Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05

than from any fault in his machine. Ora
hame-White failed to do the London to
Manchester for physical reasons, not be-
cause he or the machine was incapable of
doing it.
Long distance flying, besides an intimate
understanding of motors, is matter of ply
sique. Indeed, we have reached the stage
at which the aviator is nearly cipher so far
as the efficiency of the mechanical details of
the machine is concerned. Given that he
understands motor (many aviators do not),
given that he has the necessary physique
(which he must be- born with), any man can,
in any decent weather, fly over a hundred
miles in any direction. And no average
bird can better that in those details to any
appreciate extent. Some birds may 60 far
ther; but, given the qualifications men,
toned, so might the aviator, if his motor
could be relied on to act as well as birds
motive power. This problem may be con-
sidered solved completely except for purely
mechanical problems which are certain of
early solution.
Advantages of the Bird
A T the present day the bird retains two
I advantages: % He can rise right off
the ground; (2) he can hover where he
likes. No aeroplane in existence can do
either of these, or simulate either to the
slightest degree. These, and these only, are
the problems confronting man before he
can be "birdr1an," and before he can
really claim to have conquered the air.
No exhibition "airman" is ever likely to
do it. The "airman" is sensible sort of
person who, possessing the natural faculties
for present day fight can fly" But, as for
advancing progress by these exhibitions he
does little more than that first worm which
the early bird swallows.
He demonstrates Ito the tune of many
shekels) just where we are; but as rule that
is all. He does not invent. He does not
originate. He plays the tune more or less
nicely; but he does not compose it. When
he plays well, he helps things to that extent;
but of all the flying men there are only five
who may be said to have advanced things
the Wrights, and Captain Dunno. The last
the public knows little of. He is the dark
horse of aviation to-day. He alone chances
to be Britisher pure and simple, though
Henry Farman happens to be of British
descent.
Bleriot, though not the originator, may
claim to be the man who made the mono
plane practical machine. To Henry
Farman-not the originator-is mostly due
the success OF the b1plane in Europe. To
the Wnghts belong the same honor for
America. AS for Captain Dunno, he was
engaged a considerable while ago by the
British War Office. 1t was only after he
had severed his connection with it that any
thing whatever was known of his expert
ments. These have resulted in an auto
matically stable machine which marks step
forward.
Problems to Be Solved
PUT, when all is said and done, all that
has been accomplished with aeroplanes
is at best but one-third of the distance that
has to be travelled before man may be said
to have conquered the air. We have still
to find out how to rise Immediately at will
and how to hover. At present, aeroplanes,
in order to rise in the air, have to take long
run. Countless inventors are seeking ways
and means Of doing away with this.
There are three methods by which it is
sought to solve the problem. One of these is |
by lifting screws, the kind of machine known
as a helicopter. This is the type of direct |
lift machine most heard of. The second |
method is by means of machine technically |
known as an ornithopter, and more gen
orally spoken of as fapper. Here the |
solution of the problem is sought in some
thing that will flap itself upward as a spar