670 SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE. 



pleasure that Professor Langley is reported to be now engaged upon a 

 model aerial macliine on a working scale. Whatever its ultimate meas- 

 ure of success, his new experiments with it can not fail to advance the 

 cause of aerial navigation another stage. 



I repeat that the net result of modern progress in these three direc- 

 tions — the study of the governing conditions of the work to be done, 

 the increase in the power of the motor necessary for doing it, and the 

 decrease in its amount, or in the weights to be lifted — has been to 

 bring the x^roblem of aerial locomotion well within the range of prac- 

 tical men. What is now required is that the field of research and 

 experiment should no longer be left to uni:)ractical enthusiasts, as for 

 the most part it has been of yore. It is high time that really compe- 

 tent and well-informed mechanical engineers should follow the example 

 of Mr. Maxim and Professor Langley by turning their attention to the 

 subject. Once let this be done, and I am satisfied that the j)roblem will 

 be in a fair way of solution, and can not fail ultimately of a satisfactory 

 issue. Nevertheless, after some considerable study of the question, I 

 have a persuasion amounting to a conviction that whatever partial or 

 temporary- success may attend all such machines as Mr. Maxim's, 

 which depend upon locomotion through the air for sustaining power in 

 it, the ultimate solution of the problem will be something diiferent. 

 That is, I believe that a really safe, workable, and reliable flying 

 machine must be based upon the i»rinciple of dissociating the stable 

 vertical suspension in the air, if required, from horizontal locomotion 

 through it. Such a machine must be callable of rising vertically in 

 the air in a dead calm, and remaining suspended in it, as apart from, 

 or in addition to, any question of horizontal locomotion through the 

 air. Moreover, it must be so constructed that no possible breakdown 

 or failure in any engine or in any part of the gear will endanger the 

 lives of the passengers. But these conditions will no doubt involve a 

 considerable further reduction in the ratio of weight carried to power 

 developed in the motor, and for this we must be content to await the 

 further progress of science. 



Once let this vital issue of stable suspension in the air be satisfac- 

 torily achieved in a really sound, safe, and reliable way, and the conse- 

 quences which will follow from the new departure are enormous and 

 incalculable. Locomotion through the air, as straight as an arrow from 

 a bow, and at a hitherto unheard-of rate of speed, will immediately and 

 easily follow, and the resulting machine is bound for light transport to 

 distance all competition in locomotion, whether by land or by sea. For 

 one of the special and leading advantages attaching to aerial, as opposed 

 to all ordinary locomotion at present, is that increased speed will not 

 involve a great and disproportionate increase of power as it does now. 

 It is perfectly well known to every, marine engineer, and to every well- 

 informed man everywhere, that an enormous increase of power is nec- 

 cessary to gain a very moderate increase of speed in ocean navigation. 



