The sun., 1919-06-22

Of the air. This Is not said by way
Of belittling the various performances
that have led up to transoceanic fly
ing, nor is il intended to lessen the
glory OF those flights. The purpose II
TO emphasize the controlling circum-
stances that have heretofore imposed
limitations upon the designers who
have produced the notable types of
heavier than air flying machines.
Now There's Time to Breathe.
The idea OF military service has
dominated in the planning OF all OF
these craft, and the feverish urge OF
conflict has left their architects and
their engine builders but precious lit
lie time for experimentation pure and
simple. The various planes have come
primarily into being as the fruit of
desperate efforts aimed at a foe that
seimed indifferent to the accepted de-
cencies of civilized warfare. Time
could not be spared for the deliberate
work Of the laboratory. And yet, de-
spite the disadvantage OF haste, the
aeronautical engineer and the coura-
geous pilot have defied nature, Jug
gIed the laws of mechanics, dismayed
the doubter and have scrapped another
o. the heretofore listed "impossibles.
But now, with the technical world
again free to take a leisurely breath,
able TO assemble data from far and
Wide and to coordinate facts and scat
terec efforts. a new era has dawned
Tor aviation. Further, the trained
men, the cunning artisan and the
multitude Of plants are available
which can be swung into service to
promote peace time flying In all OF its
WONDERFULLY promising departments.
IL Is incumbent upon the American
people to see to 1t that native skill,
professional knowledge and the special
Facilities that they have contributed
SO generously shall not be neglected
out' instead, conferred upon placing
uhe nation where it rightfully should
stand, at the forefront OF the art and
Inc practical applications of mechani-
cal flight.
Langley's Firm Foundation.
Right at this point 1t is hitting 10
recall the modest pronouncement OF
samuel Pierpont Langley, the father
vi the heavier than air flying machine
The master who revealed principles
ana methods upon which the world
VIII nave to rely In forging further
ahead in the emulation OF the creatures
Vi the air. II have not asserted. with
ou' qualification, that mechanical
!''sht Is practically possible, since this
involves questions as to the method
VI constructing the mechanism, OF Sc
curing its safe ascent and descent, and
slso OF securing the indispensable con-
4!uoA Tor the economic use OF the
po"er | have shown to be at our dis
puSal--the condition, mean, OF our
ep.Hy to guide 1t In the desired hori-
Ioh'aI direction during transport
quesuons which In my opinion are
only 10 be answered by further expert
n'eht and which belong to the inchoate
ART or science OF aerodromics on which
DO not enter"
IN sense Prof. Langley worked
unuer stress, as have the latter day
designers Of flying machines, and yet
~ me face OF what the unappreciative
vr'lic was pleased to pronounce q
eIIhactic failure, that undaunted pio-
hesr laid the firm foundation for the
successes which We now applaud. In
N's monumental volume. his Memoir
VI Mechanical Flight" and adverting
70 MS initial efforts begun in 1887. he
wrote: Il desire to ask the readers
CONSIDERATION OF the fact that even ten
years ago esd, the whole subject OF
mechanical flight was SO far from
having attracted the general attention
ol physicists or engineers that It was
seherally considered 70 be a field fitted
rather for the pursuits OF the char
"Iah than for those or the man oil