THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



transverse direction, has proved far greater than that of 

 any of its predecessors or contemporaries. The two 

 horizontal rudder- planes mounted in front maintain 

 the fore-and-aft stability; while keeping the machine 

 on an even keel is accomplished by varying the angle 

 of incidence by warping the two main planes, — this 

 being, indeed, a vitally important feature of the mechan- 

 ism. In this manner a greater lift on the low side and 

 a diminished lift on the high side is obtained, this being 

 maintained manually, as is the fore-and-aft stability. 

 Since the warping of the wings of the machine would 

 tend to deflect it from its course, the apparatus is so 

 arranged that a single lever controls the flexible portion 

 of the wings and the vertical rudder, the motion of the 

 latter counteracting the disturbing influence that would 

 otherwise result from the twisting of the wing-tips. 

 The discovery of this combination gave the finishing 

 touches to the aeroplane, and made it a manageable 

 mechanism. In other words, it made the flying machine 

 a machine in which man could fly. 



This mechanism was patented in 1906, and the patent 

 office specifications then became accessible to other 

 experimenters. The French scientific workers had for 

 some time recognized the success of the Wright brothers' 

 efforts, even when most Americans were still skeptical. 

 Now that the manner in which this success had been 

 obtained was disclosed, numerous experimenters began 

 copying the Wright brothers' successful machine, 

 making sundry modifications, while still adhering to 

 the main principles through which success had been 

 obtained. The first of these experimenters to win 



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