按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
eet。 At 30；000 feet the aeronauts were inhaling oxygen； and before reaching their highest point both had for a considerable time remained unconscious。
In 1901 a new aeroplane flying machine began to attract attention； the invention of Herr Kress。 A novel feature of the machine was a device to render it of avail for Arctic travel。 In shape it might be compared to an iceboat with two keels and a long stem； the keels being adapted to run on ice or snow； while the boat would float on water。 Power was to be derived from a petrol motor。
At the same period M。 Henry Sutor was busy on Lake Constance with an air ship designed also to float on water。 Then Mr。 Buchanan followed with a fish…shaped vessel； one of the most important specialities of which consisted in side propellers； the surfaces of which were roughened with minute diagonal grooves to effect a greater grip on the air。
No less original was the air ship； 100 feet long； and carrying 18；000 cubic feet of gas； which Mr。 W。 Beedle was engaged upon。 In this machine； besides the propellers for controlling the horizontal motion； there was one to regulate vertical motion； with a view of obviating expenditure of gas or ballast。
But by this time M。 Santos Dumont； pursuing his hobby with unparalleled perseverance； had built in succession no less than six air ships； meeting with no mean success； profiting by every lesson taught by failures； and making light of all accidents； great or small。 On July 15th； 1901； he made a famous try for the Deutsch prize in a cigar…shaped balloon； 110 feet long； 19；000 cubic feet capacity； carrying a Daimler oil motor of 15…horse power。 The day was not favourable； but； starting from the Parc d'Aerostation； he was abreast of the Eiffel Tower in thirteen minutes； circling round which； and battling against a head wind； he reached the grounds of the Aero Club in 41 minutes from the start； or 11 minutes late by the conditions of the prize。 A cylinder had broken down； and the balance of the vessel had become upset。
Within a fortnightJuly 29thin favourable weather； he made another flight； lasting fifteen minutes； at the end of which he had returned to his starting ground。 Then on August 8th a more momentous attempt came off。 Sailing up with a rapid ascent； and flying with the wind； Santos Dumont covered the distance to the Tower in five minutes only； and gracefully swung round； but； immediately after； the wind played havoc； slowing down the motor； at the same time damaging the balloon； and causing an escape of gas。 On this Santos Dumont； ascending higher into the sky； quitted the car； and climbed along the keel to inspect； and； if possible； rectify the motor； but with little success。 The balloon was emptying； and the machine pitched badly； till a further rent occurred； when it commenced falling hopelessly and with a speed momentarily increasing。
Slanting over a roof； the balloon caught a chimney and tore asunder； but the wreck； also catching； held fast； while the car hung helplessly down a blank wall。 In this perilous predicament great coolness and agility alone averted disaster； till firemen were able to come to the rescue。
The air ship was damaged beyond repair； but by September 6th another was completed； and on trial appeared to work well until； while travelling at speed； it was brought up and badly strained by the trail rope catching in trees。
Early in the next month the young Brazilian was aloft again； with weather conditions entirely in his favour； but again certain minor mishaps prevented his next struggle for the prize； which did not take place till the 19th。 On this day a light cross wind was blowing； not sufficient； however； seriously to influence the first stage of the time race； and the outward journey was accomplished with a direct flight in nine minutes。 On rounding the tower； however； the wind began to tell prejudicially； and the propeller became deranged。 On this； letting his vessel fall off from the wind； Santos Dumont crawled along the framework till he reached the motor； which he succeeded in again setting in working order； though not without a delay of several minutes and some loss of ground。 From that point the return journey was accomplished in eight minutes； and the race was； at the time； declared lost by 40 seconds only。
The most important and novel feature in the air ships constructed by Santos Dumont was the internal ballonet； inflated automatically by a ventilator； the expedient being designed to preserve the shape of the main balloon itself while meeting the wind。 On the whole； it answered well； and took the place of the heavy wire cage used by Zeppelin。
M。 de Fonvielle； commenting on the achievements of Santos Dumont； wrote：〃It does not appear that he has navigated his balloon against more than very light winds； but in his machinery he has shown such attention to detail that it may reasonably be expected that if he continues to increase his motive power he will； ere long； exceed past performances。〃
Mr。 Chanute has a further word to say about the possibility of making balloons navigable。 He considers that their size will have to be great to the verge of impracticability and the power of the motor enormous in proportion to its weight。 As to flying machines； properly so called； he calculates the best that has been done to be the sustaining of from 27 lbs。 to 55 lbs。 per horse power by impact upon the air。 But Mr。 Chanute also argues that the equilibrium is of prime importance； and on this point there could scarcely be a greater authority。 No one of living men has given more attention to the problem of 〃soaring；〃 and it is stated that he has had about a thousand 〃slides〃 made by assistants； with different types of machine； and all without the slightest accident。
Many other aerial vessels might be mentioned。 Mr。 T。 H。 Bastin； of Clapham； has been engaged for many years on a machine which should imitate bird flight as nearly as this may be practicable。
Baron Bradsky aims at a navigable balloon on an ambitious scale。 M。 Tatin is another candidate for the Deutsch prize。 Of Dr。 Barton's air ship more is looked for； as being designed for the War Office。 It is understood that the official requirements demand a machine which； while capable of transporting a man through the air at a speed of 13 miles an hour； can remain fully inflated for 48 hours。 One of the most sanguine； as well as enterprising； imitators of Santos Dumont was a fellow countryman； Auguste Severo。 Of his machine during construction little could be gathered； and still less seen； from the fact that the various parts were being manufactured at different workshops； but it was known to be of large size and to be fitted with powerful motors。 This was an ill…fated vessel。 At an early hour on May 12th of this year； 1902； all Paris was startled by a report that M。 Severo and his assistant； M。 Sachet had been killed while making a trial excursion。 It appears that at daybreak it had been decided that the favourable moment for trial had arrived。 The machinery was got ready； and with little delay the air vessel was dismissed and rose quietly and steadily into the calm sky。 The Daily Mail gives the following account of what en