The Project Gutenberg eBook of Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II, by S. P. (Samuel Pierpont) Langley and Charles M. (Charles Matthews) Manly

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DATA SHEET No. 12. Weight of Aerodrome, One-Quarter Model. Certified to by Chas. M. Manly, June 11, 1901.

Parts.	Sizes.		Weight.
Parts.	m.	ft.	gr.	lbs.
1 Frame, including everything of metal, permanent and undetachable, such as bed-plate, cross-rods for the support of propellers, bearing points for clutch, etc.			3245
2 Engine, bed plates and sparkers			4549	10
3 Gears, shafts, etc.			1662
4
5
6
7 Floats, front, 212; rear, 220			432
8 Reel, float and cord, 142			142
9 Wing clamps, 86 and 97; rudder clamp and post			183
10 Carburetor and fuel			737
11 Spark coil, 1512; holders, 110			1622
12 Battery			1627
13 Primary connections
14 Secondary connections
15 Guy-post clamps, each 13			26
16
17 Wings (without clamp), new flat wings			2634
18 Tail (without clamp), Pénaud rudder			353
19 Rudder, wind vane			88
20 Guy sticks			30
21 Propellers, 585 each			1170
22 Extra length of midrod, front, 125; rear, 225			350
23 Wood bowsprit			75
24 Other Things
25 Counter			110
26 Guy-post clamp and post for rudder			16
27
28
29 Drop piece for rudder			53
30
31 Sundries unknown
32
33
34 Total flying weight			19,104
35
36
37
38 Total area of support (not including tail) . . . sq. ft.		61.41
39 Total area of support in feet, divided by total flying weight in lbs.		1.46
40 Total area of horizontal tail. . . . sq. ft.		6
41 Total area of rudder (vertical). . . . sq. ft.		6
42 Horse-power at brake 1.5 at 750 R. P. M.
43 Engine gave 2.01 H. P. on brake at 900 R. P. M.
44 Lift at pendulum (during one minute absolute)
45 Lift at pendulum (during one minute in terms of wt.)
46 Minimum pressure with which wheels turn
47 Position of center of pressure of wings†
48
49
50 Curvature of wings, 1 in 20-1/2
51 Root angle of wings, 10°
52 Tip angle of wings, 10°
53 Position of wings: C. P. F. W., 157.82; C. P. R. W., 1386.9
54 How guyed
55 Position of tail
56 Angle of tail, 5°
57 Co-efficient elasticity of tail, 200 at center depresses to horizontal
58 Position of rudder (center), 1292.9
59
60 Line of thrust, 1500, through center of propellers
61 Center of gravity₁ of whole, 1503.7
62 Center of gravity₂, 2497.5
63 Center of pressure₁ of whole estimate, 1503.7
64 Center of pressure₂, 2513.2
65 Center of clutch post, 1515.4
66 Center of coil, 1555.3
67 Center front float, 16.45
68 Center rear float, 1372.6
69 Center wind vane rudder, 1435.6
70 Center Pénaud rudder, 1292.9
71 Rear end Pénaud rudder, 1215.9
72 Front end of Bowsprit, 1707.2

Footnotes.

* H.P. = (Rev. × diam. × pitch ratio × thrust)/33000
† This is calculated on the assumption that the center of pressure on each wing or on pair of wings at a motion of 2000 feet per minute is in ordinary curved wings 2-5 the way from front to rear, that for wings of usual size the rear wing have 2-3 of the efficiency per surface of the front ones and that the tail proper bears no part of the weight; but if rear wing is smaller or larger this efficiency is smaller or larger per unit of surface.

◊ INDEX

Abbreviations and symbols for points on aerodrome … 14, 15

Accidents, in launching large aerodrome … 126, 184, 185, 265–281

— loss of model aerodrome … 17, 94, 154

Aeolipiles, alcohol … 55, 56, 59, 60, 65, 66, 112

Aerial navigation, report of Board of Ordnance on … 276, 279

Aerodrome, balancing of … 45–52, 81, 90, 109, 134, 211, 212

— construction of … 53–80, 164–187, 234–250

— definition of word … iii

— dimensions of (see aerodrome models and data sheets).

— eighth-size model … 133, 134, 154

— engines (see engines and motors).

— experiments with models … 6–14, 16–24, 133–155

— field trials (see trials).

— first flight of model, May 6, 1896 … 2, 3, 107, 108, 117

— first trial of a “flying machine” in free air … 97

— flight (see also trials).

— — first model, May 6, 1896 … 2, 3, 107, 117

— — large machine (1903) … 126, 127, 255–282

— — photographs of … 108, 259, 260

— large … 126, 127, 129, 130, 156, 183, 225, 255–282

— — construction of … 164–187, 234–250

— — launching apparatus for … 156–163, 183

— — shop tests … 251–254

— — trials (1903) … 126, 181, 255–282

— — weight of … 277

— launching apparatus for models … 92–122, 133, 134

— — — — large aerodrome … 156–163, 183

— man-carrying (see also aerodrome large) … 123, 125, 129, 130, 151, 153, 156–187, 234–250, 255, 282.

— model, descriptions of (see also data sheets).

