TRIAL TRIPS OF THE NEW AERIAL MACHINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 444, 16 October 1869, Page 3

TRIAL TRIPS OF THE NEW AERIAL MACHINE.

An "aerial steam- carriage," or air-ship, has been constructed in San Francisco by a Mr Frederick Marriott, \?\io is said to have been engaged for eighteen years in the study of aerial navigation* The machine and its trial trips are described as follows by the San Francisco Times of the sth July: —

The- ' carriage, -which is merely- a large working model, is a balloon, shaped like a cigar, both ends coming to a point. It is 37 feet lon ',11 feet from top to bottom, and 8 feet in width. These are the measurements at the centre of the balloon, from which point it gradually tapers off towards either end. Around the balloon, lengthwise, and a little below the centre, is a light framework of wood and cane, strongly wired together and braced. Attached to this frame, and standing up as they approach the front of the carriage, are two wings, oue on either side. They are each five feet. wide at a little back of the centre of the carriage, and do not commence to narrow down until they approach the front, where they come to a point. These wings are made of white cloth fastened to a light framework, which is braced securely by wires. The main frame is secured in place by means of strong ribbons, wlu'ch go over the balloon and are attached to corresponding portions of the frame on the other side. To the frame at the hind part of the carriage is attached a rudder or steering gear, which is exactly the shape of the paper used in pin darts, four' planes at right angles. This, when raised or lowered, elevates or depresses the head of the carriage when in motion; and, when turned from side to side, guides the carriage as a rudder does a boat. At the centre and bottom of the balloon i 3 an indentation, or space left in the material of which it is built, in which the engine and machinery are placed on framework. The engine aud boiler are very diminutive specimens, but they do their work handsomely. The boiler and furnace are together only a little over a foot long, four inches wide, and five or six inches in height. Steam is generated by spirit lamps. The cylinder is two inches in diameter, and has a three-inch stroke. The crank connects, by means of cog-wheels, with tumbling rods, which lead out to the propellers, one on either side of the carriage. The propellers are «ach twobladed, four feet in diameter, and are placed in the framework of the wings. The hoiler is made to carry eight pounds of steam When not inflated, the carriage weighs eighty-four pounds. The balloon has a capacity of 1360 feet of gas. When inflated and ready for a flight, it is calculated to have the carriage weight from four to ten pounds.

engineer's private trial trip was first made in the presence of the constructing engineers, several of the shareholders of the Aerial Steam Navigation Company, a number of the employes and residents in the neighbourhood. The morning was beautiful and still— scarcely a breath of air stirring The conditions were favourable to success. The gasometer was fully inflated, and the model, was floated out of the building. In six minutes steam was got up— the rudder set to give a slight curve to the course of the vessel, and the valves opened. With the first turn of the propellers she rose slowly into the air, gradually increasing her speed until |he rate of five miles an hour was attained]} The position of the rudder caused

her to describe a great circle around which she passed twice, occupying about five minutes ea«h time, f-ianos had beeu fastened to both bow and stern, which were held by two men, who followed her truck, and had sufficient ado to keep up with her at a " dog trot.^ As she completed describing the second circle, a pull given to the head line, unintentionally, caustd the rudder to shift to a fore-and-aft position, when the model pursued a staight flight about a quarter of a mile; she was then turned round, aud retraced her flight to the point of departure, whence, being guided, she entered the building. The fires were drawn, aud the first extensive flight of a vessel for aerial navigation was accomplished. The total distance traversed was a little over a mile. The appearance of the vessel in the air was really beautiful. As seen in the building, she looks cumbrous and awkward. The change of appearance .as she is circling gracefully through the air is equal to that of a ship when first seen in the water. The moment of opening the steam-valve was one of suspense; as the vessel rose and forged slowly ahead, the suspense was scarcely dissipated; but in a verj' few seconds her speed increased — inobedicnee to the rudder she commenced to swing round the curve— the men at the guys broke into a trot, aud cheer upon cheer rose from the little group of auxius spectators.

The public exhibition was attended by some slight accidents, but elicited much enthusiasm from the audience which had assembled in a hall where the trial was made. The wind was so violent aud irregular without that it was considered unsafe to risk the model beyond the shelter. The carriage niounied nearly to the roof with a firmness and steadiuess equal to the movements of an ocean steamer on smooth water. The guests cheered long and loud, and many fairly danced with delight at the success. The trip back and forth across the hall was performed several times with success.

Within a few weeks the first large vessel will be completed by the Aerial Steam Navigation Compauj' — one calculated to carry four persons — and the principles involved in its construction will -then be fully tested. The projectors consider that the moJel carriage has developed two facts of the greatest importance. First : The effective power developed by the propellers is greater than the estimated power according to the formulae of aero-dynamics ; and, second, the atmospheric resistance encountered by the vessel was less than had been calculated. Consequently, the speed attained was higher than was estimated, and at the next trial, when the effective heating surface of the boiler will be increased, a further considerable increase of 6peed will be attained. : oine doubt had been entertained as to the facility of steering the vessel. That is shown to be the easiest part of the business. She obeys the deflections of the rudder with extreme sensitiveness, and is under the most complete control.