Progress in Flying Machines 12+

📘 This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...stretched upon wooden arms, which latter, however, possessed a certain flexibility. In a first set of experiments, this aeroplane, loaded with ballast to the amount of 176 lbs., was allowed to glide in calm air along a cable 1,300 ft. long, which both supported and guided it, and which was inclined at a slight angle. It was also allowed to drop in still air from a height ot 131 ft., and then still further experiments were tried with men riding on the machine when the wind was blowing. For this purpose the aeroplane and its operator were suspended by a long rope from the middle of a cable, stretched in some cases between two hills and over a ravine, and in other cases between two high masts erected neir the sea-shore. M. De Sanderval states that he was attached some 5 ft. above the aeroplane and a little in front of its center of figure, so that by pulling upon four oblique cords he was enabled to shift his weight either forward or back, and to the right or left at pleasure. When the wind blew and the apparatus was restrained by a head-rope, the effect was much the same as when gliding free in calm air, with, however, the unfavorable difference that when near the ground it was less steady by reason of whirling currents. In a light wind the apparatus would rise until the s...