— — — — No. 0 … 21, 30, 31, 36, 38, 40, 53, 55, 75

— — — — Nos. 1, 2, 3 … 28, 29, 38, 40, 53

— — — — No. 4 … 53, 62–67, 69, 70, 72, 75–79, 81–83, 86, 92–109, 120

— — — — No. 5 … 26, 64–66, 69, 70, 75–79, 81, 82–84, 86, 88, 89, 90, 92–109, 110–122, 130, 131, 134, 135–155, 158, 174, 188, 189, 208–210, 231, 257, 281.

— — — — No. 6 … 49, 61, 62, 78–81, 89, 90, 92–109, 110–122, 130, 131, 134, 158, 174, 188, 193, 208, 210, 231, 257, 281.

— — — — rubber pull … 11–20

— — eighth-size … 133, 134, 154

— — frames of … 39, 53–80, 90, 112, 119, 129

— — launching apparatus for … 92–112, 134

— — quarter-size … 158, 159, 170, 226–233, 234, 255, 257–261, 281

— — results from … 17, 129

— — steam driven (see also Nos. 5, 6) … 122, 164, 165, 224, 281

— — trials, of Nos. 0, 1, 2, 3 (1892) … 29, 53

— — — — Nos. 4, 5, 6 (1893) … 63, 92–106

— — — — Nos. 5, 6 (1896) … 2, 79, 106–109

— — — — No. 6 (1898) … 61

— — — — Nos. 5, 6 (1899) … 49, 79, 135–155, 231, 257

— — — — Nos. 30, 31, and others … 6–14, 17, 19

— motors (see engines and motors).

— quarter-size models (see aerodrome models).

— rubber-power models … 5, 8–24, 44

— weights of (see weight and data sheets).

Aerodromics, science of … iii, 7

Aerodynamics … 7, 30, 43, 44, 80, 91, 99

— experiments in … 1, 6, 7, 19, 21, 32, 41, 80, 98, 128, 150, 153

Aeronaut (see also aviator) … 130

Air, compressed … 11, 24, 25, 26, 68, 112

— liquid … 154

— resistance of … 6, 8, 9, 142, 165–167

Air-chamber … 64, 68, 69, 98, 112, 113

Air-cooled engine … 226

Alcohol and hydrocarbons, use of, as fuel … 24, 25, 35, 55, 57, 66, 72, 73

Alcohol aeolipiles … 55, 56, 60, 66, 69, 112

Allegheny Observatory, experiments at … 11, 13, 31, 150

Allotment, Government, for man-carrying aerodrome … 124–126, 132, 278

Aluminum-bronze, use of … 114, 116, 173, 174

Aluminum in engine construction … 32, 114, 243, 252

— sheathing of hull … 69

— wires … 84

Aneroid barometer for determining height … 186

Anemometer cups … 143

Angle, diedral, of wings … 45, 82, 89

— of inclination … 41, 43, 83, 99, 100

— — rotation … 61

— — wings, root angle … 83, 89, 91, 97, 98, 100, 101, 103

Area, relation to weight and power … 43, 44, 64, 90, 99, 101

— supporting (see also surface) … 82, 87–89, 91, 93

Asbestos, use of … 35, 63, 67

Associated Press statement to … 266, 280

Aviator, equilibrium of … 161, 169, 253

— weight of … 130, 210, 256

Aviator’s car … 185–187, 214, 251, 252

— jacket … 273

— seat … 185

— wheel … 214, 216, 265, 266, 272

Bagging or pocketing of wings … 84, 86, 100, 195, 203

Balance (see also equilibrium) … 82, 165

Balancing of aerodrome … 45–52, 81, 90, 109, 134, 211, 258

— — engine … 246, 247

— — wings and rudder … 211, 255

Ball-bearings on launching car … 160, 175, 177, 252, 253

Bamboo ribs for wings … 200

Barometer, aneroid … 186

Barus, Dr Carl, boiler experiments by … 58, 70–75, 93–95

Batteries, electric … 11, 24, 26, 27, 162, 212, 220–222, 237, 240, 241, 257, 262, 263

Bearings, ball, on aerodrome and launching car … 160, 175, 177, 252, 253

— bronze, on model aerodromes … 177

Bedplates … 116, 168, 175, 273

“Beehive” boilers (see boilers).

Bell Alexander Graham … 4, 96, 102–104, 106, 108

Bessemer steel guy wires … 172

Bevel gears … 174, 177, 241

Bird-wings, construction of … 7, 188, 200, 201

Birds, soaring, study of … 7, 9, 88, 287

Blazer, S. M., engineer … 126

“Bleeder,” feed tube for burner … 67, 113

Blériot aeroplane of Langley type … 283

Blower for artificial wind … 61, 97, 225

Board of Ordnance and Fortification … 124, 126, 132, 250, 255, 271, 276, 278, 279, 280

