The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-09-27
GRAHAME-
WRITES AN ARTICLE
Explains, Without Becoming
Technical, What Makes
Aeroplane Fly.
LAUDE GRAHAME-wHITE,
the English aviator who has
4 carried off many prizes in this

~ carried Off many prizes In this
country, tells how he flies in
an article in the Independent. Mr.
White explains what makes an aero
plane fly, describes flying without be
coming technical and tells what he
does In the air and why he does 1t in
a way that any person not versed In
aeronautics will be able readily to
comprehend.
Taking, for example, Farman BIZ
plane, in which he frequently flies,
Mr.. White says in part:
Suppose that we are watching the
aeroplane moving along the ground
prior to a flight. At the rear of its
two main planes is the engine. This,
revolving at a thousand revolutions a
minute, carries round with 1t the pro-
peller and so forces the machine along
the ground. The propeller Of the aero
plane is constructed very carefully
from layers of special wood. 1t has
two blades. These, whirling round in
the air, thrust the aeroplane forward
in the same way as does the propeller
of ship.
Weight Carrying Effect.
THE weight carrying effect with
such an aeroplane is obtained from
the two big main planes. These, set
one above the other, are kept apart by
wooden supports, which are held rigid
ly in their place by tension wires. One
of the first things that an observer
notes regarding the lifting planes Of
the machine is that they have q curve
upon them. The front edge tits down
a little and toward the rear Of the
planes curve down slightly also.
There is no difficulty in explaining
how the curve on a plane acts when
the aeroplane is in flight. You must
remember that the plane moves
through the air. when the machine is
in motion, at a speed of more than
forty miles an hour. The air first
strikes the dipping nose as 1t Is
called, of the plane. Some of it i'm
mediately rushes up under the curve
on the lower side Of the plane and
sweeps away in curving stream to-
ward the rear edge of the surface. The
effect is that Of gripping the air when
it passes under the plane.
what happens may be better un
derstood, perhaps, if / say that the
air is thrust down by the curve of
the plane This action allows the
plane to derive an appreciable lift out
OF the air which it displaces. The air
that passes over the top side of the
plane is made to do useful work also.
Its tendency is to move straight back
from the front edge of the plane. 1t
does not follow the downward curve
Thus as the air passes straight away
a partial vacuum is created along the
dipping down edge of the plane, and
this exercises distinct upward pull.
Therefore the plane is pushed from
below and pulled from above.
by the adoption of this curved plane
the builder. of aeroplanes know that
if they employ machine with GER
tain number of square feet of surface
and thrust it through the air at GER
tain speed they will be able to lift
into the air n certain weight.
Balance and Control.
The question of balance and control
enters largely into the flying problem.
Therefore you find set out upon wood
en- booms at the rear Of the biplane
tail composed of two small planes
placed one above the other These
two planes tend to balance the aero
plane when In flight in the same way
as does the tail of a bird. Then one
comes to the point as to how the aero
plane is to re made to rise or fall, turn
from side TO side or balance itself
when 1t shows a tendency to tip side
ways In the air.
Midway between the two small tail
planes one finds vertical plane which
resembles the rudder of ship This
plane, in fact, acts for the aeroplane
us does the rudder of vessel.
NOW comes the question of making
the aerOplane rise or ,Iall. 10 90 TINS
one finds set out in front of the main
planes. en- wooden outriggers, small
horizontal plane, which can be moved
up or down at the will Of the pilot.
Very often this front elevating plane
is coupled up with smaller one,
which is fixed ut the rear of the tail
plane so as to exercise greater lifting
influence.
1.-THE only other controlling device Is
represented by the 'ailerons.' These