Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-21

so that the kite may be started from
the surface of nearby body of water.
The boats are Connected by strong trus-
ses, and resting on these are four large
kites like the white Flyer" each con-
sisting of sixteen large tetrahedrall
cells. In all there are 272. cells in the
kite.
The upper tiers of the kite are Of
red nainsook and the lower of white.
When everything is ready this huge
kite is towed out into the bay and
her flying line made fast on board
the tug, which is started ahead at full
speed, twelve or thirteen knots an
hour. On the first trial of this re-
markable kite heavy downpour of
rain set in, and, the line being too
short, there was fear that she would
not :ly. But no mishap occurred. and
the great kite, with her three boats
gracefully as bird and made a sue
cessful fight.
1t is DR.. Bells belief that a kite
which would successfully bear aloft
the weight of two or three men achieves
the successful ratio between sailing
surface and construction weight, and
that with properly made propellers 1t
will fly equally well under motor power
as when pulled by rope, either with
a horse or tug. The large kites have
ample space in the interior for the
motor and the passenger, and from
the experiments already made it seems
not unlikely that they possess a steadi-
ness of flight when once started that
would make them easily comfortable
by the operator.
1t has been found that the kites,
when they reach height of from g.,
900 to 5000 feet, encounter breezes
that are much more uniform and steady
in their direction and course than those
which may be blowing at the time on
the surface of the earth. Not infre-
quently 1t happens that when there is
entire calm at the surface of the
earth, the kites will enter a breeze
blowing at the rate of eight or ten
miles at height of 1000 feet.
Some idea Of the buoyaacy of the
tetrahedral kite may be gained from
| the statement that it has twenty-five
square feet of supporting surface to
each pound of weight in the structure.
A wild duck, whose flight is perhaps
as rapid as that of any of the bird
kind, has only one-half of a square
foot of supporting surface in its wings
to pound of weight Another compari-
son affords some estimate of the Won
derful buoyancy of DR.. Bells kite. He
has estimated that the mosquito pos
sesses far greater powers OF flight than
the bird. For instance, pound OF mos
quitos has an area of wing surface OF
forty.nine square feet The tetrahedral
kites attain fully one-half of this ratio.
| DR.. Bell will resume his work on the
kites this summer, and expects to he in
Baddeck by the first Of June Ills
workmen have been engaged this year
on new kite modelled on the plan OF
Victor To- which is expected to be
more wonderful than any of it's pre-
decessors Victor t. has shown re.
markable facility in starting, risins
from the hand, without running, in the
/ highest breeze Its model is SO strong
that a heavy man coulc stand on inc
apex. In other words, DR.. Bell has
achieved in this new kite a llghtness
that, as compared to the Eddy or Har
grave kites. is as 100 to /.
The problem involved in the use o.
the motor is one which must be ap
preached very slowly. Even the re
markable engine constructed by Mr.
Manley for the Langley aeroplane is
not regarded as possessing sufficient
strength to operate the largest Bel
kite. When DIR. Bell finds motor sui
ficienily strong and light, he expects
to conduct a series of experiments with
his windboat starting from the surface
of the bay, and undertaking to asceno
by skimming and making short flights
at a moderate height of water, without
danger to life. He will not undertake
a speed greater than ten or flfteer
miles an hour. AS the operator galn'
knowledge of the emergencies that be
set aerial fight he will turn on the
power and increase the altitude and dis
lance.