Boat, house … 92, 93, 136, 148, 149, 156–163, 269

Body, construction of (see also hull) … 32, 60

Boiler, “Beehive” type … 34, 39

— coil of … 34–39, 70, 71, 113–116

— development of … 55–59, 65, 68, 70–75, 102, 114–116

— pressure … 58, 59, 63, 68, 69, 101, 102

— report on, by Dr. Barus … 70–75

— serpollet type … 56, 57

— spray type … 70

— tests of … 70–75, 135

— tubing of … 70–75, 114, 141

— water-tube type of … 34, 35, 70–75, 114

Bolometer, development of … 123

Brake, horse-power … 28, 37, 58, 61, 64–69, 117, 223, 224, 230, 233

— Prony … 38, 61, 65, 66, 117, 179, 222, 228, 233, 249

Brass, use of … 54, 63, 113, 180

Brazing … 117, 173, 175, 235, 236

Bronze, aluminum … 114, 116, 171, 173, 177, 234, 237–240

Burners, Bunsen type … 35, 68, 72, 113

— gasoline … 56, 60, 61, 62, 65, 67, 68, 70–75, 112–116, 149

— shield for … 60, 67, 95, 115

Bushing, cast-iron … 114–117, 121

Buzzard, American, and “John Crow,” study of … 285

Cameras, telephoto … 260, 261, 273

“Canvas-covered” propellers … 84, 178

Car, aviator’s … 185–187, 214, 251, 252

— launching (see launching apparatus).

Carbon, energy developed by the use of … 27

Carbonic-acid gas as motive power … 11, 24, 26, 28, 29, 39, 53, 54

— liquid … 24, 28

— — freezing of … 28–29

— — latent heat of … 28

Carburetor, development of, suitable type of … 224, 225, 239, 240, 248, 249, 251, 253, 259

Carpenter, Frank G., witnesses flights … 108

Cast-iron, use of (see also iron) … 114–117, 121, 234–236, 240

“Cast-off” apparatus … 96, 110

Center of gravity … 10, 13–16, 45–52, 61, 64, 80, 91, 103, 143, 144, 150, 209, 210

— — — in relation to pressure … 10, 11, 15, 46, 48, 64, 98, 99, 101, 103

— — pressure … 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 45–52, 78, 80, 84, 87, 88, 90, 91, 200, 209, 210

— — — formulæ for … 49, 87, 88, 90

— — wings and tail … 16

— — rotation … 62

— — thrust … 62

Centrifugal pump … 241, 248

Charcoal, as fuel … 57

China silk (see silk).

Chopawamsic Island, Potomac River … 93, 135, 153, 183, 256

Chronograph attachments … 162, 163, 229

Circulating pump … 114, 244

Clamps, wing … 82, 89, 145, 183

Coast and Geodetic Survey … 93, 145, 256

Coefficient of elasticity … 146

Coil, spark (see sparking devices).

Compressed air … 24, 25–26, 68, 112, 113

Condenser, steam … 65

Construction and tests of large engine … 234–250

Construction of frame and engines … 53–80

— — — of large aerodrome … 164–187

— — supporting surfaces … 188–206

Control, equilibrium and … 77, 78, 119, 207–217

— gyroscopic … 78, 211

Cooling systems, (see water and air cooling).

Copper, use of … 27, 39, 63, 72, 112–115, 162

Copper tubing … 35, 56, 57, 59, 112, 115, 140, 141, 248

Counter, speed … 62, 120, 185, 243, 249

— — propellers … 178

Covering for tail … 86, 103

— — wings … 54, 63, 77, 81, 86, 88, 90, 148, 194, 195, 205

Crank bell … 110

— starting … 244

Crank-pin … 237–239, 243–247

Crank-shaft … 237, 239, 244–246, 250

Cube, law of the … 129, 130, 222, 244, 249

Currie, Rolla P., report on American Buzzard … 289

Curved surfaces (see also wing curvature) … 18, 44, 47, 99

Cylinders (see also engines, cylinders).

— aluminum in construction of … 114

— brass in construction of … 54

— steel tubes in … 116, 121, 234, 235, 239, 240

— construction of … 112, 114, 116, 121, 212, 213, 232, 235, 239, 240, 246

— five, engine … 245, 246, 250, 255

— high-pressure … 33

— low-pressure … 33

— multiple, engine … 226

— oscillating … 33, 38

— tests of (see also engine tests) … 55

— walls of … 239

— weight of … 246, 247, 250

Daniell, on energy in storage batteries … 27

Data sheets … 297

Definitions of terms and symbols … 14, 15

Deflection, absence of … 269

de Lucy, on sustaining surfaces … 19

Diedral angle of wings … 45, 82, 83, 85, 89, 96, 146

Dimensions (see aerodrome descriptions and data sheets).

Distance of flights … 103, 107–109, 135–155, 258

Distortion of wings … 82–84, 91, 98, 105

Dry batteries … 262

Duration of flights (see also time) … 103, 107, 108, 137, 145, 148, 258

Dynamometer, use of … 222, 228, 229, 230, 242, 247, 249

Eagle quill and spruce rib, comparative strength of … 201

Early steam motors and other models … 30–40

Efficiency of wings … 87, 89, 91, 144, 192, 193

Eighth-size models … 133, 134, 154

Elastic limit of rubber … 9, 22, 23

Elasticity of tail … 78, 90, 144, 152

— coefficient of … 51, 144, 146

Electric batteries … 24, 26, 27, 212, 262, 263

— circuits … 70, 212, 220–223, 237, 241, 257

Electricity as motive power … 24, 26–28

Energy in foot pounds (see also lift) … 23–27

Engine (see also motors) … 112–116, 179, 180, 222–225, 226–233, 234–250, 281

— American builders … 131, 180, 219, 228

— air-cooled … 226

— automobile … 219

— balancing of … 246, 247

— carbonic-acid gas … 24, 26–29

— compressed air … 11, 24–26, 68, 112

— construction of, and frames … 53–79, 114, 116, 219, 223–233

— — — — tests … 234–250

— contract for … 126

— cylinders of … 33, 38, 54, 112, 114–116, 121, 212, 213, 232, 235–239, 246, 250, 255

