Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26
TWO TYPES OF MACHINES
LANGLEY IDEAS DEVELOPED

Control Is distinctive FEATURE
Constructive Work to Be-
gin at Once.
Washington yesterday saw organized
it's first company for the construction
Of aeroplanes. Work is to commence
at once.
When the international aviation races
are held next year. possibly In Wash
ington, the company will be able to en-
ter a machine that will cover at least
seventy-five miles an hour. 1t Is ex-
pected.
The meeting was in the Westory
building. The name adopted was the
Nichols Aeroplane Company. The presi-
dent is Charles B. Nichols; vice presi-
dent and treasurer. Cotter T. Bride;
secretary and patent counsel, George
w. Ramsey; counsel. William w. Bride.
and mechanical expert. Ernest F. Riley.
Mr.. Nichols is the designer Of the
machine referred to in The Star about
week ago. He was the first assist
ant of the late Prof. Langley at the
Smithsonian, and was with him through
I'LL lue earlier WOIh Will uyiAB IuOociS
wherein data was accumulated for Prof.
Langley's power-driven machines, which
afterward few.
Since that time Mr.. Nichols has kept
in touch with aerial development. The
machines now planned are partly the
result Of the work done with Prof.
Langley and partly the outcome OF
later experiment.
Models Of Two Types Of Aeroplanes.
40 xxro NJ
machines now In the Offices of the
company. Construction on machines Of
both models Is to be commenced at
once. 1t is hoped to have one ready
for trial before the winter sets in.
One machine to be constructed is a
monoplane, the other a biplane. The
monoplane is the smaller, but Is de-
signed to be the speedier. More in
terest Is displayed in it by the officers
Of the company than in the big biplane.
The scheme Of control In the main is is
the differences in construction there
are some features in the racing ma
chine that are absent in its bigger
brother.
the four-surfaced rear rudders work in
unison from the same lever In the CEN
ter OF the machine to control 1t. In
the monoplane this Is supplemented by
lever that tits the whole OF the main
plane back and forth, giving additional
lifting power when the plane is first
| rising and Strengthening out the plane
| when speed is being made.
Description Of Aeroplane.
The monoplane is shaped more or
less like great bird with the wings
slightly raised. This main plane is
over the boat-shaped body OF the ma
chine. This body is built of cork and
covered with silk. the whole water
light on and rise from the water.
The monoplane is to be equipped with
horsepower engine. The propel-
lers will make over 1900 revolutions.
This Is q great advance over the present
machines, where from 500 to 800 revolu-
lions are the limit. The pitch Of the
propeller is SO calculated that, allowing
one-fourth for slip" the machine is ex-
pected to make seventy-ive miles an
hour. Enough gasoline will be carried
speed calculated on is attained there will
be surplus lifting power to carry fuel
for a fight Of $50 miles.
The gasoline is carried in a series Of
| vent the wash and oscillation of the fuel
| with every movement of the machine.
The main wings are to be about thirty
| two by seven feet. Every one who saw
the Wright machine at Fort Myer knows
wings is from front to rear. This in
the monoplane Is extended into a slight
ly reversed curve.
The fabric between the ribs Of the
wings is loose at the rear, SO that when
| they are inflated by the air passing be-
meath them they make almost a straight
| line from the front to the rear of the
plane. This makes a series of ridges
at the rear Of the wing. and its tendency
is to check a side slip of the machine
through the air, much like the anti-skid
chains on the wheels Of an automobile.
CONSTRUCTION Materials.
The fabric with which the wings are
to be covered is q special silk, water
proofed and impervious. This not only
adds to the lifting power. but gives a
smooth surface against which there is
little skin friction.
| One of the points that has been worked
out in the construction Of the machine
Is to lessen the head resistance wher-
ever possible. The whole frame is to
be constructed of thin vanadium steel
tubing. which Is stronger. weight for
| weight. than wood. and which has the
advantage that it will bend. rather than
break. under a shock or strain.
| The weight OF the small machine, ex-
! elusive OF the operator. will be about
| 500 pounds. The prOpellerS are set In
| front Of the machine There are two of
| them, running in opposite directions, to
obviate the fitting effect OF q single big
propeller.
One lever controls the front rudder and
the tail. These move. the one up and the
opposite one down. The tail has the
| additional feature that 1t slides on run
ners, instead Of being on a pivot, so
that the amount Of leverage it exerts can
be regulated.
Six-cylinder engines are to be used In
| both machines. forty-horsepower for the
monoplane and sixty-horsepower for the
| biplane.
| The biplane will have four propellers,
two in front and two in the rear. They
will be OF larger diameter than in the
monoplane. but will run at slower speed
| It 10 thought that the big machine, with
its great area Of supporting surface, can
/ fly as slowly as twenty miles per hour.
No machine has yet flown at a lower
| rate than thirty miles. and 1t is thought
that this will be of great use In scout
| ing.
Material for both machines Is now IN
hand. 1t Ia not to be assembled till en-
| gines are tested for weight and horse
| power, SO that the necessary size of
| the planes can be calculated to q nicety.
| The preliminary work will be commenc-
| ed at once. and construction begun as
| soon as the engines are delivered.
/
COOLER, BUT NO FROST.