flying machines-第9章
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〃The simplest operation or maneuver is to continue
the flight straight ahead against the wind; but it is possible
to vary this course to the right or left; or even to
return in downward flight with the wind to the vicinity
of the starting…point。 Upon nearing the ground the
operator tips upward his carrying…surfaces and stops his
headway upon the cushion of increased air resistance
so caused。 The operator is in no way permanently
fastened to his machine; and the machine and the operator
simply rest upon the light platform…car; so that
the operator is free to rise with the machine from the
car whenever the required initial velocity is attained。
Motor For the Launcher。
〃The motor may be of any suitable kind or construction;
but is preferably an electric or gasolene motor。
The winding…drum is furnished with any suitable or customary
reversing…guide to cause the line to wind smoothly
and evenly upon the drum。 The line is preferably a
cable composed of flexible wire and having a cotton or
other cord core to increase its flexibility。 The line
extends from the drum to the flying or gliding machine。
Its free end may; if desired; be grasped and held by the
operator until the flying…machine ascends to the desired
height; when by simply letting go of the line the operator
may continue his flight free。 The line; however; is preferably
connected to the flying or gliding machine
directly by a trip…hook having a handle or trip lever
within reach of the operator; so that when he ascends
to the required height he may readily detach the line
from the flying or gliding machine。〃
CHAPTER VII。
PUTTING ON THE RUDDER。
Gliders as a rule have only one rudder; and this is in
the rear。 It tends to keep the apparatus with its head to
the wind。 Unlike the rudder on a boat it is fixed and
immovable。 The real motor…propelled flying machine;
generally has both front and rear rudders manipulated
by wire cables at the will of the operator。
Allowing that the amateur has become reasonably expert
in the manipulation of the glider he should; before
constructing an actual flying machine; equip his glider
with a rudder。
Cross Pieces for Rudder Beam。
To do this he should begin by putting in a cross piece;
2 feet long by 1/4x3/4 inches between the center struts;
in the lower plane。 This may be fastened to the struts
with bolts or braces。 The former method is preferable。
On this cross piece; and on the rear frame of the plane
itself; the rudder beam is clamped and bolted。 This
rudder beam is 8 feet 11 inches long。 Having put these
in place duplicate them in exactly the same manner and
dimensions from the upper frame The cross pieces on
which the ends of the rudder beams are clamped should
be placed about one foot in advance of the rear frame
beam。
The Rudder Itself。
The next step is to construct the rudder itself。 This
consists of two sections; one horizontal; the other vertical。
The latter keeps the aeroplane headed into the wind;
while the former keeps it steadypreserves the equilibrium。
The rudder beams form the top and bottom frames of
the vertical rudder。 To these are bolted and clamped
two upright pieces; 3 feet; 10 inches in length; and 3/4
inch in cross section。 These latter pieces are placed about
two feet apart。 This completes the framework of the
vertical rudder。 See next page (59)。
For the horizontal rudder you will require two strips
6 feet long; and four 2 feet long。 Find the exact center
of the upright pieces on the vertical rudder; and at this
spot fasten with bolts the long pieces of the horizontal;
placing them on the outside of the vertical strips。 Next
join the ends of the horizontal strips with the 2…foot
pieces; using small screws and corner braces。 This done
you will have two of the 2…foot pieces left。 These go in
the center of the horizontal frame; 〃straddling〃 the
vertical strips; as shown in the illustration。
The framework is to be covered with cloth in the
same manner as the planes。 For this about ten yards
will be needed。
Strengthening the Rudder。
To ensure rigidity the rudder must be stayed with
guy wires。 For this purpose the No。 12 piano wire is
the best。 Begin by running two of these wires from the
top eye…bolts of stanchions 3 and 4; page 37; to rudder
beam where it joins the rudder planes; fastening them
at the bottom。 Then run two wires from the top of the
rudder beam at the same point; to the bottom eye…bolts
of the same stanchions。 This will give you four diagonal
wires reaching from the rudder beam to the top
and bottom planes of the glider。 Now; from the outer
ends of the rudder frame run four similar diagonal wires
to the end of the rudder beam where it rests on the
cross piece。 You will then have eight truss wires
strengthening the connection of the rudder to the main
body of the glider。
The framework of the rudder planes is then to be
braced in the same way; which will take eight more
wires; four for each rudder plane。 All the wires are
to be connected at one end with turn…buckles so the
tension may be regulated as desired。
In forming the rudder frame it will be well to mortise
the corners; tack them together with small nails; and
then put in a corner brace in the inside of each joint。
In doing this bear in mind that the material to be thus
fastened is light; and consequently the lightest of nails;
screws; bolts and corner pieces; etc。; is necessary。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE REAL FLYING MACHINE。
We will now assume that you have become proficient
enough to warrant an attempt at the construction of a
real flying machineone that will not only remain suspended
in the air at the will of the operator; but make
respectable progress in whatever direction he may desire to go。
The glider; it must be remembered; is not
steerable; except to a limited extent; and moves only in
one directionagainst the wind。 Besides this its power
of flotationsuspension in the airis circumscribed。
Larger Surface Area Required。
The real flying machine is the glider enlarged; and
equipped with motor and propeller。 The first thing to
do is to decide upon the size required。 While a glider
of 20 foot spread is large enough to sustain a man it
could not under any possible conditions; be made to rise
with the weight of the motor; propeller and similar
equipment added。 As the load is increased so must the
surface area of the planes be increased。 Just what this
increase in surface area should be is problematical as
experienced aviators disagree; but as a general proposition
it may be placed at from three to four times the area of
a 20…foot glider。'3'
'3' See Chapter XXV。
Some Practical Examples。
The Wrights used a biplane 41 feet in spread; and 6 1/2
ft。 deep。 This; for the two planes; gives a total surface
area of 538 square feet; inclusive of auxiliary planes。
This sustains the engine equipment; operator; etc。; a total
weight officially announced at 1;070 pounds。 It shows
a lifting capacity of about two pounds to the square
foot of plane surface; as against a lifting capacity of
about 1/2 pound per square foot of plane surface for the
20…foot glider。 This same Wright machine is also reported
to have made a successful flight; carrying a total
load of 1;100 pounds; which would be over two pounds
for each square foot of surface area; which; with auxiliary
planes; is 538 square feet。
To attain the same results in a monoplane; the single
surface would have to be 60 feet in spread and 9 feet
deep。 But; while this is the mathematical rule; Bleriot
has demonstrated that it does not always hold good。
On his record…breaking trip across the English channel;
July 25th; 1909; the Frenchman was carried in a
monoplane 24 1/2 feet in spread; and with a total sustaining
surface of 150 1/2 square feet。 The total weight of
th