4 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I4O 



Am I right in supposing that it would move with a constant acceleration in 

 this horizontal line until the resistance of the air caused the motion to be con- 

 stant, and what would this velocity approximately be when it became so? ^ 



Was this only a theoretical problem to help solve a problem con- 

 cerning the construction of the "aerodrome," or was this new problem 

 an insight into the development of aviation or astronautics as power- 

 plant efficiency increased? The historian may only speculate upon 

 what new experiments Langley would have begun had the "aero- 

 drome" proved to be successful, but its failure and the resultant criti- 

 cism crushed an inventive soul. 



Today, the occupant of the office where Langley once spent so 

 many hours can look out of his window and see two new sentinels 

 standing watch at the Smithsonian. Beside the old Arts and In- 

 dustries Building a United States Army Jupiter C and an Air Force 

 Atlas remind the constant stream of visitors of new accomplishments 

 in the story of aeronautical and astronautical progress. In the morn- 

 ing sun the shadows of these towering monuments point like an arrow 

 to the gray-shingled South Shed only a short distance away. Dr. 

 Langley's paradox has been fulfilled. 



9 Memorandum, October 14, 1902, Smithsonian Files; Letters Written; Aero- 

 dromics 20, vol. 9 (May 25, 1902, to Feb. 9, 1904), p. 35. 



