Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-23
THINKS he HAS SOLVED
PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT
Continued from Page Six

mense power his wings exert. The
length of wing. the rapidity of move
ment and the size of the breast
muscle go together and vary in diff
ferent birds. for instance, the goose
and the quail.
There are other factors in the
birds fight. namely. the tail and
| feathers. The feather reduces the
specific gravity of the bird. and 1
would not he surprised to learn that
they are permeated by some gas that
tends to give them buoyancy. The
tail acts as a ruGder and assists in
raising and lowering as well as turn
| ing to the side. But it is not the only
factor in producing those results. The
triple pressure eXerted by the wings
also Is n factor. And this is, l think.
an insurmountable difficulty in at
tanning a flight so perfectly under
control.
All the other results can be attained
| by using different devices. But the
completely and variability of the
wings motion can not be initiated by
machinery. An airship would never
be used for the purpose of capturing
bugs and gnats. Consequently, such
perfection is not essential.
Combination Desirable
Gas to- a limited extent will give a
certain amount of buOyancy. Wings
can be constructed so as to be under
perfect control. that will raise or low
er the ship. 4 rudder or tail will con-
troll the side motion, and a fan or
wheel will give it the forward motion.
The modern improvements in machin-
cry and material gives ieXibility and
strength and lightness still much
greater that the bird possesses.
The difference between the machine
and the bird * that the machine re
quires three factors to accomplish
what the bird does with the wing.
| The control the engineer eXerts is not
so perfect and instantaneous in its
| action as the nerve system of the bird.
Consequently the machine cannot do
all that the bird can. but il can do all
that is necessary to get the desired
results. \ machine that has buoyancy
without bulk. progressive energy SUI
perior to the wind pressure il meets,
aero-planc and rudder under control
viii be a success.
| lutNf' idtiN iltlllS lililtlSlai'l as tlt y
undoubtedly are by the aiority of
those who are trying to solve the prob,
lem of aerial navigation. il is only a
question of time when mechanical
Ingenuity will construct machine
that will give the desired results.
Theoretically Prof. Langley has un-
oEuubtedly solved the problem, al
though ne has not yet been able to
construct machine that will do the
work he desires. He may never do it
Some one with greater constructive
ability. or probably with less. may
stumble onto an idea which will en-
able him to construct machine that
will give the desired effect. But Prof
| Langley was the first, il appears 10
me. who has demonstrated the requi'
site elements of a practical airship
And he should. as he undoubtedly Will
receive the credit due an inventor. The
element in congress that caused the
curtailment of requisite funds for con.
tinucd experiments represents the
same petty, short sighted elements
with which Morse, Fulton, and other
great inventors had to contend.
Let us hope the national Legislature
will reconsider and assist the profess
sor in continuing his experiments.