The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-29

~ ONDON, December %. = Some
~ plain common sense upon the
- flying machine problem and
an interesting prophecy are con-
tanned in an article published by Sir
Hiram Maxim. After pointing out that
santos-Dumont has gone about as far as
1t is possible to go in navigating the air
by means of dirigibe balloons, the writer
says:
This one thing is certain: If we are
ever to fly, we must initiate nature-and
nature has no balloons. The innumer-
able flying machines of nature all depend
upon dynamic energy. and upon dynamic
energy alone, to raise them from the
ground and propel them through the air.
I'm my own experiments l have been
able to lift weight of 10000 pounds by
the motor propelled aeroplane. Once in
the air the chief difficulties to be over
come lie in two words-stability and
steering The last should present no
great trouble, but the first mentioned is
serious, though by no means a hope
less problem.
1.-THE aeroplane experimenter has a
practical study ever presented to him by
nature in the birds. The mystery of the
lowering bird is explained by the fact
that in the atmosphere there are little
ascending currents of air, into one of
which the bird flies and stays. His weight
may be dragging him down at two miles
an hour. but If the current is also rising
at pace of two miles the fall is neutral
lied.
Again, most of US have watched gull
following in the wake of a ship without
apparent exertion. The reason is that
the bird has fixed ON the exact spot In
the air wake of the ship, corresponding
| to the sea wake below, where the rush
of air bubbles up, and not only holds
him in his place. but carries him on.
of food. he has to fly very hard until he
gets back to his effective position.
THE aeroplane can never have the air
instinct of a gull or hawk. 1t resembles
more closely wild duck.
THE duck has of necessity to be strong,
for it neglects the air currents and
drives straight forward by the power of
its wings and breast muscles. The aero
plane is the duck of the air.
'The original formula reasoned out by
Newton and other mathematicians of
past generations were extremely unfa-
vorable and Encouraging to experiment.
ers with aeroplanes. Recent experiments,
4 J. 81 hot
formulas are very wide of the truth,
and that the lifting effect produced by
propelling an aeroplane through the air
at high velocity, and at a very slight
angle above the horizontal, is many times
as effective as 1t was supposed to be by
the older generation.
IT have recently made some expert
ments myself at the Crystal Palace
with an apparatus much more suitable
for the purpose than ever has been used
before, and find that there is no doubt
OF this point If well made aeroplane,
placed at a very slight angle above the
horizontal, is driven through the air at
a very high velocity the lifting effect is
about a hundred times as great as II
would appear to be by the old formula
Lord Rayleigh conducted some very in
teresting experiments few years age
to demonstrate this ancient error.
Now that we know that an aeroplane
will lift much more than was originally
| expected and as the manufacturers OF
and experimenters with motor cars have
already developed a very efficient motor
with amazing power in proportion to its
weight, 1t would appear that the motor
and the corrected formula may solve the
| problem. 1t remains a question. as Lord
| Rayleigh put it, of "a lot of time and q
lot of money
THE future aeroplane will not be q
thing Of the cities until such times as