it to horizontal
well vertical steering.
With this added to the length OF the
front projecting piece the total measure
ment will be little in excess Of sixty feet.
At 1 O'Clock pm. the tug Key returned
from Quantico. Prof. Langley was not
aboard.
1t Is not believed a launching will be at
tempted this evening. So far as Is known
now. the only condition likely to postpone
a test much longer is bad weather.
Nondescript Rather Than Buzzard.
Prof. Langley's big flying machine is a
thing wonderfully and fearfully made. The
intricate mechanism Of its motor, propel-
ling, steering and balancing devices is mar
velous to behold.
Without It's wings, as seen by the news
paper men for the first time when elevated
to the launching car. it looked like any
thing but apparatus for sustaining itself
In the air.
Nondescript Is the term suggested on
first impression.
In fact, there is probably nothing ever
cOuSlTuCleu ny the manu- u man 10 WHICH
the bare body of the aeroplane may be ap
propriately likened.
But to mechanical eye the strange ma
chine shows exact symmetry and perfection
of form in every part.
The constructive skill, the almost infinite
labor carefully and patiently expended on
the aerodrome, is abundantly evident every
where from its stem to its stern. Particu-
1arly Is this SO with regard to the section
amidships
Many Mechanical Parts.
Within a small area is punched together
parts imaginable.
| There are the boilers; the motor with its
appurtenances. wheels, cogs. cylinders,
tubes, valves. pistons. rods and bars, and
apparently a thousand other parts.
The central body of the machine is clip
teal. 1t consists Of three large steel tubes,
two forming the contour and the third run
ming through the middle.
This, without bowSprit and rudder at
tached, measures about forty-f1ve feet.
With the steering gear and the front piece
the entire length Is something like sixty
feet.
The breadth about the stern and bow is
a little over four feet but amidships, where
the principal machinery is located the
vessel broadens about four feet more on
each side.
Fore and aft, and about equal distances
from the ends of the main frame, are
bridges. which suggest those of a marine
vessel, for the attachment of the four
wings.
The Gasoline Motor.
The gasoline motor of the explosion type
Is stationed well below the principal sur
face.
1t weighs 200 pounds and generates some
thing in excess Of twenty-seven horse
power.
This Is connected with the propellers by
means of long rods. Each blade of the
latter Is about three feet long.
They are capable. with the engine work
ing full blast. of attaining 1.2O0 revolutions
a minute.
locity to the aerodrome of something like
forty miles an hour.
Close to the motor is located the naviga-
tors car.
1t is shaped like canoe. only broader.
1t has a delicate but substantial frame
work covered with canvas.
IT Is SO disposed that the aeronaut Is
in closest touch with his engine, and Is
in the best possible position for noting
the behavior Of all Of the parts and for
guiding the whole
Capacity for $50 Pounds
The capacity intended is for $50 pounds.
Down below the main body is device for
keeping the machine poised in the wind.
I 1t consists of two parts. both made of
canvas the front a rectangular shaped
piece. the long direction extending longitu-
dinally. The other position is vertical, so
that 1t tends to keep the ship in the wind.
acting just like the keel of boat or the
f1n Of fish.
Adjoining it is the other apparatus con-
sisting of three parts one straight and
the other two diverging at gradual angles.
These two work on hinges and are de-
signed to have some bearing upon the speed
Of the aerodrome.
Equally distributed about the airship are
i've conical-shaped bodies, empty and desig-
mated to act as floats.
To Assist In Balancing.
They assist in balancing while the ma
chine is in flight, and are expected to keep
It above the surface when 1t strikes tho
water .s-
With the wings adjusted this curious
craft Is ready for a fight. These are twen-
ty by ten feet by straight measurement.
but the tent-Hke shape gives a much great
er sustaining surface.
The finest kind of Oil silk is used In
the covering of the wings. They are ex-
ceedingly light for their wide expanse.
The work Of an hour Is required to at
ach them TO the bOdy Only limited