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第9章

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

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