The Washington times., 1908-07-31
Inventor to Make First Test
Flight in This Coun-
try Today.
PROMISES WIFE
TRIP IN CLOUDS
rendered Reception by Aero Club
in New York, and Invited
to Washington.

NEW YORK, July 31.-Henrl Far
mans aeroplane has been put by his
mechanics, working In the canvassed-
Off section of the betting ring of the
Brighton Beach racetrack, into such
shape that those who see it are able
TO form a fair idea Of its construction
and appearance. However, the "tun-
ing Of the piano wires which give ri
gidity to the strange structure and the
installing and fitting Of the eight-cylin-
der gasOlene motor viii consume so
much time that Mr.. Farman does not
expect 20 be able to attempt test flights
before late today. The first public
flight will be made tomorrow.
Mrs. Farman was a visitor this after
noon. Her husband has repeatedly
promised her that she shall be a pas
senger. Yesterday she was quite posi-
tive in his absence that she is going
TO fly soon.
''Ie has promised me that I shall be
a passenger she said, "and It has been
decided that I may 80 up with him.
but the day has not been set. He shall
not back out"
The aeroplane as set up yesterday ap-
peared to have been constructed some
what after the fashion of a bird. The
nechanicians explained that in flight
1T was operated on the principle Of the
bird, balancing itself in the air with
widespread wings. The forward end
of the machine even has a part that
might be regarded is a huge beak.
How It Is Constructed.
There are two horizontal planes Of
this thin fragile canvas covered with
n rubber composition. These are about
five feet apart and measure thirty-two
feet from end to end. Their width IS
six and one-half feet. They are mount
ed on spruce frames OF light weight.
-tThey form the main body Of the aero
plane.
When the aeroplane is in flight they
move at right angles TO their greatest
dimension, or sideways. Set behind them
ten feet away is a box-like structure,
Two Of whose sides are open, so that
IL presents no resistance TO the air.
This is the rudder house.
" thin the canvas box is a vertical
plane, whose movements, controlled by
the steering wheel. govern the steering
of the craft from side TO side. The box
rudder IS intended to give the whole
greater stability, and marks a point OF
divergence from the machine Of the
Wright brothers, who use merely a
plane as rudder. The rUdder house Is
ten by si1 feet.
Wheel That Steers.
Set out on the front Of the aeroplane
are two vertical planes, whose angles
may be varied at will These govern
the downward and upward movement
Of the aeroplane. In the center Of the
two forward main horizontal planes is
a little space paTtiuoned of by means
. two planes set at right angles 10 the
az
sit at the wheel. Behind him viii be
the 5O-horsepOwer eight-cylinder motor,
with its sparker and throttle at his side.
The turning Of the wheel win move
the aeTOplane to the right OF the left,
while the entire steering post, by a
backward or forward motion. viii gov
.ern the planes that mean flight upward
or downward. In the Wright machine
there are four levers for the purposes
OF steering. In the Farman aerCplane
the wheel, by its natural movement or
sthe movement Of the steering post, gov
-erns the whole steering gear.
The engine viii drive four propeller
blades set at the rear like the propeuers
OF q ship The meChanicians who are
setting up the aeroplane said that owing
&c the necessity of having everything as
light as possible the machine cannot
carry enough water IN its radiator and
water circulatOr 70 admit Of long flights.
Also the weight of EasOlene prevents
the aerOplane from carrying much of
the fuel.
Two Main Planes.
The two main planes are well secured
by means Of piano wire, which criss-
cross between the two surfaces. and the
planes have an arch much like that OF
Fthe wings Of q bird. The experts ex-
'plalned that the small boys kite really
worked on the same general principle
The kite. they said, is a mOnOplane held
against the wind by a string. In the
ease Of the Farman aeroplane the
strings place is taken by the motor and
dts propeller blades.
. The whole aerOplane weighs 1,1Ot
pounds The motor, with water tanks
and propeller, weighs 800 pounds. As q
supporting structure 10 the planes and
all OF the upper works, a chassis with
wheels. is set like the two hind wheels
of tricycle., which has the little wheel
in front. Two smaller bicycle wheels
are set to the rudder house. All four
wheels have pneumatic tires, so that
the shock Of the aeroplane striking
the ground Will be minimized.
This aerOplane, the first to be eX-
hibited publicly in this country, will
have beneath 1t a track or platform OF
smooth boards. After the propeller
blades have been set in motion the ma
chine will ride easily along on its four
wheels fer 50 or 100 feet, when 1t will
rise into the air.
q racetracE Will not permit the aero
plane to do more than travel from end
10 end at a height of twelve or fifteen
feet But before this is done certain
parts of the ground must be made
perfectly smooth by means of planking
50 that the wheels may have smooth
going on landing.
Reception At the AstoT.
Sharing attention with Mr.. Farmar
last night at the reception given him al
the Hotel Astor by the Aero Club OF
America was what the chef of the hOte
Clearance Sale