24 Aerial Navigation. 



any place by ascensive progression, must step a little from the cen- 

 ter of his car or line of gravity towards it, which will incline the wings 

 that way; and powerfully move them, which will strike the air oblique- 

 ly, and drive the vessel along nearly in the same manner as birds im- 

 pel their bodies, whose wings insure both progression and elevation 

 at the same stroke. Direct progression is when the vessel moves or 

 is impelled forward in a straight line either by the wind or the percus- 

 sion of vertical wings. When the wind blows or moves forward to 

 any place which it is intended to reach, it will impel the vessel to it 

 without any exertion, more than to keep sufficiently elevated to pre- 

 vent striking, and when the balloon has arrived, it can be stopped, by 

 dropping the small anchor from the passenger car and winding up its 

 cord around the windlass. The vertical wings are to be attached, one 

 on each side of the pilot car, above the other wings, but to their axles, 

 each being about two feet wide and eight feet long, and similarly wir- 

 ed, valved and balanced ; but hung at right angles to the horizontal 

 wings ; each wing to have a handle at both ends, and their handles, 

 when moved, must be impelled backwards and forwards, instead of up- 

 wards and downwards as they can be turned quite around so as to an- 

 swer any course; they are to be moved only while the others are at 

 rest. Perhaps a rudder wing of a small size, attached on the under 

 side of the passenger car, nearly balanced, hung vertically but not 

 valved, would help considerably to determine the motions of the bal- 

 loon, and keep them regular. 



Having now given a description of what appear to me to be the 

 true principles of aerial navigation, and the manner of application to 

 practice, I will offer a hw reasons in farther illustration and support 

 of the balancing principle, in the motion of wings, hanging their 

 valves, and governing the ascensive and gravitating powers. Wings 

 of a very large size, hung on the balancing principle, perhaps, may 

 be moved by steam, the elasticity of condensed air or a lever. 

 The more powerful the percussion, the reaction will be greater and 

 the elevation quicker. In motion and effect they will nearly resem- 

 ble bird's wings, be proportionally reactive when struck, and be less 

 impeded in motion by their weight. The balance valves in their 

 motion and effect in the air, will resemble, very nearly the large feath- 

 ers of bird's wings; they ought not to be more than two or three 

 inches wide and the others narrower. Now it is evident, that the 

 ascensive and gravitating powers, can be balanced or nearly so, as 

 well as the wings and their valves ; and if balanced, the least addi- 



