the dominion of the air-第58章
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It was from this time that flying machines in great variety and goodly number began to be heard of； if not actually seen。 One of the earliest to be announced in the Press was a machine invented by the Russian； Feedoroff； and the Frenchman； Dupont。 Dr。 Danilewsky came forward with a flying machine combining balloon and aeroplane； the steering of which would be worked like a velocipede by the feet of the aeronaut。
Mr。 P。 Y。 Alexander； of Bath； who had long been an enthusiastic balloonist； and who had devoted a vast amount of pains； originality； and engineering skill to the pursuit of aeronautics； was at this time giving much attention to the flying machine； and was； indeed； one of the assistants in the first successful launching of the Zeppelin airship。 In concert with Mr。 W。 G。 Walker； A。M。I。C。E。； Mr。 Alexander carried out some valuable and exhaustive experiments on the lifting power of air propellers； 30 feet in diameter； driven by a portable engine。 The results； which were of a purely technical nature； have been embodied in a carefully compiled memoir。
An air ship now appeared； invented by M。 Rose； consisting of two elongated vessels filled with gas； and carrying the working gear and car between them。 The machine was intentionally made heavier than air； and was operated by a petrol motor of 12…horse power。
It was now that announcements began to be made to the effect that； next to the Zeppelin air ship； M。 Santos Dumont's balloon was probably attracting most of the attention of experts。 The account given of this air vessel＇ by the Daily Express was somewhat startling。 The balloon proper was compared to a large torpedo。 Three feet beneath this hangs the gasoline motor which is to supply the power。 The propeller is 12 feet in diameter； and is revolved so rapidly by the motor that the engine frequently gets red hot。 The only accommodation for the traveller is a little bicycle seat； from which the aeronaut will direct his motor and steering gear by means of treadles。 Then the inclination or declination of his machine must be noted on the spirit level at his side； and the 200 odd pounds of ballast must be regulated as the course requires。
A more detailed account of this navigable balloon was furnished by a member of the Paris Aero Club。 From this authority we learn that the capacity of the balloon was 10；700 cubic feet。 It contained an inner balloon and an air fan； the function of which was to maintain the shape of the balloon when meeting the wind； and the whole was operated by a 10…horse power motor capable of working the screw at 100 revolutions per minute。
But before the aerial exploits of Santos Dumont had become famous； balloons had again claimed public attention。 On August 1st Captain Spelterini； with two companions； taking a balloon and 180 cylinders of hydrogen to the top of the Rigi and ascending thence； pursued a north…east course； across extensive and beautiful tracts of icefield and mountain fastnesses unvisited by men。 The descent； which was difficult and critical； was happily manoeuvred。 This took place on the Gnuetseven； a peak over 5；000 feet high； the plateau on which the voyagers landed being described as only 50 yards square； surrounded by precipices。
On the 10th of September following the writer was fortunate in carrying out some wireless telegraphy experiments in a balloon； the success of which is entirely due to the unrivalled skill of Mr。 Nevil Maskelyne； F。R。A。S。； and to his clever adaptation of the special apparatus of his own invention to the exigencies of a free balloon。 The occasion was the garden party at the Bradford meeting of the British Association； Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle taking part in the voyage； with Mr。 Percival Spencer in charge。 The experiment was to include the firing of a mine in the grounds two minutes after the balloon had left； and this item was entirely successful。 The main idea was to attempt to establish communication between a base and a free balloon retreating through space at a height beyond practicable gun shot。 The wind was fast and squally； and the unavoidable rough jolting which the car received at the start put the transmitting instrument out of action。 The messages； however； which were sent from the grounds at Lister Park were received and watched by the occupants of the car up to a distance of twenty miles； at which point the voyage terminated。
On September 30th； and also on October 9th； of this year； took place two principal balloon races from Vincennes in connection with the Paris Exposition。 In the first race； among those who competed were M。 Jacques Faure； the Count de la Vaulx； and M。 Jacques Balsan。 The Count was the winner； reaching Wocawek； in Russian Poland； a travel of 706 miles； in 21 hours 34 minutes。 M。 Balsan was second； descending near Dantzig in East Prussia； 757 miles； in 22 hours。 M。 Jacques Faure reached Mamlitz； in East Prussia； a distance of 753 miles。
In the final race the Count de la Vaulx made a record voyage of 1；193 miles； reaching Korosticheff； in Russia； in 35 hours 45 minutes； attaining a maximum altitude of 18；810 feet。 M。 J。 Balsan reached a greater height； namely； 21；582 feet； travelling to Rodom； in Russia； a distance of 843 miles； in 27 hours 25 minutes。
Some phenomenal altitudes were attained at this time。 In September； 1898； Dr。 Berson； of Berlin； ascended from the Crystal Palace in a balloon inflated with hydrogen； under the management of Mr。 Stanley Spencer； oxygen being an essential part of the equipment。 The start was made at 5 p。m。； and the balloon at first drifted south…east； out over the mouth of the Thames； until at an altitude of 10；000 feet an upper current changed the course to southwest； the balloon mounting rapidly till 23；000 feet was reached； at which height the coast of France was plainly seen。 At 25；000 feet both voyagers were gasping； and compelled to inhale oxygen。 At 27；500 feet； only four bags of ballast being left； the descent was commenced； and a safe landing was effected at Romford。
Subsequently Dr。 Berson； in company with Dr。 Suring； ascending from Berlin； attained an altitude of 34；000 feet。 At 30；000 feet the aeronauts were inhaling oxygen； and before reaching their highest point both had for a considerable time remained unconscious。
In 1901 a new aeroplane flying machine began to attract attention； the invention of Herr Kress。 A novel feature of the machine was a device to render it of avail for Arctic travel。 In shape it might be compared to an iceboat with two keels and a long stem； the keels being adapted to run on ice or snow； while the boat would float on water。 Power was to be derived from a petrol motor。
At the same period M。 Henry Sutor was busy on Lake Constance with an air ship designed also to float on water。 Then Mr。 Buchanan followed with a fish…shaped vessel； one of the most important specialities of which consisted in side propellers； the surfaces of which were roughened with minute diagonal grooves to effect a greater grip on the air。
No less original was the air ship； 100 feet long； and carrying 18；000 cubic feet of gas； which Mr。 W。 Beedle was engaged upon。 In this machine； besides the propellers for controlling the horizontal motion； there was one to regulate vertical motion； with a view of obviating expenditure of gas or ballast。
But by this time M。 Santos Dumont； pursuing his hobby with unparalleled perseverance； had built in succession no less than six air ships； meeting with no mean success； profiting by every lesson taught by failures； and making light of all accidents； great or small。 On July 15th； 1901； he made a famous try for the Deutsch prize in a cigar…shaped balloon； 110 feet long； 19；000 cubic feet capacity； carrying a Daimler oil motor of 15…horse power。 The day was not favourable； but； starting from the Parc d'Aerostation； he was abreast of the Eiffel Tower in thirteen minutes； circling round which； and battling against a head wind； he reached the grounds of the Aero Club in 41 minutes from the start； or 11 minutes late by the conditions of the prize。 A cylinder had broken down； and the balance of the vessel had become upset。
Within a fortnightJuly 29thin favourable weather； he made another flig
