FLYING MACHINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12928, 26 July 1905, Page 4

FLYING MACHINES.

The manifold attempts to master the problems of aerial navigation have resulted in very considerable success with dirigible balloons. Count Zeppelin, in Switzerland. M. SantosDumont in Paris, and Dr. Benton in England, have proved conclusively that it is possible to direct the course of specially constructed airships, raised by gas lighter than the atmosphere at its lower levels. The exhibition given over London by the English aeronaut, shows that the steerage power of this class of balloon is being steadily improved, so that it is well within probabilities to expect to see at a near date the flight of flying machines from point to point, regardless of ordinary wind conditions. This is a great step in advance, but it would be idle to assert that the dirigible balloon, as it has so far been conceived, can ever be more than a costly toy or an aid to military espionage. If the: longsearched for art of aerial navigation is ever to be acquired it must obviously be by the invention of a machine which can lift itself, as a bird lifts itself, through an atmosphere lighter than itself. Thus far, in spite of many designs, no inventor has succeeded in this aim, which remains the great scientific problem of the Twentieth Century. But with increasing mechanical powers produceable with comparatively light motors and with increasing knowledge of, and ability to make the best use of, lighter and stronger metals, together with the constant improvement being made in delicate scientific instruments, the search for the successful seif-lifting flying machine may not be as hopeless as some of the most expert aeronauts still believe it to be: ; Mathematically, it appears to be possible. That millions of money and the lives of many daring scientists must necessarily be sacrificed before such a conquest of the air can be achieved, will not interfere with the perfection of' the art if but once some fortunate inventor discovers the pathway to success. '