138 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE VOL. -i 



for the aerodrome commenced to descend as soon as it turned its back In the 

 wind, and came down in the channel of the creek. The path of this flight is 

 shown by the solid line in Plate .">4. 



The total distance covered, as measured by plotting the course of its flight ou 

 the coast-survey chart, was about 1800 feet, and the length of time of flight was 

 40 seconds. The aerodrome was immediately recovered and brought into the 

 house-boat, where it was found that there were still about 1000 grammes of 

 water and 100 grammes of fuel unused in it, showing conclusively that the fire 

 had been put out by the wind. 



Upon inspection it was found that the aerodrome was uninjured, and al- 

 though the burner had not worked at all satisfactorily, yet as the weather was 

 exceedingly favorable it was decided to make another trial with it immediately, 

 using the superposed wings. 1 



Everything being in readiness the burners were lighted, and 70 seconds 

 were consumed before the pressure rose to 90 pounds, beyond which it was im- 

 possible to make it rise. Although it was felt certain that 90 pounds was not 

 sufficient pressure to furnish the power necessary, yet as a storm was approach- 

 ing in the distance, it was decided to launch the aerodrome, as it could at least 

 be determined whether it was properly balanced for the superposed wings. 

 When a total of 75 seconds had been consumed the car was released and the 

 aerodrome was launched. The wooden arrangement for pressing down on the 

 top of the wings to keep the aerodrome from being injured by the wind while 

 it was on the car had been raised to the proper height for the superposed 

 wings, but it had not been noticed that the sticks which support this arrange- 

 ment had been elevated so much that they would come in contact with the beam 

 extending across the boat, and from which the launching track was supported, 

 .lust as these sticks reached the cross-beam, however, it was noticed that they 

 projected about three inches above the lower side of it; but the next moment 

 they struck it, ami although the force with which the car was running broke all 

 four of them, the blow was sufficient to slow down the car, and thereby cause 

 the aerodrome to lte launched at a. very greatly reduced speed; not over one- 

 fifth of what it should have been. The shock of breaking these sticks evidently 

 jarred the burners so that the fire was extinguished, for the aerodrome shot 

 forward for about 25 feet and settled witli everything intact, and with its mid 

 rod perfectly horizontal, 'the aerodrome itself sustained absolutely no injury, 

 coming down as easily as though it had been lowered by a rope, and would 

 have been given another trial immediately hut for the fact that it was very 

 late in the afternoon and darkness was rapidly approaching. The data on set- 

 tin-' of wings, tail, etc., are shown on Data Sheet No. 4 (Appendix). 



•These wings are described in Chapter VI, pp. 191. 



