August 12, 1897] 



NATURE 



345 



a surface area of 170 square feet. The tail, which can 

 be seen at the back of the framework, consisted of two 

 small surfaces placed horizontally and vertically ; this 

 had no means of movement in the lateral direction, but 

 was capable of movement in the vertical direction abcroe 

 its horizontal position, about a fixed point in the frame- 

 work. Such an arrangement as this was found to work 

 best, as it eliminated to a great extent the liability of 

 taking "headers." It plays, therefore, a rather important 

 role in the machine. 



When in a position for flight the arms of the operator, 

 as far as the elbows, are placed in a stiff sleeve fitted 

 to each side of the inner portion of the framework, and 

 each hand grasps a small upright peff fixed also to the 

 same support ; by this means a firm gripof the apparatus 

 when off the ground may be obtained. It will thus be 

 seen that when in flight the whole weight of the operator 

 is on the two elbows ; and it may be further stated that, 

 to prevent the whole arm from becoming straight 

 through any emergency requiring the movement of the 

 body backwards, two fixed pads, supported on uprights 

 attached to the framework, are positioned behind the 

 shoulder-blades. 



At the time of the flight (here illustrated) the wind was 

 so light and variable in direction, that an ascent from 

 even the elevated position taken up was almost im- 

 possible. Means, however, were at hand by which one 

 end of a thin fishing-line, 600 yards long, could be 

 attached to the machine, while the other end passed 

 through two blocks placed close together on the ground 

 at a distance from the aero-plane of about 550 yards. 

 These blocks were so arranged that a movement of the 

 aerial machine in the horizontal direction corresponded 

 to a fifih of the movement of the boys pulling the line. 



The start was made at a given signal, the line being 

 pulled by three boys, and Mr. Pilcher gradually left the 

 ground, and soared gracefully into the air, attaining a 

 maximum height of about 70 feet. After covering a distance 

 of about 180 yards the line suddenly parted, a knot having 

 slipped. The only apparent difference this made was that 

 the operator began now to slowly descend, his motion in 

 the horizontal direction being somewhat reduced. A safe 

 and graceful landing was made at a distance of 250 yards 

 from the starting-point. The photographs illustrate that 

 part of the flight previous to the attainment of the greatest 

 height. It may be mentioned that the tension of the line 

 amounted only to about 20 lb., so that only quite a weak 

 pull was required to give the necessary lifting power : the 

 trial indicated, however, that if the machine had been 

 fitted with a small engine or motor, to give this amount 

 of thrust by means of a screw or otherwise, perhaps an 

 equal or further distance would have been covered. 



Mr. Pilcher now proposes to employ, as soon as 

 possible, a small and light engine indicating about four 

 horse-power, this being considerably more than sufficient 

 for flights of moderate length. It is, however, thought 

 advisable to have rather too much than too little power 

 to commence with, as a factor of safety. With this im- 

 provement it is hoped that further distances will be 

 covered, and a nearer approximation to a flying machine 

 will be attained. 



In these attempts it must not be forgotten that there 

 is always a certain amount of danger attached until we 

 possess sufficient knowledge to guard against it. Ex- 

 perience, then, has to be dearly bought, and it requires 

 no small amount of pluck and determination to trust 

 one's self to these aerial crafts. Further, the serious 

 experimenter must have both time and money at his 

 disposal to successfully combat the many unforeseen 

 difficulties that arise, and to carry out the alterations that 

 must be made, to say nothing of the fact that each trial 

 may result in the apparatus being completely or partially 

 damaged. Those pursuing the inquiry must, therefore, 

 have either considerable private means, or be supported 



NO. 14.50. VOL. 56] 



