SCIENCE AND INVENTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 10

SCIENCE AND INVENTION.

FLYING MALE POSSIBLE.

Professor Langley, of the Smithsonian Institute, has been the first 10 construct a flying machine that has absolutely flown. The aerodrome, as the machine is styled, is made of steel and is driven by steam by means of propellers. In flight it resembles a huge bird, soaring with extreme regularity in large curves, sweeping steadily upward in a spiral path, the spirals with a diameter of perhaps 100 yards. On the first trial the aerodrome rose to a height of nearly 100 feet and travelled for about half a mile, when the 3team became exhausted and the propellers ceased working. “Then/'says Professor Bell, “the whole, instead of tumbling down, settled as slowly and gracefully as it is possible for any bird to do, touched the water without any damage, and was immediately picked out and ready to be tried again." In the second trip the machine went in a different direction, moving in one continuous gentle ascent with the same birdlike motion, and rose to a height of some thirty feet above the highest trees. When the steam was exhausted the machine settled into the waters of the river about a quarter of a mile from its starting place. The aerodrome is not intended to soar at a great height. All that is required for practical purposes is that it shall travel at a level high enough to be clear of houses and trees. The start must be made from a height. This is following the example of the birds. The eagle takes a long run before it can rise, thus gathering momentum. The condor of the Andes gets a start usually by dropping from a lofty crag. An important part of the problem of human flight i 3 the question of landing with safety. On this point the inventor has not made any disclosures, although he is believed to have devised a practical scheme. It is impossible at this stage to say what developments await the invention of Px'ofessor Langley. Steam has been doomed long ago as a transporting medium. The new candidates for popular favour are electricity and air. Already a scheme has been proposed to utilise the aerodrome in conjunction with the American trolley system, and some such cooperation may be successful in the future It now only rest 3 with Professor Langley to perfect his scheme and to construct an aerodrome that will realise all anticipations, and so demonstrate not only the feasibility but the convenience of human flight. Meantime, scientists of all denominations will not be slow to extend to him every encouragement in the realisation of his marvellous design.— Science Siftings.