RECENT PROGRESS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION. 619 



"With practice acquired by use of the sky-cycle, and with some 

 indicated variation in structure and equipment, including a light auto- 

 motor engine of best type, there should be no great difficulty in accom- 

 plishing an overland transcontinental journey by two or three persons 

 with this type of air craft in less time than the same trip could be 

 made by the same party on the ground." 



In Fig. 6 the gas-kite shown is a concavo-convex gas-vessel, like 

 an upturned canoe. It is drawn forward by the screw-sail, which is 

 rotated by hand and foot power. The steering is done by tipping to 

 change the level or direction. In Fig. 7 the sky-cycle is shown tipping 

 downward in the act of circling to the left in a descending spiral, the 

 aeronaut using both screw-sail and small aeroplanes. 



Jerome B. Blanchard, of Highlands, Col., patented in 1891 the 

 aeroplane flying-machine shown in Fig. S. He disdains the balloon 



Fn.. 6. Myers's 8kv-cycle (I). 



and depends entirely on the two aeroplanes and the speed of the 

 aviator to maintain the vessel in the air. The plan is to start the 

 machine along an elevated tramway until a lifting speed is acquired, 

 and then to depend upon the muscular exertion of the occupant. 



Of a more practical character is the 'trolley flyer' of Daniel C. 

 Funcheon, of Valderde, Col., illustrated by Fig. 9. A drum is sup- 

 ported on a platform and hung from an aeroplane. Around the drum 

 coils a wire that may be made to convey a current of electricity for 

 propelling the mechanism. Of course, the machine would require pro- 

 pellers and balancing devices, which are not shown in the drawing. 



Fig. 10 represents a machine actually built and tried by Arthur 

 Steutzel, of Altona, Prussia, in 1896. The wings were eleven feet 

 long, and were flapped by the power of a carbonic acid gas-motor in 

 the receptacle below. The rudder was designed to maintain the course 



