Santos Dumont.

Progress, 1 October 1907, Page 448

Santos Dumont.

The latest about that ardent " flyer," Santos Dumont, is that he is now devoting his energies to both the heavier and the lighter types Santos Dumont is not only engaged in perfecting his new aeroplane which we already had occasion to mention but is also constructing a new airship which has some interesting points. We expect to give a more complete account of the airship, but at present will speak of its leading features As regards the balloon body, it is one of the smallest in cubic contents that has ever been constructed, seeing that it gauges but 99 cubic metres (349 7 cubic feet) but on the contrary it is to carry a light-weight motor of no less than 50 hor^e power. No doubt it will be able to reach a high speed under these conditions. The balloon envelope is of varnished Japan silk, and the total length of the balloon, which is a very long cigar shape, is 21 metres (68.9 feet). The'surface is 151 square metres (1 625 feet). The main balloon contains a ballonet which measures 2 metres (6.6 feet) in diameter. There is a single propeller which is mounted upon the light framework below the balloon body the propeller is mounted direct upon the motor shaft and is 2.05 metres (6. 76 feet) in diameter with a pitch of 1.70 metres (5.8 feet). In front of the propeller and attached to the framework is a movable plane formed of a frame covered with canvas which measures 3 metres (9.8 feet) in length across the balloon, and 0.50 metre (1.64 feet) m width. Toward the rear is placed a second and similar plane which is 4 metres (13.1 feet) in length and 1 20 metres (3.9 feet) wide. Behind it lies the rudder, which is formed of a circular frame and is 2 metres (Q.6 feet) in diameter. The aeronaut will be seated on a simple bicycle saddle, which is suspended, as is also the mechanical part, to a frame made of light steel tubes placed vertically and fixed from a bamboo pole, the latter being held just under the balloon body. The centre ol resistance is placed as nearly as possible in coincidence with the centre of traction As the propeller is mounted quite near the balloon it will almost touch it when it is running. Good protection is afforded to the motor by a wire gauze covering which surrounds the carburetter, thus avoiding any risk of fro to the gas escaping from the balloon. The new airship is to be known as the " Santos Dumont No. 16," and it is now in construction at the shed which has been erected again at Neuilly, near Bois de Boulogne. To the same shed is soon to be brought the new aeroplane " No 14." Its sustaining planes have been modified since the last accident it had at St. Cyr.