The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

sistance Of the air against moving
wings is not directly proportional to
their size, but that in enlarging the
wings the resisting power of the air
against them increases in greater
ratio than their superficial Dimensions.
Knowing that the air requires an
appreciable time to yield to the pres
sure of the moving wing, and the
larger the wing surface. the greater
the quantity Of air displaced and the
greater the resistance of this COM
pressed air to the subsequent wing
stroke which must act upon 1t, 1t is
evident that this conclusion Is correct"
| Solution of Mans Flight.
| Upon a principle of compressed air
| therefore. may rest the ultimate soIu-
ton of mans flight above the earth,
| At the same time that DIR. Won Londen-
| field was working out these facts. DR..
| z. Mascha. studying under his direc-
ton at the institute, was determining
what magic there might be In the
feather structure of birds wings. His
results show how perfect for its pur-
pose Is the tapping of the feather
quilts one over another. The happy
con- bination of strength and lightness
so wildly pictured in this flexible
structure is combination the value
of which is more widely realized in
commercial construction every day.
On The under side and at the ends OF
the feather fibers, DR.. Mascha points
out microscopic hooks which serve to
attach easily one feather to another
to make UP one whole wing structure.
Tapering with greater and greater
! flexibility toward the back and ends
of t. wing, these feathers make posi-
BILE the peculiar motion Of the wing
upon the air. @
Two other sets Of researches have
Just been completed under the direc-
ton of DR.. Won Londenfeld. The first,
conducted by DR.. Bruno F'ler, was
designed to determine the use of GER
tain empty spaces in the bodies OF
blrus which have puzzled Investigators
for many years. The second had to
do with the flight of four-winged in
sects.
he "air sac" investigation is just
reported to the Smithsonian. Theories
filling pamphlets have in times past
been launched upon the scientific world
to account for these curious cavities
near the lungs and under the skin of
birds Reasons which would preclude
the possibility of mans ever navigat-
ing in the atmosphere have been put
forth. The fertility Of the minds of
Investigators IN giving these spaces
to show how at loss they have been
for any definite proof. To the sub
skin lair sacs" there has separate
ly been assigned two functions to
help raise the feathers and to pre-
serve bodily heat. To the empty
spaces near the lungs, however. have
been attributed powers even more
wonderful. 1t has been said that they
serve as resonatory organs for pro-
ducing certain tones, that they perform
respiratory functions, that they help
reduce the specific gravity of lie body,
that they act similar to a barometer
in determining height, that they aid
in. fixing the wings In an extended
position, that they assist the digestion,
that they insure equilibrium in flight,
and that they are store-houses for air
for respiration.
DR.. Muller's Conclusions.
DR.. Muller has considered all these
a very simple conclusion He says:
Il do not consider the air sac sys-
tenn as a whole as a collection OF
organs having special functions, but
rather a system of empty interspaces.
Its value lies in It's vacuity, that is in
It's containing nothing that can offer
a greaty resistance or that has notable
weight
Flying Is the most complete kind
of locomotlon, and as such presupposes
a high degree of bodily efficiency.
Our most effective machines are by no
means those which are compact and
solid, but those composed of parts that
are as strong as possible and arranged
in lie most appropriate manner, the
interspaces being taken up by air."
There is apparently nothing, there
fore, in the air sac" system in birds
which should prevent the construction
of a flying machine upon similar prin-
ciples.
The finding in the second report
just received are equally vital to the
problem of mechanical flight DR.
Lee Walker, another of DR.. Won Lon
denfelds assistants. has been exam
lining the working of the flying ap-
paratus of four-winged insects. The
stroke, says DIR. Walter. is curious
one 1t is like figure with a small
upper loop-a stroke which might be
reproduced mechanically. A careful
study has been concluded of the method |
by which the hind wings are attached
to the fore wings, since the strength
of the stroke seems to come from the
front wings. In some insects a curious
set of tiny bristles on the upper side
of the back wing reach into little |
band of hair and join to scales on the |
under side of the fore wing, making |
the two wings practically one. In
others a series of hooks on the upper.
lock h corresponding series on
the lower.
Just what principles of nature |
brough. out in these researches may
be applied to practical use in flying
notwithstanding the word literally
is We to be determined The complete |
discovery, however, of the secret OF
suspension and locomotion involved in
the flight of birds and insects is the |
first step in the solution of mechant-
cal navigation in the air. The theory |
once established without a doubt, en-
gineers may incorporate all practical |
features in the construction of a ma
chine. The OBJECT of DIR. Won Lon
denfeld's work under the Hodgkins |
grants of the Smithsonian Institution
Is to find facts upon which firmly to
establish a theory.
Imperialism Kills Music.