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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0160.PDF
(/OGHT spite of the efforts of his adopted father, he could not be induced to start and practise gliding from the top of a 2-metre wall which surrounded a field. He was so unenterprising that he was finally pushed off a roof, but to everyone's great surprise it was then found that' Coco ' really could not fly (Fig. 6). He fell like a lump after having spread his wings in a vague and undetermined sort of way. I was unable to believe that this was really the case, so I tried again. The second time he fell head down on the gravel just about five metres from the spot vertically under the point at which he started. Unfortunate bird ! I heartily begged his pardon, for he was really very much afraid, and in consequence he had a heart attack and was very ill the whole evening afterwards. " By the 4th of October he was getting on nicely, and was practising from the top of a hen-house (Figs. 7 and 8), where he tried his wings for a long time, and ultimately glided down from the eminence to a distance of 15 metres, where he landed like a big chicken. Next he was taken out into the middle of a big field without trees and incited to run like Santos Dumont at Bagatelle, during which time he got gradually more courageous (FiS- 9)- . ,.,„,_.. " He commenced by jumping on his feet and beating his wings at the same time (Fig. 10). These jumps became more frequent, and increased in length and speed without greatly increasing his height according as the speed he got up permitted (Fig. n), till finally he got up sufficient speed in his last jump to leave the ground definitely, and to continue gliding along at i\ metres above the surface (Fig. 12). In this way he covered 30 metres at the run, and then 100 to 150 metres ® ® THE «*G. AND FOLLOWING upon his experiences with the Voisin "Bird of Passage" and various other machines of different types, Mr. A. E. George has just had built at the Newcastle works of George and Jobling a new biplane which somewhat resembles the Curtiss type. It, however, embodies several improvements, which have been designed by Mr. George as a result of his experience. The total sustaining area of the machine, including tail, elevator, and ailerons, is 438 sq. ft., and the total weight is 660 lbs. The single 9-ft. propeller is driven at 600 revs, per min. by means of a 2 to 1 chain transmission ® ® Progress and Prospects of the Gyroscope. IMPOSSIBLE as it is at present to realise the extent to which gyroscopic control may or may not be found useful or even invaluable in connection with motor-driven flyers of any or every kind, yet no student of aeronautic matters can afford to ignore any progress that is being made in that direction. As yet, Mr. Louis Brennan, C.B., of torpedo fame, has made this important subject more particularly his own than any other living man, it having occupied years of experiment and research on his part. The system evolved by him has chiefly been applied to his mono-rail system of transport, and the very latest of his experimental vehicles was shown in operation to a large party of engineers and pressmen at his Gillingham factory on Friday of last week. Full particulars of the Brennan system, as far as it is at present known, are given in the Auto, of this week. I5< MARCH 5, 1910. flying, exactly like Santos Dumont. He had come to the point at which he was proceeding from flight to flight. "Another series of experiments which he carried out consisted of jumping into the air 3 or 4 metres. To induce him to do this, we placed him in a small yard which was walled in on three sides by buildings, the fourth being closed up by a wall of 2% metres in height. He disliked remaining in this little courtyard, and, after two or three jumps and beating with his wings, he suc ceeded in rising high enough to get on the top of the wall, from which he glided down into the field. How did he get out of this narrow space when he found it so difficult to rise from the ground in an open field? Possibly some current of air between the buildings assisted him, or perhaps necessity made his efforts more violent. The point has not been decided. " Finally, on the 13th of October, he had become a ' master.' He flew 200 or 300 metres through the air and returned to his point of departure, i.e., his pen, without allowing himself to be tempted away by his wild brothers in the mountains. At this date he weighed ic kilogs., while the stretch of his wings was 2-55 metres. Gradually his absences from home increased in length, but he always came back without becoming in any way wilder. " Unfortunately, he had not the dread of mankind possessed by his wild brothers of the mountains, and one of those brutes with a gun, who must kill everything they can get near, succeeded in approaching him as he was sitting on a rock, thinking no harm of anyone, and shot him dead. The ' sportsman ' was rather astonished on approaching the dead vulture to find a rose-coloured ribbon round his neck." ® ® J." BIPLANE. from an 80-h.p. 4-cylinder Green engine, and gives a thrust of 500 lbs. The patent triplicate control system is one of the main features. This is composed of a steering wheel placed vertically and actuates the rudder, elevator, warping tips, and ailerons, all of which can be done by one hand, and each movement does not interfere with any other. The chassis, which is of steel tubing, has patent spring supporting wheels and landing skids. The radiator tubes are so placed as to form pait of the lower supporting surface. ® ® Municipal Encouragement in Austria. THE Municipal Council of Vienna have voted a sum of ^20,000 for the management of the Steinfelder flying ground. A Large Hall Wanted. THE Aeronautical Society 01 Great Britain has appointed a Laboratory Committee to investigate various questions of interest to aeronauts. Some of the work to be carried out will necessitate the use, from time to time, of a room or hall of considerable dimensions, and the Society will be glad to hear from anyone who may be willing to assist the Committee by placing accommodation at their disposal. It being of great national importance that work of this kind should be carried out in this country without delay, it is hoped that this appeal of the oldest aeronautical society in the world will meet with an immediate and generous response.
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