NO. 3 LANGLE1 \ii \ ON MECHANICAL FLIGHT 283 



and the other employees who labored faithfully for the several years they \ 



engaged on it. 



Bleriot Machine of 1907 on Langley Type 



Since completing the preparation of this Memoir, the writer 's attention has 

 been called to sonic very interesting tests made a\ Essy by M. Louis Bleriot with a 

 machine of the Langley type. These tests confirm in such a practical manner 

 the conviction that the Large aerodrome would have flown successfully had it not 

 been wrecked in launching that it has seemed well to here quote an interesting 

 description of them published in the " Bollettino della Societa Aeronautica 

 [taliana, August, 1907," under the title " II nuovo aeroplano Bleriot," a transla- 

 tion of which is as follows: 



THE NEW BLEKIOT AEROPLANE 



The Bleriot IV in the form of a bird, of which we spoke at length in No. 4 of 

 the Bulletin of this year, does not appear to give good results, perhaps on accounl 

 of its lack of stability, and Bleriot instead of trying some modifications which 

 might remedy such a grave fault, laid it aside and at once began the construe 

 tion of a new type, No. V, adopting purely and simply the arrangement of the 

 American, Langley, which offers a good stability (see Bulletin 11-12, November 

 to December, 1905, pages 187 and L88). 



The experiments, winch were commenced a month ago, were first completelj 

 negative, because the 24 HP. motor would not turn the propeller, which was 1.80 

 m. in diameter and 1.40 m. pitch. 



By advice of Captain Ferber, Bleriot reduced i\w pitch of his propeller to 

 0.90 m., so that the motor could give all its force. 



This modification was an important one for his aeroplane. From that 

 moment every trial marked an advance. On July 12, he made a Bight of 30 m., 

 and the aviator was able to show that the lateral stability was perfect. ( In Jul} 

 15, the trial was made against a wind of 6 miles an hour, bnl gave good results. 

 He made a flight of 80 m., showing, however, that the hind part of the aeroplane 

 was too heavy. In this flight he arose as high as a second story, and on landmg 

 the wheels and one propeller were somewhat damaged. _ 



On July 24 repairs having been completed, a new trial was made. I his 

 time in order to remedy the defect in the balance, Bleriot had moved his seat 

 forward about SO cm. The correction was too -real, for on that day the aero 

 plane, although the hind part arose, was not able to leave the ground. On Juy 

 27, after having mounted the scat on wheels as skiffs, Bleriot resumed the trials 

 and made a flight of 120 m., at first moving his seat back and then, alter getting 

 started bringing it forward. Bleriot had not provided this aeroplane with an 

 elevating rudder, but, following the example of Lilienthal changed the center of 

 ™Sy!f the apparatus by mo vingnisown person, and after having established 

 the proper angle remained immovable on bis seat. En order to arise or ^l 

 t h e aviator made use of the spark lever, thus varying the number ol turns of the 



PrOP During a second trial on the same day, bavin, , idently reached the limit 



of the aviation field. Bleriot. without allowing himself to be surprised and ob 

 ,■ 1 to descend, decided to attempt a turn by maneuvering the steering ruddei 



