The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-09-28

/ 20 seconds duration, while the ma
t chine covered a distance of 5000 feet,
although in subsequent flights this dis
lance was increased to three-quarters
OF a mile, at q speed of about 80 miles
per hour. No attempt at flight was
made N high winds, but in a wind of
II miles per hour, the model flew well,
circled and rose to a height of over 100
feed. guided only by its own mechan-
ism. Thus after a period of nine years
OF study n experiment, the theory
OF mechanical flight was successfully
demonstratad ami demonstrated, as Mr..
Langley said, in the only satisfactory
way, by a machine really flying.
Inc government became interested in
Mr.. Langley's work early in 1895, rec
sQch a machine in time of war.
through the board of ordinance and
fortihcation, President Mckinley asked
secretary Langley to build a man car
rylns flying machine. The secretary
agreed to try, and coming reluctant
~ from his scientific pursuits, he com
lnehced the work under an appropria-
ton from the government. Many un-
Lorseen obstacles We're encountered as
mad been the case in the construction
OF the model machine. Gasoline had
oeen substituted for steam as a more
practlcal motor power and Secretary
Langley. then at the age of SO. found
~ NN1NS ~ lIlC Oh
gasoline engine construction. He had
no desire to build a gasoline engine
nlnlsetf. but after searching in vain,
ooth IN this country and in Europe
for an engine builder who could make
nun an engine averaging in weight
only ~ pounds per horsepower, he was
forced to undertake it's construction
IN tho Smithsonian shops.
me 11nlshed engine, which was de-
signed ana constructed by Charles M.
Manly. an engineer assisting Mr.. Lang
icy, was a Hye-cylinder one, producing
o. acsuai horsepower. n weighing
WIN radiators, batteries and 20 pounds
OF cooling water, only 207 pounds, av-
eraglng a little less than four pounds
per horsepower. The memoir gives the
details OF construction of this engine,
winch even the builder of modern gaso,
vantage.
Nearly every one is familiar with
the termination of the experiments
made with the ~man-carrting machine
Early IN October, 1903, the a~eroplane
was completed and was tried ONT at
the testing grounds at Whitewater. va.
Langley insisting that the
De made over the water in or
der to afford protection to the aviator
m iandlns. or in the event of an ac-
sloent. Although several tests had been
made previously on the launching an
p~eratns, there was some undiscovered
law and the machine was twice pre-
stpieated into the water directly from
ne launching ways before 1T got fair
y INTO the air. AT the time of the
auncnlng the engine was n
,hloothly, but as the machine started
ioWn the ways the aviator In his car
a sudden ~retardation, due to the
Hct ma one OF the wings came in con-
ACT with a part Of the projecting
aunching apparatus. and although the
lV1ator' MI. Manly, attempted TO adj
uss the balance of the machine with
ne guoder, n aeroplane tipped down
varo n plunged into the river be-
ore he coul secure control.
Following its recovery and repair. al
aost identical events occurred In, cor
ectlon with the second launching.
tWo months later. As before s.
,as conceded by all who saw the fight
the machine would undoubtedly
ave ioWn had 1t not been for the
launching apparatus.
Nearly all modern aviators who are
aniil1ar with the type and construc-
OF the Langley machine, readily
ccord 70 n pioneer in the science of
that his first heavier than,
u machine would unquestionably
ave noWn and would fly today IL !
iriy launched The Smithsonian au- ,
lorities, however, have decided that
le machine Will never be experiment.
with again. but will be preserved )
> a monument to the scientist who
,nducted these original investigations.
The Langley memoir on Mechanical
which forms publication 1,94s 1
the Smithsonia contribution to 4
aowledge. is in two parts; the first
Professor Langley himself, dealing /
18th the preliminary work and experi.
.ents up to the first successful flight /,
model No. s. in 1896. The second i
art IS by MI. Charles NJ. Manly, Mr.. /
assistant in the constructor {
the large gasoline motor. and the
an-carrying machine and who acted {
aviator at h two attempted flights