— description of one-horse-power … 37, 116

— electric … 24, 26–28

— European builders … 131, 140, 219, 234

— experimental … 218–225

— five-cylinder … 224, 232, 234–250, 255

— gas (see also gasoline) … 26, 28, 131, 133

— gasoline … 24, 37, 65, 125, 131, 179, 210, 218, 219, 224, 277

— gunpowder … 24, 25

— horse-power (see also brake, horse-power) … 37, 58, 116, 233

— hot-water … 24, 25, 68

— large, construction and tests of … 133, 234–250, 281, 282

— — weight of … 247, 250, 256

— Manly … 219–225

— multiple cylinder … 226

— oscillating … 33, 38

— radiator … 252

— steam … 24, 30–40, 64, 69, 116, 120

— — dimensions of … 116

— Stringfellow … 30, 31

— tests … 37, 55, 61, 69, 102, 133, 148, 234–250, 281, 282

— water-cooled … 220, 235, 236, 241, 247, 248, 252

— weight of … 116, 126, 130, 209, 247, 250

Equilibrium, maintenance of … 6, 31, 45, 51, 144, 213–216

— of aviator … 161, 169, 213, 253

— and control … 77, 78, 119, 207–217

— lateral, and longitudinal stability … 31, 45–52

Evaporation, rate of gasoline … 65, 66

Evaporators … 37, 65, 67, 114, 148

“Factor of safety” … 111, 186

Feathers, pliability of … 188, 200

— toy-propeller, blades made of … 8

Feed, gravity … 239

Fibre insulation … 241, 257

Field trials, eighth-size … 133, 134, 154

— — large and quarto size models … 126, 158, 170, 181, 226–234, 255–282

— — models Nos. 0, 1, 2, 3 … 29, 53

— — — Nos. 4, 5, 6 … 63, 92–106

— — — Nos. 5, 6, 2 … 61, 79, 135–155, 231, 257

Fire-proofing preparation … 148

First flight of heavier than air machine … 107, 108

First trial of a flying-machine in free air … 97

Flexure of wings … 82–84, 91, 98, 105

Flight (see aerodrome and aerodrome model flights).

— bird, study of … 7

— of large machine … 126, 181, 255–282

— — May 6, 1896 … 2, 3, 107–108

— — models Nos. 4, 5, 6 … 2, 63, 79, 92–109, 135–155

— — quarter size model … 259

— — rubber-driven models … 16–20

— — quarter-size models … 158, 170, 226–233, 243, 255, 257–261, 281

Floating the models … 64, 68, 69, 99, 103, 119, 120

Fly-wheels of engine … 242, 243, 247, 252

Flying aerodrome model as a kite … 133, 154, 155

Flying-weight of aerodromes (see also data sheets) … 15, 62, 63, 76, 77, 81, 89, 91, 148, 247, 250, 256

Foot-pounds, definition of … 15

— energy in (see also horse-power) … 22, 27, 62

Force-pump … 57

Formulæ:

— area … 19

— center of pressure … 49, 87, 88, 90, 101

— drift … 41, 43

— efficiency … 47

— Harting’s … 19

— horse-power … 15, 62

— lift or weight … 41, 43, 62

— Manly’s, for changing center of pressure … 51

— Maxim’s, for horse-power … 15

— resistance … 41

— soaring speed … 91

— tandem wing … 87

— work (see also horse-power) … 18, 23, 27, 62

Frame, construction of, model … 39, 53–80, 90, 112, 119, 129

— — — large aerodrome … 164–187, 253

— main … 165–168, 170

— resistance of … 165–167

— testing of … 79

— transverse … 77, 165, 174–178

— work … 118

French academy, communication to … 3

Fuel, alcohol and hydrocarbon … 24, 25, 35, 55, 57, 66, 72, 73

— carbon … 27

— carbonic acid gas … 11, 24, 26, 28, 29, 39, 53, 54

— charcoal … 57

— gas … 26, 28, 37

— gasoline … 24, 25, 36, 37, 65–68, 112, 125, 224, 248, 259

— quantity of … 68

Fuel-tank … 36, 65, 67, 68, 112, 113

Funds for experiments … 124–126, 132, 257, 278, 279, 281

Gaertner, Mr., instrument maker … 93, 95

Gas, carbonic-acid … 24, 26, 28, 36, 68, 113

Gas-burners … 35, 55, 60, 65, 70–75, 112, 113

Gas-engine (see also engines, gas and gasoline) … 26, 28, 37

— Five cylinder … 224, 234–250, 255

— large … 234–250, 277

— model … 26–28, 65, 131, 133, 232–234

Gasoline-burners … 56, 60, 62, 65, 67, 68, 70–75, 112–116, 149

Gasoline-engines … 24, 37, 65, 125, 131, 179, 210, 218–225, 232–234, 248, 259, 277

Gasoline-evaporator … 37, 65, 148

Gears … 114, 117, 136, 137, 168, 174, 175, 177, 237, 241

Gibson, Captain, recorder … 250

Goldbeater’s skin, for wings … 77

Goode, G. Brown … 97

Government allotment (see also Board of Ordnance and Fortification) … 124–126, 132, 279

Gravity, center of … 10, 13–16, 45–52, 61, 64, 80, 91, 98, 101, 103, 143, 144, 150, 209, 210

Gravity-feed … 239

Guiding (see equilibrium and control; sustaining surfaces; and rudder).

