New-York tribune., 1908-07-31
FARMAN NEARLY READY.
Busy AH Day Tuning Up Ha
Flying Machine

Tire Farman aeroplane viewed in is nearly
tuned up condition in the specially provided tent
at the Brighton Beach racetrack yesterday after
noon was pronounced "dercately beautffuT' by tas
enthusiastic members Of the Aero Club % America
who fingered about ITS outsfretched wings and
seemed to dream Of what the future might
hold for aerona Itics
Mr. Farnan and his three imported rnschanbctars
worked until late in the afternoon Mr. Fsrman
said he did not believe the machine could be made
ready for trial fight until O'Clock tonight
Mrs. Farman spent most Of rhe day fitting about
the machine and speaking encouragtngly 10 ths
mechanics. who. whenever addressed by her. doIed
their caps. bowed low and said. "OUi madame
Il shall positively absolutely. ~ with nv hus-
handsome time" she said 1T Is all arranged
But-whether IL will be in America N Eurepe-I
do not know 1 only know-I SHAH fly with him
in his aeroplane Nv mind is made Up
Mr. Farmsn's machine is really imitation ot
a birds flying apparatus. wings tail and motive
power The fact that his sustaining surfaces are not
tapped UP and down. was said By an expert yes
terday to be not essential In reality. Nr Far
said. the wings of bird DO not beat Up and
down in relation to the air. bur cut through =.
edgewise. meeting il az slight angle as the SAL
of a boat is met by the breeze IN A quarteTiue
wind This is explained by the fact that the wings
move ahead in the direction OF flight at least az
fast they tapped UP and down
The most serviceable way OF reproducing artt-
fcally the process Of birds flight 70 keep the
wings stationary and propeI them edgewise az ths
same slight angle birds wings are met by the
air. by separate device. Mr. Farman said the
screw propeller had been found 10 he by far the
most suitable instrument for propeIlins sustaining
surfaces. so-caled aeroplanes. through the air
There two planes in the Farman machine
superposed so to make double decker. White
cotton cloth. rubber coated covers the planes which
are framed of spruce and trusssd together with
light piano wire. The box rUdder Is n place
ten feet behind the planes. Some inventors are
IN sid yrf-e
but 1t has been found by Mr. Farman that the side
equilibrium may be maintained largely autona:i-
cally by slight. rather delicate upturninE OF the
wings ends. From practical experimenting abroad
Mr.. Farman discovered that steering the machine
right and left furnishes means of preserving its
sidewise balance in much the same vav as a b.
cycle is balanced
The Wright brothers do not use the box r1ddsr
in which lies Of the chief points OF difference
between the two machines.
The whole apparatus. including motor weighs
about 1.10o pounds The total sustaining area OF
the planes is $50 square feet The motor is large
eisht-cylinder affair. hung in the middle OF the
lower plane. The propeller has two metal blades
shaped like the blades OF windmill and is ssven
and one-haIf feet in diameter
Two hundred and fifty men interested IN aero
nautics met Mr. and Mrs Farnnan at a reception
given by the Aero Club OF America at the Hotel
Astor last night. Mrs Paul La Croix assisted Mrs
Farman to receive the guests.
Brigadier General James Allen CHIEF ~ +bs
signal corps, invited all present 70 witness the
forthcoming government tests OF CAPTAIN Bald
wins dirsible balloon and the aeroplanes Of ths
Wright brothers and A NJ. Herring In two
years. said Captain Homer ". Hedge the aero
plane will be commerciaIized-"
1t was announced by T R NacNerhen- OF 81.
Louis. that if grounds could be found in this
vicinity or anywhere in the United States where
straightaway flights OF mile or longer could Re
made by Mr.. Farman the manag cement would back
the aviator to beat his record made France.
Among those present were Captain Alfred y.
Chandler. A. VI. Herring, f La Rue Jones. Alan
R. Hawley, Glenn H Curtiss. Israel Ludlow. J.
Christopher Lake. Augustus Post, A Lawrence
Rotch. Wilbur R. KinbaI1 Peter Cooper Hewitt.
A. Leo Stevens, Charles NJ. Manly. Charles j.
GIidden. William J. Hammer Albert c. Triaca and
Charles Jerome Edwards.