Show r y r tit s se sa e a I i Q r yr sY sYA A L f Q t f kd wY 4 A C y L Y 1 HAT makes an aeroplane fly What w t holds hold It t up in the air How does It rise 01 or o Wit W fall Sall turn to left or right aja at e will wUl ol ot o othe the operator Of the millions of ot Americana Americans who 1 have become intensely Interested in the th 1 achievements of ot thE Wright brothers and who have marveled at the success su cess of ot M in flying across the English chan char channel channel charnel nel perhaps few tew have a Q clear ilear conception of the mechanical cal principles on which these theu daring aviators have built their machines All aeroplanes whether of the Wright biplane or of orthe orthe the monoplane type have four mechanical ne no necessities necessities that must be complied with before they can car carfly fly They must be sustained in fn the air and propelled through it They also require a balancing device and a steering mechanism To meet these requirements these a machines are built in the first place around either one or two central surfaces commonly referred to as planes although strictly speaking these surfaces are con constructed constructed more along the lines of a parabola than a ap o plane pane p ane They The are equipped with gasoline engines similar to those used in automobiles only lighter and these en ern engines engines gines sines by turning circular propellers exactly like those used on steamships supply the motive power for the machines Next In importance to the functions of sus sustenance sustenance and propulsion is the balancing device and next nat natto to this in the mechanical necessities of an aeroplane Tanks the steering mechanism J i Essential Features Feature Common to All Allf Fin f Tn the various types of aeroplanes there are different dif different lf ferent methods of ot construction but there are S f k r s sy i y s lq i ir r sd K f ft t q ar y j 1 x f 1 t 3 i v 0 a tr N LOO lN t CRIN CRINs s OAR opt AD YOU 0 U O J R 2 7 U 14 F A CONCA vy features common to all Each type must meet the he requirements named above and in the present pre ent de development development development of ot the aeroplane the manner of ot doing this does not vary ary greatly in the different machines The general outlines of the Wright aeroplane aro are well trell known They consist of two long parallel surfaces called planes In the Wright flying machine the tha planes do not fit t this description de because if you look lookup lookup lookup up at them as the machine flies files over your head you observe that the under surfaces of ot the two planes are concave looking much as the human ribs would if they could be viewed from the inside in Ide To speak literally as well as figuratively these planes really reany consist of ribs made of or white sprucewood spruce sprucewood sprucewood wood shaped like a parabola and spaced space about one foot apart The ribs are stretched over tightly with a good quality of white muslin giving the planes when oem com completed something the appearance of a sail on a Chinese fishing boat The planes are more regular in outline than these sails Inasmuch as they are nearly rectangular lar In shape Except for the corners which are round rounded ed and the rear edges which are shaped like the edge of an umbrella they would be perfectly rectangular The main planes in the Wright machine are uniform in Inize size ize about forty feet long six feet wide ide and are spaced parallel to each other about six feet apart I Planes Plane Flexibility Means of Balancing The t tv o planes are held in position by upright struts or supports made maJe of white spruce and placed placeda a row of them along each edge perpendicularly between the planes The ends of these struts instead of being bains fastened rigidly to the planes plans are hinged so that the operator of the machine by working a lever can warp Q or bend the two big tg planes just as you can warp a apostal apostal postal card by holding It between your thumb and fingers and then pressing against the ends This fled flexibility flexibility in the planes of the Wright flying machine is greater In the rear edges edgell the front edges being almost rigid It is by means of ot this flexibility of ot the planes that the Wright brothers balance their machine About ten feet in front of the main planes pianos with their edges parallel to the latter are two smaller planes called calleJ rudder planes These are pivoted along a horizontal shaft that Is supported and braced by the framework extending out from the main planes plants These rudder planes planed are spaced about two feet teet apart held to together together together gether by supports similar to those in the big planes and an are operated In unison by a n rod extending back to toa toa a point near the operators operator seat between the big planes planas j I When the aeroplane Is flying along llong on a level course the two rudder planes are held exactly parallel to the f biz ones If it IS 16 desired to raise the machine the front s J er i sw M 3 4 1 v r rii r i s i ier i I ii iii i I IN I Ier i r IA P er s r w fh 1 f 4 w r r R t tE 4 i rz w s r a y t E G SS s HIJ DIJ yr BY OF OZ Pl PlAN ms S v P tC zi o o WAY ziF N a OP THE P S edges of ot of the rudder rodder planes are tilted upward and they i iare