NO. 3 LANGLET MEMOIB OX MECHANICAL I I. K, II I ll'.l 



held down to the floor by wires fastened to the cross frame. In the midst of 

 the test one of the wires slipped, allowing the aerodrome to push forward and 

 thus permitting the propellers to conic in contacl with the wires which held 

 it to the floor. Both propellers were entire]} demolished and the cross frame 

 was broken off short just at the right-hand engine. The disaster was entirely 

 due to the carelessness of one of the workmen in tightening one of these wires, 

 a further example of the extreme heedlessness of workmen, even in the most 

 important details, which concern the very existence of the machine. 



AUGUST ."> — AERODROME NO. 5 



After the very satisfactory trial of Aerodrome No. 5 in the shop two days 

 previous, it was hoped, now that the weather had become suitable, that a good 

 flight with the superposed wings would be obtained. The aerodrome, equipped 

 with these wings, was accordingly placed on the launching apparatus and the 

 burners were lighted, but they refused to work properly, a steam pressure of only 

 80 pounds being obtained. After much delay the burners were finally got to 

 work properly, but the wind bad increased in velocity to such an extent that it 

 was necessary to remove the aerodrome to the interior of the house-boat. As 

 the wind continued to increase in velocity it was decided to make another trial 

 of the aerodrome inside of the house-boat. Upon doing this it was very soon 

 found that there was a small leak in the front turn of one of the coils of the 

 boiler, and the steam from this played directly against the burner, causing it to 

 work intermittently. A new coil was substituted, and after some adjustment a 

 very 7 excellent run was obtained, the steam pressure reaching 130 pounds and 

 the propellers making 654 R. P. M. 



In the afternoon the wind quieted down and the aerodrome, equipped with 

 superposed wings, was again placed on the launching apparatus. The burners 

 were lighted but again refused to work properly, the vaporizing tip being 

 stopped up with soot. This caused the burner to " flood," which sent a sheet 

 of flame through the stack and burned the rear right wing. 



A new wing was substituted, the burner tip was cleaned out and everything 

 was again put in readiness for a flight. Upon lighting the burners, 1 minute and 

 58 seconds were required to raise 120 pounds steam pressure. The underneath 

 launching apparatus, with the disappearing track, worked perfectly, the aero- 

 drome dropping slightly, but going straight ahead. It, however, continued to de- 

 scend for a distance of about 100 feet, the bow being elevated aboul 5 degrees. 

 The bow then became horizontal, the aerodrome rising slightly at (be same time, 

 but going only about 50 feet farther, when it again started to descend slightly, 

 and finally settled gently on the water between 300 and 500 feet from the house- 

 boat, with its bow elevated about ."» degrees. There was a hiss as (be hull 

 touched the water, showing that the lire was still burning and making it im- 