Gun-metal … 174

Gunpowder … 24, 25

Guy-posts … 184, 189, 199, 266, 267, 268, 270, 274, 275

Guying, early systems of … 81, 84–91

— wire … 81, 84–90, 99, 164–173, 189, 191, 196, 199, 264, 266

Gyroscopic control … 78, 211

Harting’s formula … 19

Head resistance … 142, 165–167

Heating apparatus (see burners).

Herring, A. M., assistant … 104

Hewitt, Mr., at rescue of Mr. Manly … 273

Hodgkin’s fund, aid from … 257

Holmes, W. H. … 286, 289

Horizontal flight, velocity required to sustain … 1, 16–19, 43, 91

— rudder … 8

Horse-power, exerted by rubber … 9, 22

— Maxim’s formula … 15

— required to sustain flight … 1

— developed … 28, 37, 55, 58, 64–69, 117, 179, 223, 233, 249

Hot-water engine … 24, 25

House-boat and launching apparatus … 92–109, 110–122, 148, 149, 156, 163, 269

Huffaker, E. C. … 44, 46

Hull, construction of … 30, 32, 36, 53, 60, 69, 75, 112, 118–121

— forms of … 30, 31, 32, 38, 60, 69

— resistance … 49, 69

— steel tubes for … 39, 69, 75, 112, 118, 120

Ignition (see electric batteries and circuits).

Indian rubber for power (see also rubber) … 21, 40

Internal work of the wind … 6, 42

Inclination, angle of … 41, 43, 83, 99, 100

Insulation … 144, 241, 257

Iron, use of … 63, 64, 114–117, 234, 236, 240

Jacket, cork, aviator’s … 273

— water … 220, 234, 236, 241, 247, 252

“John Crow” (bird of Jamaica), study of … 285

Kite, model flown as … 133, 154, 155

Langley. S. P. … 3, 4, 9, 18, 76–79, 93, 95, 102–108, 112, 123–126, 128, 131, 133, 135, 153, 156, 161, 179, 183, 184, 188, 211, 212, 219, 223, 230, 231, 257, 266–268, 270, 271, 287, 280, 281

— statement of … 124, 280

— letter of instructions from (see appendix).

— study of “John Crow” bird (see appendix).

— aerodrome, War Department report on … 277, 278, 279

“Langley type” of aerodrome … 77, 164, 208, 244, 266, 276, 278–281

— — — rudder … 77, 86

Lateral stability … 45–52, 97

Launching, difficulties of … 10, 11, 12, 92, 94, 96, 99

— methods of … 13, 94–97, 110

— of large machine … 265–267, 271–272, 276, 282

Launching-apparatus … 92–122, 134, 149, 156–163, 183, 185, 231, 257, 261, 265–267, 270, 272, 276, 282

— overhead … 5, 92–122, 133–135, 139, 142, 143, 145, 151, 152, 154, 156–163

— underneath … 134, 135, 145–147, 151, 152, 154, 156–163, 183

— weakness of … 265, 276, 282

Launching-car … 158, 159, 183, 184, 255, 258, 262, 266–268, 271, 272, 274, 277

Launching speed (see also velocity) … 135, 161, 162

Law of the cube … 129, 130

Lewis, Captain I. N. … 250

Lift of propellers (see also pendulum tests) … 61, 62, 66, 69, 77, 94, 99, 102, 105, 107, 151, 189, 192

Lilienthal, Otto, on efficiency of curves … 44

Lineal velocity … 1, 43, 110, 166

Liquid air … 154

Longitudinal stability … 45–52

Lubrication … 113, 177, 234, 239, 240

McDonald, Mr. … 266, 271, 272

McKinley, President William … 123, 124

Macomb, Major M. M., report of … 276–278

Maltby, Mr., machinist … 93–95, 102, 106

Man-carrying machine … 123, 125, 129, 130, 151, 153, 156–187, 234–250, 255–282

Manly, C. M., assistant in charge of experiments … 123, 129, 218–224, 265, 266, 268, 272, 276, 278

— — — engine … 219–225

— — — formula … 51

— John M., description of flight, by … 260–261

Maxim’s formula for horse-power … 15

Mechanical flight … 2–4

— — theory of … 1

— — Dr. Bell on … 4

— — Mr. Langley on … 3–4

Mica, use of … 63, 72, 115, 257

Models (see also aerodrome model description and trials).

— experiments with … 1, 133–155

— — — small … 6–14, 17, 19

— flight of (see trials).

