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Monoplane Idea Wrong。
The advocates of the single supporting surface are
probably mistaken。 It is true that a single surface
shows a greater lift per square foot than superposed
surfaces for a given speed； but the increased weight due
to leverage more than counterbalances this advantage by
requiring heavy spars and some guys。 I believe that
the future aeroplane dynamic flier will consist of superposed
surfaces； and； now that it has been found that by
imbedding suitably shaped spars in the cloth the head
resistance may be much diminished； I see few objections
to superposing three； four or even five surfaces properly
trussed； and thus obtaining a compact； handy； manageable
and comparatively light apparatus。＇2＇
＇2＇ Aeronautics。
CHAPTER II。
THEORY； DEVELOPMENT； AND USE。
While every craft that navigates the air is an airship；
all airships are not flying machines。 The balloon；
for instance； is an airship； but it is not what is known
among aviators as a flying machine。 This latter term
is properly used only in referring to heavier…than…air
machines which have no gas…bag lifting devices； and are made to
really fly by the application of engine propulsion。
Mechanical Birds。
All successful flying machinesand there are a number
of themare based on bird action。 The various
designers have studied bird flight and soaring； mastered
its technique as devised by Nature； and the modern flying
machine is the result。 On an exaggerated； enlarged
scale the machines which are now navigating the air
are nothing more nor less than mechanical birds。
Origin of the Aeroplane。
Octave Chanute； of Chicago； may well be called 〃the
developer of the flying machine。〃 Leaving balloons and
various forms of gas…bags out of consideration； other
experimenters； notably Langley and Lilienthal； antedated
him in attempting the navigation of the air on
aeroplanes； or flying machines； but none of them were
wholly successful； and it remained for Chanute to demonstrate
the practicability of what was then called the
gliding machine。 This term was adopted because the
apparatus was； as the name implies； simply a gliding
machine； being without motor propulsion； and intended
solely to solve the problem of the best form of
construction。 The biplane； used by Chanute in 1896； is
still the basis of most successful flying machines； the
only radical difference being that motors； rudders； etc。；
have been added。
Character of Chanute's Experiments。
It was the privilege of the author of this book to be
Mr。 Chanute's guest at Millers； Indiana； in 1896； when；
in collaboration with Messrs。 Herring and Avery； he was
conducting the series of experiments which have since
made possible the construction of the modern flying
machine which such successful aviators as the Wright
brothers and others are now using。 It was a wild
country； much frequented by eagles； hawks； and similar
birds。 The enthusiastic trio； Chanute； Herring and
Avery； would watch for hours the evolutions of some
big bird in the air； agreeing in the end on the verdict；
〃When we master the principle of that bird's soaring
without wing action； we will have come close to solving
the problem of the flying machine。〃
Aeroplanes of various forms were constructed by Mr。
Chanute with the assistance of Messrs。 Herring and
Avery until； at the time of the writer's visit； they had
settled upon the biplane； or two…surface machine。 Mr。
Herring later equipped this with a rudder； and made
other additions； but the general idea is still the basis of
the Wright； Curtiss； and other machines in which； by
the aid of gasolene motors； long flights have been made。
Developments by the Wrights。
In 1900 the Wright brothers； William and Orville； who were then
in the bicycle business in Dayton； Ohio；
became interested in Chanute's experiments and
communicated with him。 The result was that the Wrights
took up Chanute's ideas and developed them further；
making many additions of their own； one of which was
the placing of a rudder in front； and the location of the
operator horizontally on the machine； thus diminishing
by four…fifths the wind resistance of the man's body。
For three years the Wrights experimented with the
glider before venturing to add a motor； which was not
done until they had thoroughly mastered the control of
their movements in the air。
Limits of the Flying Machine。
In the opinion of competent experts it is idle to look
for a commercial future for the flying machine。 There
is； and always will be； a limit to its carrying capacity
which will prohibit its employment for passenger or
freight purposes in a wholesale or general way。 There
are some； of course； who will argue that because a
machine will carry two people another may be constructed
that will carry a dozen； but those who make
this contention do not understand the theory of weight
sustentation in the air； or that the greater the load the
greater must be the lifting power （motors and plane
surface）； and that there is a limit to theseas will be
explained later onbeyond which the aviator cannot go。
Some Practical Uses。
At the same time there are fields in which the flying
machine may be used to great advantage。 These are：
SportsFlying machine races or flights will always
be popular by reason of the element of danger。 It is
a strange； but nevertheless a true proposition； that it is
this element which adds zest to all sporting events。
ScientificFor exploration of otherwise inaccessible
regions such as deserts； mountain tops； etc。
ReconnoiteringIn time of war flying machines may
be used to advantage to spy out an enemy's encampment；
ascertain its defenses； etc。
CHAPTER III。
MECHANICAL BIRD ACTION
In order to understand the theory of the modern flying
machine one must also understand bird action and wind
action。 In this connection the following simple experiment
will be of interest：
Take a circular…shaped bit of cardboard； like the lid of
a hat box； and remove the bent…over portion so as to
have a perfectly flat surface with a clean； sharp edge。
Holding the cardboard at arm's length； withdraw your
hand； leaving the cardboard without support。 What is
the result？ The cardboard； being heavier than air； and
having nothing to sustain it； will fall to the ground。
Pick it up and throw it； with considerable force； against
the wind edgewise。 What happens？ Instead of falling
to the ground； the cardboard sails along on the wind；
remaining afloat so long as it is in motion。 It seeks
the ground； by gravity； only as the motion ceases； and
then by easy stages； instead of dropping abruptly as in
the first instance。
Here we have a homely； but accurate illustration of
the action of the flying machine。 The motor does for
the latter what the force of your arm does for the cardboard
imparts