WINGS OVER THE SEA — BLERIOT 459 



the wind has been determined after tests in the laboratory and in 

 the open as 60 tons. The reaction due to the waves has been re- 

 duced to the minimum by giving a fusiform shape to that part of 

 the columns which projects above the water. To anticipate, never- 

 theless, a situation in which the seadrome, following a break in the 

 mooring cable, should find itself adrift, there have been installed 

 a group of four motor-driven propellers; each comprises an electric 

 motor of 500 horsepower, driving a propeller about 6 meters in 

 diameter. The speed of 6 knots which this system makes possible 

 is enough to overcome drift, and it can also aid during 

 transportation. 



The type of anchor which, after many trials and much study, the 

 Armstrong Co. has employed, has a circular form 30 meters in 

 diameter and weighing 100 tons. The maxmium depth on the route 

 selected is about 4,500 meters. The connection between the buoy 

 and the anchor consists of two cables, the diameter of which is about 

 80 millimeters at the top, decreasing to about 65 millimeters at the 

 lower end and terminating in two chains. 



In case it should not be desired to put all the seadromes into 

 operation at one time, the Armstrong Co. has developed the project 

 of an intermediate floating island; it constitutes a meteorological and 

 radiogoniometric base, carrying a powerful beacon. The anchorage 

 comprises the same elements as that of a seadrome ; the replacement 

 of one by the other, therefore, would be very rapid. 



Having spoken of the floating islands themselves, we now come 

 to their utilization. 



THE AIRPLANE 



A trial bifuselage airplane, specially designed for this service, 

 was constructed in 1930 and has shown itself to be very manageable. 

 It performed very creditably, considering the very modest power 

 of the motors with which it was equipped. The results obtained 

 have furnished a sure basis for the extrapolation of the formula 

 from which was constructed a model for trial in the wind-tunnel. 

 The two watertight fuselages have tapered bottoms, in order to per- 

 mit contact with the water without dangerous shock. The three 

 motors are installed on the trailing edge of the wing, which leads 

 to numerous advantages: An improvement in the operation and 

 efficiency of the propellors, quietness in the cabins, suppression of all 

 risk of fire from the motors, excellent visibility for the pilots, 

 etc. — which are added to the previously known advantages of the 

 bifuselage formula: Lightness and strength of construction, due 

 to good distribution of weight, the elimination of the aerodynamic 

 resistance of the wheels, without which it would be necessary to 



