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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0597.PDF
OCTOBER 2, 1909. SANTOS DUMONT'S "DEMOISELLE." DETAILS OF THE SMALLEST KNOWN FLYER IN THE WORLD. ALTHOUGH the historic cross-Channel Bleriot is a close Clement and Mons. Charron, whereby a thousand of rival to it, there is no doubt but that the chief centre of these little voiturettes of the air are to be turned out at a interest in the exhibition now open in Paris is that reasonable price, and within a short period. Apart from the more popular reason why so much attention is being devoted just now to the "Santos No. 20," there are many excellent technical reasons that warrant that attitude from all serious well-wishers of the science ol flight. After all said and done, this machine has flown, and flown with ease and certainty almost from the first moment that it saw the light of day outside the factory, and yet its total weight is but 240 lbs. or thereabouts, while its external dimensions do not exceed some 20 ft. across by 18 ft. lore ^^^^^^m^^^^^~ ^^ 9f> and aft, by 4 ft. 2 in. in height— % •- jJ^^^^^^M^^^^V t'i 4H0^ ^L- ot if tne vertical dimension was ** ** ^^^^^^^^^^^^» *• *^w JBI taken to the top of the propeller irk its extreme position the overall height is approximately 7 ft. 5 in. For these reasons, and also be- cause of the cunning manner in which that not altogether satisfac- tory material bamboo is used for the chassis, for the main planes, In the above central view of the " Demoiselle" M. Santos Dumont is occupying and for the rudder the followfrig, the somewhat rough and ready canvas seat that is provided for the pilot. He has Hftailed desrrintion' whirh WP arp in his right hand the elevating lever, which moves the universally-jointed tail up aetailea description winch we are or down; his left hand is grasping the small wheel which serves to steer the able to give will doubtless receive machine by moving the rudder sideways, and at his back is the lever that enables a hearty welcome from all readers, him to flex the wings by leaning his body over to one side or the other. Accompanying this description corner of the Clement - Bayard stand on which reposes Mons. Santos Dumont's " Demoiselle," or, to give it the title it bears, " Le Santos No. 20." Partly all the world flocks round this mono- plane because it is the smallest practical flyer which is known to have accomplished its primary object. But everyone also goes to see it in consequence of Mons. Santos Dumont's announcement of the free presentation of any rights he might maintain in con- nection with it, to the world at large. In connection with the exhibit, the designer has issued a printed circular for distribution, and in this he announces that whereas he had originally hoped that anyone could obtain these machines by having them built for themselves at a total cost of from some six to seven thousand francs (^240 to ^280), yet he found that the prices charged by manu- facturers for engines would inevi- In the "Demoiselle" the 3O-h.p. horizontal-opposed two-cylinder engine is fixed tably increase that figure at the centrally above the dihedral angie made by the two main planes. The propeller, moment. The circular announces, carried direct on the front end of the crank-shaft, is some 6 ft. 6 in. in diameter, , ., . „ . , and constitutes the fly-wheel. In the above view, the very straggling multi-tubular however, that arrangements have radiators ]ying on either slde of the motOf> and 'snugiy /towed away beneath ifae been made by him with Mons. main frames, are seen. 603 c
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