CHAPTER III 



EXPERIMENTS WITH MODELS 



Immediately after the contract for the engine had been placed and the 

 actual work had been begun, attention was given to the problem of providing 

 means for properly launching the aerodrome. On the theory that the plan of 

 launching the small aerodromes, which had finally been adopted after many years 

 of painstaking experiment, would be the best to employ for the large aerodrome, 

 Mr. Langley decided to have constructed a large house-boat with the launching 

 track arranged on it in a way similar to that used for the small machines. 

 While the general plans for this boat had been under consideration for some 

 time, the actual working drawings were completed in January, 1899, and so 

 great seemed the need for expediting its construction, in order to have it ready 

 at the time when the engine was expected, that the contract which was made 

 for its construction specifically provided for its being completed promptly, there 

 being a large forfeit to cover any delay on the part of the contractor. 



While the boat itself was being constructed, the working drawings were 

 completed for the house to be built on it, and a contract was made for the con- 

 struction of this house within a given period, there being also a time forfeit in 

 this contract. 



When the end of February arrived, it was found that, although the engine 

 builder had succeeded in constructing an engine which weighed one hundred 

 pounds, and which theoretically should have given something over twelve horse- 

 power, yet he was unable to make it work properly. And then began a pro- 

 tracted period of most exasperating delays, the engine builder promising from 

 week to week that certainly within the succeeding ten days he would be able to 

 make delivery of the engine developing the full horse-power for which the con- 

 tract called. After this delay on the engine had continued for some months — 

 a delay which necessitated the cessation of the work on the main steel frame 

 of the aerodrome, as it was deemed best to make certain tests of the engine 

 running while supported by a portion of the frame to determine whether or not 

 it was strong enough before completing the rest of it — Mr. Langley decided to 

 employ part of the time in the construction of a model of one-eighth the linear 

 dimensions of the large aerodrome, which was to be used in testing a model of 

 the newly designed launching apparatus described later, and which might also 

 be flown as a kite in making check measurements on the proper balancing which 

 should be employed for the large aerodrome. 



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