Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-07-28

which would be gained by flying
machine not dependent on light gas
to lift it, and to direct attention to a
few of the drawbacks inherent in the
large gas bag.
| A balloon must necessarily be big.
This is a fact not sufficiently realized
by some would.be inventors. Consil-
er the theory of a balloon. Why does
it rise in the air? Solely because its
bulk displaces given volume of air,
and that its total weight is less than
that of the displaced air. A thousand
cubic feet of air weigh only 76 pounds.
so that 1t is evident that to lift 700
pounds (abOut the weast weight OF
practical machine and occupants) we
must displace at least 10000 cubic
feet. But the larger the vessel the
greater is the power required to drive
it through the air One cannot pro-
pei battleship with the engines OF
a steam pinnace. To add larger en-
gines. however, entails again increas-
ing the size of the balloon in order
to obtain the necessary lift. A huge
size is therefore a necessity, and this
I accounts for the colossal vessels of
Zeppelin and of Lebaudy. The lat
ter. which has proved so successful,
contains $4,000 cubic feet of gas, and
is SO feet in diameter. There is, more
over, another difficulty to contend
with when employing large bulk OF
gas. A slight change of temperature
alters the volume, and consequent
lifting power, of the gas. This is a
difficulty which our Brazilian friend
discusses at length. and is one which
he hopes oOvercome by means
,r,t,i .h hor -t<~,1
before. The artificial heating of the
gas is an old idea. published such
a design myself many years ago. But
the system has many practical objec-
lions. chiefly owing to the difficulty
of rapidly altering the temperature of
the large bulk of gas, especially in
cooling it, so that | now do not think
it will order in practice.
Then, again, in order to be suffici-
entity light, this huge vessel must be
constructed of comparatively tlimsy
material. and this is apt to be leaky
and unable to withstand the strain
of much wear and tear. There are
other difficulties as well, but it will
: not be necessary to go into further de.
tails here.
The question is have we any other
|
: without the aid of light gas, We
have, but to look around us to see at
r any moment a confederation of the
assertion that we have or, rather, can
have Birds and insects fit hither and
, thither with the greatest ease. Can
? we not initiate them? If we look tc
t the theory of the matter. if we consid
} er what has actually been accomplish
: | cd in IA nf avnprin1aOt if
> see the various little toys which are
J.. to be bought in any toy shop, We must
} own that everything looks promising
l.. Many think that wings like those of 6
/ bird are not to be easily initiated il
2 practical machine, but the aero
t plane, or propelled kite. looks simple
5 enough. Even NJ. Santos Dumont is
Y kind enough to say, Il have no OBJ
t jections to aeroplanes furnished witt
! motors
j. Small models, some even weighing
a many pounds, have frequently beer
S capable of raising themselves and pro
e crossing through the air in stead.
e course, until their motive power ha
e given out. Langley's steam model
d weighing nearly 80 pounds, flew TO
O three-quarters of mile. Large man
S earring machines have been cor
S structed, too, such as those of Maxim
d Alder kress, Langley and Wright, bu
e none of these Except possibly the las
q named) can be called successful
h Nevertheless, we have learned
r. great many lessons, and the Who'll
h subject is now far better understood
q than it was some years ago.
l.. Many different methods, givin
II promise of good results, have bee
, suggested and experimental with, an
n it seems quite probable that the ael
I ial machine of the future may con
D. bine several of these Whatever forI
n IL may take, it seems probable tina
to lift given weight, the flying ma
v chine will be infinitely smaller tina
+ the balloon airship, and consequent
# be able to progress at much create
% rate for the same expenditure of pow
n, er.
" When We consider what has bee
accomplished by the modern mote
II. car, it will not be so surprising if wit
20 an aerial machine we can attain to
&c velocity of hundred miles an hot
as or more At such speed, quite b.
#. yond the widest dreams of the ba
loonist, an aerial machine would /
-. comparatively Independent of til
m wind, except, of course, in the cas-
10. OF rough weather. A butterfly is soc
70 blown out of its course by even
a light wind, while large bird can ba
on tie against gale. A machine mar
nj times larger and heavier than tt
or bird should be able to 40 better sti
Almost every engineer and scien
ho tic investigator who has lately made
Nv sturdy of the subject agrees that Il
IS attainment of human flight appareI
~ ly presents no insuperable difficultie
ID All that is wanted, so far as can sc
NJ is few thousand pounds and a Gle
~. er and energetic inventor, and the
- is no reason why machine could n
~ be constructed within IA year or ty
~ capable of rising and carrying a m;
y, in safety for, at all events, she
. trip through the air. Here is a chan
for millionaire who IS anxious
n get rid of portion of his wealth
~ some purpose. But let me warn hi
qe against the sharks that are CIV
~ ready to concoct some wonderful &C
IA trivance. alluring as bait, but wi
my out the least likelihood of ever acco
i,u pllShing flight. Such schemes ha'
JUS unfortunately, on several recent
-. VI casions, been means of bringing
.he credulity and discredit on the subje
loa Let the wouldbe investor get COM
lhd tent advice before parting with !
I'M money and then if he haS found !