Aerial Locomotion

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1908, Page 9

Aerial Locomotion

According to Wilbur Wright (in an interview with the Motor of November 17), the future of flying machines is with armies. 'Every army,' says this record flyer, ■ ' will have, not one, but hundreds of these machines, carry- ■■' ing three or four men and ammunition, and capable of keeping the enemy continually harassed. Naturally,,' adds he, ' these machines will take the place of cavalry, and will be very much more effective than that branch, of military service.' "Ihe aeroplane,' says M. Leon Delagrange, the noted French 'abator/ 'will undoubtedly be used very extensively m the army ; every* regiment will have a certain number to be used for scouting and continually harassing the enemy. Asa sport, flying will be unique, while for short touring it will be without a rival, for it will make possible a journey from Paris to Marseilles in five or six hours.' Arid, with- the breezy optimism of the enthusiast, M. Delagrange predicts that-the aeroplane will in the near future, be brought within the reach of ; the man of moderate means.' 'Doubtless,' says lib, 'the initial cost will not be more than £160, which will make it-one ot the cheapest forms of locomotion known, upkeep being confined to the cost of oil and petrol.' 7 *•"' ..'-' -• ■ -- -' '■""" The tussle at- present is betweeri the monoplane (single plane) and the multiplane aeroplane. Farman's, Delagrange s, and most other aeroplanes have two planes .But we are told "by some of the experts that the future is '"" with the single-planed machine. At present, monoplanes are rather kittle-cattle. M. BleViot believes in the mono- - plane— under difficulties ;_ for its humors are terribly sudden and incomprehensible. Without visible"- provocation it stops its upward or level glide; dives 'earthward; breaks its wings and slams, hammers, and bangs its rider against the mother-froni which he sprungv The other dly it SS°? S Jl V?ret ? I 1 ? tl I mber f and n e^ly pounded his brains outY The flight is right; but the alighting— there's the rub ! M: Bleriot s experiences remind us of TJricle Remus's- story of the .terrapin (tortoise) that wanted:the buzzard (falcon) in U^JT tO , V „'?\ ha ? Buzzard, sailing in the air and ho thought he could sail, too. So he persuaded Brother Buzzard to take liim on his back and give, him jj start. This was done. Brother Buzzard carried Brother Tarrypm m vhe air and dropped Mm. He fen plunk and nearly killed himself,: He was very angry With Brother Biwzard, riot because he failed to fly, but because Brother Buzzard failed to show him how i;o light. Says he: Flyin' is easy as fallin', hut I don't speck I kin learn how to light." If you don't know what this

flvT' som f person.. Before you begin to fly., be sure and Jearn how to light.': . s, , . . ■<„-"' ; ''■-..:...: ' • • ' ■ _* ■ _ ;'■'■..- ■■ "■ -■' <i» despite >Jrie bumps; M: Blelriot is ; confident that -u^'^n/^^-^ 6 Wlll > of aeroplanes in' '-n? ? ?^-i they go eveiy where. M. Henri ■ : -'2S fl curth f Pilots that the present ceXry Z S^C **S ■■■ f * at g r * a °* the air -' 411 the world Pondered satLiml h±n" cn fl d - f + 19 ° 6j ai^° S V*™** made his senwW iL^ n Aaght ? A-new era was opened v.hei barman, covered a kilcmetre Gibout two^thirds of a , milc^at^sy : in January, 1908/ Then- Delagraii&e "•« went ■■■'&^Trt covered four kilometres on le same : f fcf *■ a^half. pounds^er horse-power-^vith .the htoptftf-S^SbSo-petrol motor %hafc will turn the .scaled as 4o£ us one pound,- or even less, per,horse-power. Yet, the dingers ' of the aeroplane, the high degree of - skil iS uired U its management^ts inability- to stand the s^e S s SX-inT the of starting- apparatus V (such a? faE weights or a preliminary run over the' ground and th! difficulties of landing-places and of housinglwiU^^th^r think, for many y^ears make the aeroplane the luxuS of the" few rather than the flying car of the many