176 STORY OF EXPERIMENTS IN MECHANICAL FLIGHT. 



was found nearer than 30 miles below the city. It was because it was 

 known that the aerodrome might have to be set off in the face of a 

 wind, which might blow in any direction, and because it evidently was 

 at first desirable that it should light in the water rather than on the 

 land, that the house boat was selected as the place for the launch. 

 The aerodrome (No. 4) weighed between 9 and 10 pounds, and lifted 40 

 per cent of this on the pendulum with 60 pounds of steam pressure, a 

 much more considerable amount than was theoretically necessary for 

 horizontal flight. And now the construction of a launching apparatus, 

 dismissed for some years, was resumed. Nearly every form seemed to 

 have been experimented with unsuccessfully in fche smaller aerodromes. 

 Most of the difficulties were connected with the fact that it is neces- 

 sary for an aerodrome, as it is for a soaring bird, to have a certain con- 

 siderable initial velocity before it can advantageously use its own 

 mechanism for flight, and the difficulties of imparting this initial 

 velocity with safety are surprisingly great, and in the open air are 

 beyond all anticipation; 



Here, then, commences„anotUer long story of delay and disappoint- 

 ment in these efforts to obtain a successful launch. To convey to the 

 reader an idea of its difficulties a few extracts from the diary of the 

 period are given. (It will be remembered that each attempt involved 

 a journey of 30 miles each way.) 



November 18, 1893. Having gone down to the house boat, prepara- 

 tory to the first launch, in which the aerodrome was to be cast from a 

 springing piece beneath, it was found impossible to hold it in place on 

 this before launching without its being prematurely torn from its sup- 

 port, although there was no wind except a moderate breeze ; and the 

 IDarty returned after a day's fruitless effort. 



Two days later a relative calm occurred in the afternoon of a second 

 visit, when the aerodrome was mounted again, but, though the wind was 

 almost imperceptible, it was sufficient to wrench it about so that at first 

 nothing could be done, and when steam was gotten up the burning alco- 

 hol blew about so as to seriously iujure the inflammable parts. Finally, 

 tlie engines being under full steam, the launch was attempted, but, 

 owing to the difficulties alluded to and to a failure in the construction 

 of the launching j)iece, the aerodrome was thrown down upon the boat, 

 fortunately with little damage. 



Whatever form of launch was used, it became evident at this time 

 that the aerodrome must at any rate be firmly held up to the very 

 instant of release, and a device was arranged for clamping it to the 

 launching apparatus. 



On November 24 another attempt was made to launch, which was 

 rendered impossible by a very moderate wind indeed. 



On November 27 a new apparatus was arranged, to merely drop the 

 aerodrome over the water, with the hope that it would get up sufficient 

 speed before rep.ching the surface to soar, but it was found that a very 