— launching of (see also launching apparatus) … 92–122, 133, 134

— rubber-driven … 5, 8–24, 76

— steam-driven (see also Nos. 4, 5, 6) … 134, 135

— steam, motor, and other … 30–40

Motive power (see also engines, electricity, and fuel) … 8, 11, 21–29, 118

— discussion of … 11

Motors, available (see also engines) … 11, 21–29, 278

— carbonic acid gas … 11, 24, 26, 28, 29, 39, 53, 54

— compressed air … 11, 24, 25, 26, 68, 112, 113

— construction of early types of … 30–40

— electrical … 24, 26, 27, 212, 262, 263

— gas … 26, 28, 37, 131, 137

— gasoline … 24, 37, 65, 125, 131, 179, 210, 218, 219, 224, 277

— gunpowder … 24, 25

— hot-water … 24, 25, 68

— rubber … 5, 8–24, 76

— steam … 24, 25, 30–40

— weight of (see also weight of engines) … 116, 126, 130, 209, 247, 250

Mount Whitney, observations on … 123

Nash, Dr. F. S. … 276

National Museum, models in … 282

Needle-valve … 56, 57, 113

Nitric acid, use of … 71

Nomenclature of parts of aerodrome … 14, 15

Oiling systems … 113, 177, 234, 239, 240

Open wind, experiments in … 42, 99, 257, 271, 272

Ordinance and Fortification (see Board of).

Oxygen, necessity of … 72

Paper covering for rudder … 86, 103

Pénaud, Alphonse, toy aeroplane designed by … 7–9, 21, 22, 40

— tail or rudder … 8, 12, 13, 50, 51, 79, 82, 107, 122, 139–147, 151, 152, 153, 209, 211, 213, 214, 216, 253, 264, 270–272

“Pendulum” test for lift … 60, 61, 66, 94, 131, 135, 211, 212, 214, 232

Percaline for wing covering … 194, 195

Pinion (see gears).

Piston (see engines and cylinders).

Pitch of propellers … 63, 69, 76, 94, 181

Plane (see also wings and surfaces).

— dropper … 150

— surface, angle of inclination of … 6, 8, 41–45, 61, 83, 97, 99, 100

— velocity required to sustain … 1, 43, 110, 166

Pocketing of wings … 84, 86, 100, 195, 203

Potomac River, location of tests on … 93

Power (see also steam, fuel, and electricity).

— development of … 8, 39

— formula for … 62

— generating apparatus … 112, 125

— relation to area and weight … 43

Power-gauge (see dynamometer).

Powell, Major G. H., recorder … 250, 267, 276

Press, attitude of … 127, 268

— report to, Mr. Langley’s … 280

— — — Mr. Manly’s … 266–267

Pressure, center of … 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 45–52, 64, 78, 80, 84, 87, 88, 90, 91, 200, 209, 210

— — — rules for locating … 49, 87, 88, 90, 101

— — — and center of gravity … 10, 11, 15, 46, 48, 64, 98–101, 103

— steam … 24, 30–40, 53–59, 63–75, 101, 114, 117, 134, 135, 137, 141, 142, 149, 150

Pressure-gauge … 114

Prony-brake … 38, 61, 65, 66, 117, 179, 222, 228, 233, 249

Propellers … 7, 8, 11, 13, 22, 40, 68, 69, 94, 95, 102, 103, 108, 109, 118, 119, 136, 139, 143, 145, 149, 178–184, 258, 261, 262, 268, 272, 277

— construction of … 63, 76, 98, 100, 178–184

— early forms of … 7, 8, 11, 22, 33

— lift of … 61, 62, 66, 69, 77, 94, 102, 105, 107, 131, 148, 151, 189, 192

— pitch of … 63, 69, 76, 118, 181

— position of … 39, 63

— shafts of … 39, 117, 175–177, 242

— slip of … 107, 109

— speed of (see also revolutions per minute) … 61, 91, 94, 99, 107, 114, 134, 264, 272

— tests of (see pendulum, lift, and thrust).

— thrust of … 47, 62, 94, 119, 148, 154, 161, 174

— toy … 7, 8, 9, 21, 22

Pumps … 36, 37, 57, 59, 65, 68, 71, 75, 114, 115, 141, 241

— centrifugal … 241, 248

— circulating … 114, 244

— double-acting … 68, 114

— force … 57

Quantico, Va., flights at … 64, 66, 79, 93, 147, 255, 269

Quarter-size model … 158, 159, 170, 226–233, 243, 255, 257–261, 281

Quill, eagle’s, and spruce rib compared … 200, 201

Radiator (see also engine, water-cooled) … 252

Randolph, Gen. W. F. … 276, 277

Record of flights (see also data sheets) … 2, 3, 17, 107, 117, 135–155, 255–282

Reed, R. L., chief carpenter … 93–95, 102, 106, 266, 271, 272, 275

Reel attached to float … 119, 120

Relation of area to weight and power … 43, 44, 64, 81, 89, 90, 99

Reservoir (see air-chamber and tank).

Resistance, air … 6, 8, 9, 142

— of frame and guy-wires … 165–167

Revolutions of engine and propellers per minute (see also speed) … 33, 58, 63, 65, 66, 102, 109, 115, 249, 252

Rib, spruce and eagle’s quill, compared … 200, 201

Ribs, construction of … 37, 80, 81, 86, 89, 188, 194–206, 263, 264

Ridgway, Robert, on American Buzzard … 301

Root-angle of wings … 82, 83, 91, 98, 100, 101, 103

Rotation, angle of … 61

— center of … 62

Rubber as a source of power … 5, 8–24, 44, 76

— elastic limit of … 9, 22

— “fatigue” of … 23

— horse-power produced by … 9, 22, 23

— springs … 2, 185

— insulation … 144, 241

Rubber-driven models … 5, 8–22

Rubber-pull and rubber-twisted models … 16–24

Rudder (see also tail) … 8, 9, 77, 80–91, 122, 136, 207–217, 255, 272, 275

— horizontal … 8

— Pénaud’s … 8, 12, 13, 50, 79, 87, 107, 122, 139–147, 151, 209, 211, 213, 214, 216, 253, 270–272, 275

— vertical evolution of … 81, 82, 86, 97, 101, 106

Rudder-tail (see tail-rudder).

