Popular Science Monthly 



695 



controlled by a pilot carried along on its 

 flight, we can well believe that he has 

 not underestimatetl human courage. 



He builds his torpedo so that the part 

 in which the pilot sits may be detached 

 after the explosive charge has been 

 released to proceed under its own auto- 

 matic control. 



The detachable, [)ilot-carrying portion 

 is attached to the main body of the 

 torpedo and the various levers and 

 controlling de\"ices are all within the 

 reach of the operator. When the 

 torpedo is traveling on the surface of 

 the water, partly submerged, the com- 

 pressed air used by the engine may be 

 taken from an air-chamber, which is in 

 communication with the atmosphere, 

 through vertical tubes resembling peri- 

 scopes. When the torpedo is to be 

 submerged to a greater depth the tubes 

 are lowered and the engine is then 

 supplied with gas from a compressed-gas 

 tank. The depth of submergence ma\- 

 be regulated by the inclination of planes 

 at the side of the body. 



When the torpedo has been brought 

 to proper striking distance by the pilot, 

 who has meanwhile fixed the control for 

 the correct course and the proper 

 submergence, a rod is operated which 

 causes pressure from the compressed air 

 tank to separate the torpedo body from 

 the pilot section. As soon as the pilot 

 section is free from the main body of 

 the torpedo, the weight of the conning- 

 tower portion causes the section to 

 turn over, the top now acting as a keel. 

 After opening the hatch-way, the pilot 

 maneuvers his way back to his vessel. 



The Air-Glider Which a German 

 Boy Is Building 



WHILE his father and big brothers 

 are away fighting for the Kaiser, 

 the German boy is taking a renewed 

 interest in aeronautics. The accompany- 

 ing photograph shows a new one-man 

 aeroplane or glider which contains prin- 

 ciples of construction embodied in all the 

 flying machines which are making history 

 these days. The glider is thoroughly 

 typical of our modern aeroplane. 



Its perfect rigidity under varying 

 pressures and its never-changing form 

 of wing-surface made possible by the 

 thick, solid middle frame, the deep 

 trussing and the large number of wing- 

 ribs, insure a safe and enjoyable sport 

 for the boy. Although this glider has 

 the appearance of being clumsy and 

 hea\y, it is of just the right weight to 

 rise in a light wind and earn,- the flier a 

 considerable distance. 



There is a noticeable contrast between 

 this glider and the Lilienthal models, 

 which are overloaded by the weight of 

 the operator. The latter are much 

 lighter in construction, since the frame 

 is made of willow wands. Professor 

 Langley told in 1896 how attempts to 

 fly his models were frustrated by an 

 uncontrollable "steering" action of wings 

 that were imperceptibly changing shape 

 under pressures. It is interesting to note 

 that the Wright brothers, pioneers of 

 aviation, first learned the rudiments of 

 flying by using gliders of their own con- 

 struction. 



Although this glider appears 

 clumsy it is of just the right 

 weight to rise in a light wind. 

 The large number of wing-ribs 

 and the solid middle frame 

 insure the safety of the flier 