x are turned down when It Is desired to ting bring l ing the aero sere aeroplane Ii plane to the earth Perpendicularly between b the two r rudder planes is a small D I shaped plane This is used d f to prevent the aeroplanes from skidding sideways k koo x oo i r Vertical Planes Assist Ass t Big Ones One Extending backward from the main planes about six feet Is a wooden framework to which are attached y two small vertical planes These are In length equal to f the distance between the main planes held hel parallel to s sedges each other and are spaced about a foot apart Their Their ae edges are at right angles to the big planes and they are areso areso so pivoted that their rear edges may be he moved from left t to right and from right to left exactly like the rudder rodder I 1 of a ship These planes worked in conjunction with the tha i big ones assist In the dual function of turning the aero aeroplane aeroplane a plane from side to side and in preserving its balance Resting Besting on the upper side Bide sl e of the lower main plane and slightly to one side of its center is the engine The Tho engine In the Wright machine is of special construction designed by the brothers themselves and weighs about pounds The Wright engine Is water cooled and consists of four cylinders placed upright in a straight row Around each cylinder Is a hollow space spoken of technically as asa asa asa a jacket The gasoline explosions Inside the cylinders ers cause the cylinders to get hot and In time they would melt or burst burat were It not for the water flowing through the adjoining jackets thus keeping them cool Leading from the jackets at one end is a pipe or hose haBe and at the tho theother theother other end nd of this hose which is less than six inches In Y length is a small centrifugal pump I f Device Cools C Cylinders water finders and Water Waler This pump sucks the water out of the jackets and sends it into a series of flattened brass bras tubes about four feet long each tube being about an inch wide and per perhaps perhaps haps an eighth of an inch thick on the inside The brass that composes compo es the walls of these tubes is extremely thin so that the water when forced into them by the tho pump is spread ad out in thin sheets and thus cooled h I q A L I 1 1 i 1 K ij P k 7 3 1 ft 1 10 c 1 VI A a af k f z k f v h t nE B r Non m s 5 4 nua zW 77 AW I l Drub D tt fN D r li P S h INi m f k f R AT E r o 2 After Atter It is cooled It passes out at the lower end of the cooling device known as a radiator and back into the jackets surrounding the cylinders By this construction both the water and the cylinders are kept cool 1 The Wright engine is fitted with what is known as make and break ignition automatic inlet valves and a special direct feed teed arrangement for supplying the gaso gasoline gasoline gasoline line to the engine It has no carburetor and will de develop d develop velo about thirty horse power r rr t Extending backward from the engine and slightly above the level of the lower plane is the engine shaft shat ant about eight feet on either elther side sida of this and at point half halt way between bet een the two big planes are ar counted counte shafts to which are are attached the propellers The he coun counter coun counter counter ter shafts are supported by steel braces bra all held rigid rigidly ly in place by a multitude of slender piano pl no wires Sprocket wheels on the engine shaft and on the counter countershafts countershafts shafts are arc connected by automobile chains one ona of ot these chains being twisted so that H k runs in a line Une similar to a figure eight The effect of this is to turn the prof pro propellers l f yellers in opposite directions Propellers Like Electric Fan Blades The propellers themselves are eight feet in diameter and closely resemble the blades of an ordinary electric fan except that each propeller has two blades instead of the four that are usually found on electric fans The blades are about a foot wide at their widest point and whirl with such force when the engine is working smoothly that they will blow your hat oft off at a distance dl tance of over oyer a II hundred feet if you stand tand directly behind them The Wright machine has a capacity of two two pas passengers passengers the seats being on the side of ot the engine nearest the center of the aeroplane The operator sits in to the seat farthest from the engine thus causing his weight to balance that of the engine Tho second pas passenger passenger passenger occupies the other seat which is Is placed on the center line Une of the machine The operating levers of which there are three are placed in easy reach of the aviator Before an aeroplane can fly there must be in addi addition addition addition tion to the combination of or parts heretofore given a starting device In the French machines the start Is accomplished ac accomplished accomplished by having bicycle wheels fitted to the lower part of the frame and it is on these wheels that the flier filer rests when It Is on the ground When it is desired de desired sired to start the aeroplane is taken to a stretch of or level ground and then after the time engine is started the ma machine machine machine chine is shoved along on the ground until it gains sufficient sufficient sufficient headway