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producing their aeroplanes； yet the nature of their
connection with the enterprise is such that it may be
taken for granted no radical changes in construction
would be made without their approval and consent。
Only Three Dangerous Rivals。
Official trials with the 1909 model smashed many records
and leave the Wright brothers with only three dangerous
rivals in the field； and with basic patents which
cover the curve； warp and wing…tip devices found on
all the other makes of aeroplanes。 These three rivals
are the Curtiss and Voisin biplane type and the Bleriot
monoplane pattern。
The Bleriot monoplane is probably the most dangerous
rival； as this make of machine has a record of 54
miles per hour； has crossed the English channel； and
has lifted two passengers besides the operator。 The latest type
of this machine only weighs 771。61 pounds complete；
without passengers； and will lift a total passenger
weight of 462。97 pounds； which is a lift of 5。21 pounds
to the square foot。 This is a better result than those
published by the Wright brothers； the best noted being
4。25 pounds per square foot。
Other Aviators at Work。
The Wrights； however； are not alone in their efforts
to promote the efficiency of the flying machine。 Other
competent inventive aviators； notably Curtiss； Voisin；
Bleriot and Farman； are close after them。 The Wrights；
as stated； have a marked advantage in the possession of
patents covering surface plane devices which have thus
far been found indispensable in flying machine construction。
Numerous law suits growing out of alleged infringements
of these patents have been started； and
others are threatened。 What effect these actions will
have in deterring aviators in general from proceeding
with their experiments remains to be seen。
In the meantime the four men namedCurtiss； Voisin；
Bleriot and Farmanare going ahead regardless of
consequences； and the inventive genius of each is so strong
that it is reasonable to expect some remarkable developments
in the near future。
Smallest of Flying Machines。
To Santos Dumont must be given the credit of producing
the smallest practical flying machine yet constructed。
True； he has done nothing remarkable with it
in the line of speed； but he has demonstrated the fact
that a large supporting surface is not an essential feature。
This machine is named 〃La Demoiselle。〃 It is a monoplane
of the dihedral type； with a main plane on each
side of the center。 These main planes are of 18 foot
spread； and nearly 6 1/2 feet in depth； giving approximately
115 feet of surface area。 The total weight is 242 pounds；
which is 358 pounds less than any other machine which
has been successfully used。 The total depth from front
to rear is 26 feet。
The framework is of bamboo； strengthened and held
taut with wire guys。
Have One Rule in Mind。
In this struggle for mastery in flying machine efficiency
all the contestants keep one rule in mind； and this
is：
〃The carrying capacity of an aeroplane is governed
by the peripheral curve of its carrying surfaces； plus the
speed； and the speed is governed by the thrust of the
propellers； less the 'head…on' resistance。〃
Their ideas as to the proper means of approaching
the proposition may； and undoubtedly are； at variance；
but the one rule in solving the problem of obtaining the
greatest carrying capacity combined with the greatest
speed； obtains in all instances。
CHAPTER XVII。
SOME OF THE NEW DESIGNS。
Spurred on by the success attained by the more experienced
and better known aviators numerous inventors
of lesser fame are almost daily producing practical flying
machines varying radically in construction from
those now in general use。
One of these comparatively new designs is the Van
Anden biplane； made by Frank Van Anden of Islip；
Long Island； a member of the New York Aeronautic
Society。 While his machine is wholly experimental；
many successful short flights were made with it last fall
（1909）。 One flight； made October 19th； 1909； is of particular
interest as showing the practicability of an automatic
stabilizing device installed by the inventor。 The
machine was caught in a sudden severe gust of wind
and keeled over； but almost immediately righted itself；
thus demonstrating in a most satisfactory manner the
value of one new attachment。
Features of Van Anden Model。
In size the surfaces of the main biplane are 26 feet
in spread； and 4 feet in depth from front to rear。 The
upper and lower planes are 4 feet apart。 Silkolene
coated with varnish is used for the coverings。 Ribs
（spruce） are curved one inch to the foot； the deepest
part of the curve （4 inches） being one foot back from the
front edge of the horizontal beam。 Struts （also of
spruce； as is all the framework） are elliptical in shape。
The main beams are in three sections； nearly half round
in form； and joined by metal sleeves。
There is a two…surface horizontal rudder； 2x2x4 feet；
in front。 This is pivoted at its lateral center 8 feet from
the front edge of the main planes。 In the rear is another
two…surface horizontal rudder 2x2x2 1/2 feet； pivoted
in the same manner as the front one； 15 feet from the
rear edges of the main planes。
Hinged to the rear central strut of the rear rudder
is a vertical rudder 2 feet high by 3 feet in length。
The Method of Control。
In the operation of these ruddersboth front and rear
and the elevation and depression of the main planes；
the Curtiss system is employed。 Pushing the steering…
wheel post outward depresses the front edges of the
planes； and brings the machine downward； pulling the
steering…wheel post inward elevates the front edges of
the planes and causes the machine to ascend。
Turning the steering wheel itself to the right swings
the tail rudder to the left； and the machine； obeying this
like a boat； turns in the same direction as the wheel
is turned。 By like cause turning the wheel to the left
turns the machine to the left。
Automatic Control of Wings。
There are two wing tips； each of 6 feet spread （length）
and 2 feet from front to rear。 These are hinged half
way between the main surfaces to the two outermost
rear struts。 Cables run from these to an automatic
device working with power from the engine； which automatically
operates the tips with the tilting of the
machine。 Normally the wing tips are held horizontal
by stiff springs introduced in the cables outside of the
device。
It was the successful working of this device which
righted the Van Anden craft when it was overturned in
the squall of October 19th； 1909。 Previous to that
occurrence Mr。 Van Anden had looked upon the device
as purely experimental； and had admitted that he had
grave uncertainty as to how it would operate in time of
emergency。 He is now quoted as being thoroughly satisfied
with its practicability。