48 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 92 



" I had also fully appreciated the fact that one of the chief difficul- 

 ties in its construction would lie in the procuring of a suitable engine 

 of sufficient power and, at the same time, one which was light enough. 

 (The models had been driven by steam engines whose water supply 

 weighed too much for very long flights.) The construction of the 

 steam engine is well understood, but now it would become necessary 

 to replace this by gas engines, which for this purpose involve novel 

 difficulties. I resolved not to attempt the task of constructing the 

 engine myself, and had accordingly entered into negotiations with 

 the best engine builders in this country, and after long delay had 

 finally secured a contract with a builder who, of all persons engaged 

 in such work, seemed most likely to achieve success. It was only 

 affer this contract for the engine had been signed that I felt willing 

 to formally undertake the work of building the aerodrome. 



" The contract with the engine builder called for an engine develop- 

 ing 12 brake horsepower, and weighing not more than 100 pounds, 

 including cooling water and all other accessories, and with the proviso 

 that a second engine, exactly like this first one, would be furnished on 

 the same terms. The first engine was to be delivered before the close 

 of February, 1899, and the frame of the aerodrome with sustaining 

 surfaces, propellers, shafting, rudders, etc., was immediately planned, 

 and now that the engine was believed to be secured, their actual con- 

 struction was pushed with the utmost speed. The previous experi- 

 ments with steam-driven models which had been so successful, had 

 been conducted over the water, using a small houseboat having a cabin 

 for storing the machine, appliances and tools, on top of which was 

 mounted a track and car for use in launching. As full success in 

 launching these working models had been achieved after several 

 years spent in devising, testing and improving this plan, I decided 

 to follow the same method with the large machine, and accordingly 

 designed and had built a house boat, in which the machine could not 

 only be stored, but which would also furnish space for workshops, 

 and on the top of which was mounted a turntable and track for use 

 in launching from whatever direction the wind might come. 



" Everything connected with the work was expedited as much as 

 possible with the expectation of being able to have the first trial 

 flight before the close of 1899, and time and money had been spent 

 on the aerodrome, which was ready, except for its engine, when the 

 time for the delivery of this arrived. But now the builder proved 

 unable to complete his contract, and, after months of delay, it was 

 necessary to decrease the force at work on the machine proper and 