to lift Itself by the aid of ot its own pro propellers propellers propellers tic t 4 Wright Flyer Started with Wright Before the Wright machine can start it must be placed on a single wooden rail called a monorail about a hundred feet long the weight of the machine being eIng supported on the rail by a cross bar that extends horl hori horizontally from one of the runners beneath the tho machine to the other Back of the monorail Is a small tower or derrick which supports a sixteen hundred pound weight and to this weight a rope is tied The rope passes over a pulley at the top of the tower through another pulley putley near Its base over a third pulley at the far end of the monorail and back to the aero aeroplane aeroplane aeroplane plane where It Is hooked on to the cross bar by y an L Li shaped shap d trigger which automatically releases itself when the flying machine gets ready to leave time rail for tor its trip Into the sky 1 When the gets ready to fly the engine is la started the operator takes his seat Slat the weight is released and the aeroplane runs rons along the monorail at ata ata ata a tremendous clip dip Just before the end of the rail Is hi reached the front edges edge of the front rudder rodder planes are tilted upward and the aeroplane responding to the air r pressure that Is now bearing heavily against the r side of ot the main planes plane lifts lUte gradually higher Md higher Now it is 18 that the great grat principles of aeroplane construction the supporting force and the balancing de device ct device vice come into play An understanding of what bolds holds an aeroplane 1 In tIN the theair air can beat best be reached by going back to tb the oW old familiar kite A kite is i 1 kept elevated elevate by running with it against aptt the wind or by allowing the wind to blow t it It When the kite plea flies two forces work against each other one the force of the wind the other the weight of the tb tit kite kl te It is exactly the same with an aeroplane with tIM the exception that instead In tead of waiting for the wind wlad to blow Wow against it the aeroplane drives itself against agala t the tIN wind wi M Machine chine Not Given Time to Fall Fact Thus it is J 8 Men saes en that when the aeroplane Is I flying ft g through the air there is a constant cont cone ant nt wind presses against its under side Wilbur Wright when what kept the machine up replied that it staid sUid up be because because cause it have time to fall tU and that i Is abut about as asgood asgood s good an explanation as 8 could be given Stop tn the theand n and the flier filer would tumble to the earth e but bet M as long M se Mit seIt it is pushed against the wind it cannot c fall faU It roes a aThe along on the th theair air like a skater over oer thin toe ioe loeThe The lifting power of the planes planet depends depend of course upon their area are and the speed with which they the are driven Prof S P Langley former secretary of f t the tha Smithsonian Institution at Washington who was WM first ant antto to apply appl the tha plane principle to flying machines worked out several everal formulas with relation to plan pIa planes and their lifting power He did this by constructing a huge something on the order of a merry go round with a whirling post poet at the center To the top of the posts ts lw he fastened ropes about bout a hundred feet long and d on ea th tIa the far end of the ropes rope he attached planes plan of various sass When the post poet turned the ropes with th their ir attach planes went whirling through the air in Ja gr great t and it was by making these the planes planet carry earry weights weight that Prof Langley determined their lifting power at urt re t speeds Balancing the Long Lang Sought Art An ArtIf AnIf If It an aeroplane had nothing more to do than sus sustain s stain tain lain Itself in the air the problem of artI Might t walId have been solved centuries ago The Th There r the extremely difficult art of balancing th the flyer a ss that it will remain on an aa even keeL even birds bird mid had I it WIt WAi Ji cult to maintain their stability In the all air ir The hawk hawkIn Ita In the constant cotant effort dort to steady atay himself hlat elt sways wy from f side to side In la his hi flight Ilk lib M sit acrobat on a tight rope rap Occasionally a bird will catch the wind on tb th top of C DC W wing with th the result re that giat t at b be goes co over n falling several feet before regaining his b e JJ on page 1 je four A I IT rw T a u L 4 r S Sr SJ li r 9 s 1 t yr z G AN snows 0 WS lH W THOD O 0 in MA N P f S TO M AN S tom B EY lOW BINo r S 0 P N cS ON f OF f MACHI IJ NG A C I A 1 R Rm m D P JJ J S ON r AS IVD I r I Mechanical Principles of the Aeroplane Continued from Page One The balancing device In the Wright machine is secured by an Ingenious scheme for manipulating the two main planes These planes are so 8 arranged that they can be warped end whys Run Running Running Running ning along in the muslin that covers the planes is a stout wire which ex extends extends extends tends from the operators seat in front to the far ends of the lower plane By moving a lever one end of the lower plane can be pulled down and the other end by the same movement pulled up As the planes are hinged together one operation of the lever has |