No. 3 LANGLEY MEMOIB ON MECHANICAL FLIGHT L37 



drome was duo to the fad that, when it was moving againsl the wind, the speed 

 relative to the air was greater than when il circled so as to go with the wind, and 

 that this greater relative velocity increased the lifting power of the aerodrome. 



The total time of the flighl was 57 seconds, and the distance covered was be- 

 tween 2000 and 2500 feet, thus giving a speed of a little less than 30 miles an 

 hour. Comparing this flight with that of November 28, 1896, made by the same 

 machine, it will be noted that in the earlier flighl the velocity was practically 

 the same, but that the time of flighl and the distance traversed then were nearly 

 twice as great as in the present case. 



A complete record of the details, not only of weight, but also of the position 

 of the wings, the center of gravity, etc., which show the exact condition of the 

 aerodrome when it made this flight, will he found in the appendix (Data Sheet, 

 No. 3). 



JUNE 13 AERODROME NO. 6 



In the flight of June 7 there was a slight trembling of the aerodrome while 

 it was in the air, and although this was probably due to the fact that the syn- 

 chronizing gear was out of operation on account of the shearing off of one of 

 the pins which held it, allowing the port engine to run faster than the star- 

 board one, it was thought possible that some of the trembling might be due to 

 the " wind-vane " rudder, which had been added to represent the equivalent of 

 a steering device by which the operator would control the direction of the 

 huge machine. It was decided, therefore, to omit the " wind-vane " rudder in 

 the present test, but to test the aerodrome with the same equipment of single- 

 tier wings and Penaud tail that had been used in the previous flight, the reel 

 and float being moved to bring the ('(! the same as on June 7. 



Everything being in readiness, with the launching track pointed south, and 

 the wind blowing only about 5.1 miles an hour from the southwest, the burn- 

 ers were lighted and (>.'! seconds were consumed before the steam pressure rose 

 to 100 pounds. Although the valve which controlled the burner was open to its 

 full extent the pressure showed no tendency to rise above 100 pounds, which 

 was not considered quite high enough to furnish sufficient power for a success- 

 ful (light, but as it was desired to determine at once at how low a steam pressure 

 the aerodrome would fly successfully, it was decided to launch it even at this 

 pressure. The launching apparatus was accordingly released and the aerodrome 

 started off, gliding down about three feet immediately after being released, and 

 then rising again, turning slightly to the right ami then heading directly for the 

 Virginia shore, where it seemed that it would smash itself in the heavy growth 

 of timber, but when it was about 250 feet from the shore it turned towards the 

 right and started back towards the island. The wind, however, which was 

 blowing from its rear, evidently got down the smoke-stack and put out the fire, 