Sanding-tests of wings … 84, 85, 89, 99, 190–204

“Separator,” evolution of, for dry steam … 58, 59, 65, 68, 114, 142

Serpollet-type boilers … 56, 57

Shafts, main, construction of … 117

— propeller … 39, 117, 175–177, 242

Sharp, Archibald, on balancing of engines … 246

Sheathing, aluminum … 69

— mica … 63, 72, 115

Shop tests … 40, 218, 251–254

Silk wing-covering … 54, 63, 81, 86–88, 90, 148, 194, 195, 205

Sliding tail designed … 16, 84

Smillie, Thomas W., photographer … 260, 267, 271, 273

Smithsonian Institution … 1, 6, 17, 18, 31, 42, 124–126, 171, 174, 176, 179, 257, 260, 271, 276, 280–281

Smoke-stack … 60, 67, 74, 78

Soaring birds, study of (see also appendix) … 7, 9, 88

Soaring-speed … 32, 41, 69

Sparking devices (see electric batteries and circuits).

Specific gravity … 120

Speed attained (see also velocity) … 31, 32, 41, 55, 61, 91, 99, 107, 114, 134, 161, 264

Speed-counter … 62, 120, 185, 243, 249, 252

Spokes, wire … 243

Spruce guy-sticks and frames … 85–87, 90

— ribs compared with quills … 200, 201

St. Louis Exposition tests … 249

Stability, lateral and longitudinal … 45–52, 77

Starter on launching-car … 94, 95

Starting-crank on launching-car … 243, 244

Steam, dry, production of … 58

Steam-chest … 117

Steam-engine … 24, 30–40, 64, 69, 116, 120

Steam-gauge … 114

— construction of frames and … 53–80

Steam-generating apparatus … 114–116

Steam-motors and other models … 30–40, 134, 135

Steam-pressure … 24, 30–40, 53–59, 63–70, 101, 102, 114, 117, 134, 135, 137, 141, 142, 149, 150

Steel, use of … 69, 112, 116, 119, 121, 172, 174, 234, 277

— tubes, for hull … 39, 69, 75, 112, 118, 120

Steering apparatus (see also equilibrium and control) … 214–216, 265, 266, 272

— — automatic … 30, 77, 211, 216

Steering wheel … 214, 216, 265, 266, 272

Storage batteries (see batteries, electrical).

Stringfellow engine … 30, 31

Superposed wings … 13, 14, 17, 138, 153, 193, 231

Supporting surfaces … 11, 44, 77, 81, 99, 188–206

Supports for propellers … 112

— — wings and tails … 36, 69

Surfaces (see also planes and wings).

— covering for … 77, 81, 86, 87, 90, 148, 194, 195

— curved … 44, 46

— plane, observations on velocity of … 1

— rigid … 6, 46

— supporting … 11 44, 77, 93, 99 188–206

— sustaining … 1, 5, 41–44, 80–91, 99

— — and guiding … 5, 80–91

Surgeons’ tape, used for mending ribs … 264

Sustaining surface … 1, 5, 41–44, 80–91, 99

— — de Lucy on … 19

Symbols … 14, 15

Synchronizing mechanism … 108, 121, 136, 137

Table, turn … 156, 165, 166

— whirling … 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 31, 42, 165, 166, 178, 189–194

Tachometer … 62, 120, 185, 243, 249, 252

Tail … 8, 9, 70, 77, 80, 91, 99, 207–217

— adjustment of … 16, 84

— connections of … 84, 213–216

— covering … 86 103

— Pénaud … 12, 13, 50, 79, 107, 122, 139–147, 151–153, 209, 211, 213, 214, 215

— sliding … 16, 84

— use as guiding and sustaining surface … 80

Tail-rudder … 77, 86, 87, 119, 152, 153

— Langley … 77, 86

Tank, air … 64, 68, 69, 112, 114

— fuel … 36, 65–68, 112, 113

— water … 252

Telephoto camera … 260, 261, 273

Tests (see also engine tests, trials, and flights).

