Faster Than the Fastest Express Train 



The new Curtiss biplane makes one hundred and nineteen miles an hour 



Bv Carl Dioiislharli 



On account of its moderate size and its elimination of small 

 exposed parts this biplane has speed and climbing power 



THE really formidable problem of the 

 aeroplane of to-day is cutting down 

 the resistance of its structure. 



A ver>- meritorious solution of this 

 problem is found in a new Curtiss biplane 

 which has attained speed and climbing 

 power way beyond the usual range of its 

 allotted motor power. The accompanying 

 picture reveals its points of difference. 

 Raking the air by small parts is eliminated 

 more than in any previous design. The 

 new machine shows "smooth bulk" and 

 properly shaped "streamline" (to use a 

 hackne\'ed and often unjustified expression) 

 from the spokeless wheels and their trian- 

 gular-shaped "legs." An important excep- 

 tion are the few struts which as triangular 

 frames join the upper plane at its center 

 to the body. There is only one bracing 

 member on each side. This is a bulk\- strut 

 running from the lower to the higher plane 

 and inclined so as to be compression and 

 tension member in one. Additional brac- 

 ing is supplied by a similar but even more 

 inclined strut running to the wheel-base. 

 Hence the biplane is stayed like a mono- 

 plane, and the design becomes very strong. 



As the wheeled base must in an\' case 

 form a strong downward projection, it 

 should be made thus to ser\'e as a support 

 for tiie wings and be therebv braced in 



turn against side strains in bad landings. 

 All vibrating wires may be eliminated in 

 this way, and hence an immense amount 

 of head resistance. The new bulky bracing 

 members do not \ ibrate. Their number and 

 smooth shape permit the air to flow off 

 easiK- cm all sides without being caught by 

 man\- adjoining wires and other exposed 

 details, as by a rake. The flaring of the 

 main braces at their ends is necessan,' to 

 distribute their support over the depth of 

 the ribs. There is one more improve- 

 ment. A circular hood which revolves with 

 the propeller is placed in front of the 

 radiator. It is open so as to draw in cool- 

 ing air, but is so designed as to cut down 

 resistance. 



The machine offers a \er\- satisfactory 

 solution of the "unsurmountable" problem 

 of carrying much sorely needed wing-sur- 

 face on an extremely fast racing machine. 

 Former "racers" were the poorest climbers 

 and \cr\' dangerous in starting and landing 

 on account of dependence on unduly re- 

 duced wing-area for speed. But the new 

 Curtiss racer is useful all around. Its 

 splendid pcrforinance — one hundred and 

 nmeteen miles an hour — is entircK- due 

 to its moderate size. Large machines, 

 on account of inherent relative weakness, 

 are hopelessly dependent on wirebracing. 



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