508 FLIGHT AND FLYING MACHINES. 
will carry a ton of dynamite and drop it down into the enemy’s fort. 
But that will only be the first move on the chess-board of the warfare 
of the future. The second move will be for the defending power to 
construct a machine which will disable his enemy’s machine, and 
so it is possible that some time in the dim future battles may be 
fought mainly in the air instead of on land. 
IT have said very little in this lecture about the means of navigating 
balloons, because there has been quite sufficient matter to deal with in 
connection with machines which are heavier than air and which are to 
be raised by their own energy. I hope to have shown that the problem 
of flight is worthy of the attention that has been given to it and of the 
amouut of money which has been spent on experiments connected with 
it. I cannot do.better than conclude by quoting a message just re- 
ceived from Mr. Maxim (who was unfortunately unable to be present 
with us to-day) in which he says: “Tell Dr. Bryan that with the data 
now at hand successful flight is only a question of time and money.” 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Davipson—Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I have devoted about 
twelve years to the subject of flight and of course I believe in the possibility of 
it. I know that a great number of people now believe in the possibility of 
flight and that there are a certain number of people who have expended very large 
sums of money upon experiments. 
The first thing to be done in this matter of flight, if we are to obtain it, is to 
find out what the laws of nature with regard to flight are. We know the laws of 
nature with regard to travelling over the ground, and we know the laws of nature 
with regard to travelling through water. Before we can attempt to fly we must 
find out what the laws of flight are. I feel perfectly convinced in my own mind 
that I have found out what the laws of flight are (applause). I believe they are 
absolutely simple. But I would like to point out one thing, balloons may be 
utterly and entirely put out of the question and so may propellers ; propellers are 
merely fighting against the laws of nature; and everyone will understand that 
when they find out what the laws of nature are. What we have got to do is to 
construct a machine which will comply with the laws of nature as regards flight. 
There is no doubt about it that there are laws of nature which permit of flight or 
else we should not find birds flying; therefore, what I want to point out is that 
the main thing we have to find out is the laws of flight, and when we have found 
them out, to put them into mechanical practice; and I maintain that it is a very 
simple matter, that any ordinary mechanical engineer will be able eventually to 
make machines that will fly, with the present up-to-date machinery. 
Mr. Maxim’s engine, I think he ought to be very much complimented on it—is 
a marvel of engineering skill; and also Mr. Pilcher’s and Herr Lilienthal’s; they 
of course have gone on a small scale, and as the lecturer said, if those two can be 
brought together we shall have a flying machine, and I certainly agree in that 
point. But I think with Mr. Maxim, that if he will not come down in size per- 
haps, but come down to the right principle, there is no doubt about it that we 
shall have a flying machine in a very short time (applause). 
Prorgssor GREENHILL—The subject of Dr. Bryan’s lecture is one which has 
always exercised a fascination over the imagination of man from the earliest times, 
going back to the time of Deedalus, as the lecturer told us, and coming to the 