— boilers … 70–75, 135

— construction and … 234–250

— cylinder … 55

— engine … 37, 55, 61, 69, 102, 133, 135, 148, 234–250, 251–254, 281

— experimental engine … 1902–1904 … 250

— frame … 79

— power … 61, 62, 69, 102

— resistance … 165–167

— sanding, of wings … 84, 85, 89, 90, 190–204

— shop, of large machine … 40, 218, 251–254

— St. Louis Exposition … 249

— whirling-table … 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 31, 42, 165–166, 178, 189–194

— wing … 84, 85, 89, 99, 190–204

Testing ground (see also Quantico) … 64, 66, 92, 93, 255, 256, 277, 280

Thrust, center of … 62

— propeller … 47, 62, 94, 119, 148, 154, 161, 174

Thrust-recording devices … 229, 230

Thurston, R. H. … 128, 129

Time of flights … 103, 107, 108, 109, 137, 145, 148, 258

Torque … 222, 242

Toy aeroplanes … 7, 9, 21, 22, 40

Transmission (see also shaft and gears) … 117, 175–177, 242

Transverse frame … 77, 165, 174–178

Trials, first … 97

— (1891) … 17

— (1892) … 53, 92

— (1893) … 65, 93–96

— (1894) … 65, 96–100

— (1895) … 101–106

— (1896) … 2, 79, 106–109

— (1897) … 123–125

— (1898) … 61

— (1899) … 79, 135–155

— (1903) … 126, 181, 255–282

Tubes in hull construction … 69, 112, 116, 119, 120, 172, 174, 234, 277

Turn-table … 156, 165, 166

Turnbuckle (see also guying) … 170, 171, 172

Valve-chest … 114, 213

Valves … 114, 117, 213

— exhaust … 237

— mechanically operated … 114, 213

— motion … 112, 114, 115, 213

— needle … 56, 57, 113, 212

Vaporization … 37, 67, 148, 149

Varnish, collodion … 192

— not affected by ammonia … 198

— pyroxelene … 86

— water-proof … 263, 264

Velocity … 18, 31, 32, 55, 91, 99, 107, 109, 114, 134, 150, 161, 166, 185, 264, 265

— initial … 100, 110, 150, 163

— required to sustain plane … 1, 43, 110, 166

Vertical rudder … 81, 82, 86, 97, 101, 106

Vulcanite, use of … 257

War Department, allotment … 124–126, 132, 278, 279

— — Board of Ordnance and Fortification … 124–126

— — — — — — — Report of … 276–280

Washington Evening Star, report of … 274

Watches, stop, for timing flight … 109

Water, cooling, for engine … 235, 236, 241, 247, 248, 252

Water-engine, hot … 24, 25

Water-jacket … 220, 234, 236

Water-proof varnish … 263, 264

Water-tank … 252

Watkins J. E. … 39

Weight (see also data sheets).

— flying, of aerodrome … 15, 38, 62, 63, 76, 77, 81, 89, 90, 91, 101, 109, 116, 148, 206, 247, 250, 256, 277

— of aerodrome … 31, 38, 40, 53, 62, 63, 116, 126, 130, 206, 256

— — covering for wings … 194

— — parts of aerodrome … 31, 63, 116, 190, 250

— — engine … 116, 117, 126, 130, 156, 209, 247, 250, 277

— per horse-power … 31, 126

— relation to area and power … 43, 44, 64, 81, 89, 90, 96

— total, with aviator … 256

Wellner, Georg … 44, 47

Wheel, fly … 242, 243, 247, 252

— steering … 214–216, 265, 266, 272

Whirling-table … 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 31, 42, 165–166, 178, 189–194

Widewater, Va., experimental grounds (1903) … 255, 256, 277, 280

Wind, artificial … 42, 61

— difficulties of launching in … 94, 99, 265, 271, 272, 276, 282

— experiments in … 42, 61, 99, 257, 271

— internal work of the … 6, 42

— open … 42, 99, 257, 271, 272

Wind-shield for burners … 60, 67, 95, 115

Wind-vane rudder … 136

Wing-clamps … 82, 89, 145, 183

Wings, adjustment of, for center of gravity … 16

— angle of … 45, 61, 82, 83, 89, 91, 97, 98, 100, 101, 103

— arrangement of … 45–47, 77, 86, 89, 194, 255

— bagging of … 84, 86, 100, 195, 203

— bird, construction of … 7, 188, 200, 201

— boxes for … 263, 264

— construction of … 7, 70, 80, 81, 87, 90, 91, 99, 105, 119, 121, 138, 188–206

— covering of, cloth … 195, 199, 204, 205

— — — goldbeater’s skin … 77

— — — paper … 86

— — — silk … 54, 63, 81, 86–88, 90, 148, 194, 195, 205

— — — weight of … 194

— curvature of … 18, 44, 46, 47, 86, 87, 90, 99, 112

— distortion of … 82, 83, 84, 91, 98, 105

— double tier … 13, 14, 17, 138, 193, 231

— efficiency of … 46, 87, 89, 91, 144, 192, 193

— flexure of (see distortion of).

— pocketing of … 84, 86, 100, 195 203

— quills and spruce ribs compared … 200, 201

— ribs of … 37, 80, 81, 86, 89, 188, 194–206

— single tier … 17, 142, 146, 147–151, 153, 192, 193, 231

— superposed … 13, 14, 17, 138, 153, 193, 231

— surface of … 9, 69, 81, 99

— tandem efficiency of … 46, 87

— two sets of … 13, 77, 106, 138, 231

— weight of … 190, 196

Wire guying … 81, 84–91, 99, 164–173, 189, 191, 195, 196, 199, 264, 266

— resistance … 165–167

— spokes … 243

Wooden guy sticks … 63, 81, 85

— ribs … 37, 80, 81, 86, 89, 188, 194–206, 263, 264

Wrecking of large machine … 126, 184, 265–281

Zinc, energy developed from … 27, 241

Zoological Park cameras … 260, 261, 273