the dominion of the air-第59章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Within a fortnightJuly 29thin favourable weather； he made another flight； lasting fifteen minutes； at the end of which he had returned to his starting ground。 Then on August 8th a more momentous attempt came off。 Sailing up with a rapid ascent； and flying with the wind； Santos Dumont covered the distance to the Tower in five minutes only； and gracefully swung round； but； immediately after； the wind played havoc； slowing down the motor； at the same time damaging the balloon； and causing an escape of gas。 On this Santos Dumont； ascending higher into the sky； quitted the car； and climbed along the keel to inspect； and； if possible； rectify the motor； but with little success。 The balloon was emptying； and the machine pitched badly； till a further rent occurred； when it commenced falling hopelessly and with a speed momentarily increasing。
Slanting over a roof； the balloon caught a chimney and tore asunder； but the wreck； also catching； held fast； while the car hung helplessly down a blank wall。 In this perilous predicament great coolness and agility alone averted disaster； till firemen were able to come to the rescue。
The air ship was damaged beyond repair； but by September 6th another was completed； and on trial appeared to work well until； while travelling at speed； it was brought up and badly strained by the trail rope catching in trees。
Early in the next month the young Brazilian was aloft again； with weather conditions entirely in his favour； but again certain minor mishaps prevented his next struggle for the prize； which did not take place till the 19th。 On this day a light cross wind was blowing； not sufficient； however； seriously to influence the first stage of the time race； and the outward journey was accomplished with a direct flight in nine minutes。 On rounding the tower； however； the wind began to tell prejudicially； and the propeller became deranged。 On this； letting his vessel fall off from the wind； Santos Dumont crawled along the framework till he reached the motor； which he succeeded in again setting in working order； though not without a delay of several minutes and some loss of ground。 From that point the return journey was accomplished in eight minutes； and the race was； at the time； declared lost by 40 seconds only。
The most important and novel feature in the air ships constructed by Santos Dumont was the internal ballonet； inflated automatically by a ventilator； the expedient being designed to preserve the shape of the main balloon itself while meeting the wind。 On the whole； it answered well； and took the place of the heavy wire cage used by Zeppelin。
M。 de Fonvielle； commenting on the achievements of Santos Dumont； wrote：〃It does not appear that he has navigated his balloon against more than very light winds； but in his machinery he has shown such attention to detail that it may reasonably be expected that if he continues to increase his motive power he will； ere long； exceed past performances。〃
Mr。 Chanute has a further word to say about the possibility of making balloons navigable。 He considers that their size will have to be great to the verge of impracticability and the power of the motor enormous in proportion to its weight。 As to flying machines； properly so called； he calculates the best that has been done to be the sustaining of from 27 lbs。 to 55 lbs。 per horse power by impact upon the air。 But Mr。 Chanute also argues that the equilibrium is of prime importance； and on this point there could scarcely be a greater authority。 No one of living men has given more attention to the problem of 〃soaring；〃 and it is stated that he has had about a thousand 〃slides〃 made by assistants； with different types of machine； and all without the slightest accident。
Many other aerial vessels might be mentioned。 Mr。 T。 H。 Bastin； of Clapham； has been engaged for many years on a machine which should imitate bird flight as nearly as this may be practicable。
Baron Bradsky aims at a navigable balloon on an ambitious scale。 M。 Tatin is another candidate for the Deutsch prize。 Of Dr。 Barton's air ship more is looked for； as being designed for the War Office。 It is understood that the official requirements demand a machine which； while capable of transporting a man through the air at a speed of 13 miles an hour； can remain fully inflated for 48 hours。 One of the most sanguine； as well as enterprising； imitators of Santos Dumont was a fellow countryman； Auguste Severo。 Of his machine during construction little could be gathered； and still less seen； from the fact that the various parts were being manufactured at different workshops； but it was known to be of large size and to be fitted with powerful motors。 This was an ill…fated vessel。 At an early hour on May 12th of this year； 1902； all Paris was startled by a report that M。 Severo and his assistant； M。 Sachet had been killed while making a trial excursion。 It appears that at daybreak it had been decided that the favourable moment for trial had arrived。 The machinery was got ready； and with little delay the air vessel was dismissed and rose quietly and steadily into the calm sky。 The Daily Mail gives the following account of what ensued：
〃For the first few minutes all went well； and the motor seemed to be working satisfactorily。 The air ship answered the helm readily； and admiring exclamations rose from the crowd。。。。 But as the vessel rose higher she was seen to fall off from the wind； while the aeronauts could be seen vainly endeavouring to keep her head on。 Then M。 Severo commenced throwing out ballast。。。。 All this time the ship was gradually soaring higher and higher until； just as it was over the Montparnasse Cemetery； at the height of 2；000 feet； a sheet of flame was seen to shoot up from one of the motors； and instantly the immense silk envelope containing 9；000 cubicfeet of hydrogen was enveloped in leaping tongues of fire。。。。 As soon as the flames came in contact with the gas a tremendous explosion followed； and in an instant all that was left of the air ship fell to the earth。〃 Both aeronauts were dashed to pieces。 It was thought that the fatality was caused through faulty construction； the escape valve for the gas being situated only about nine feet from the motor。 It was announced by Count de la Vaulx that during the summer of 1901 he would attempt to cross the Mediterranean by a balloon； provisioned for three weeks； maintaining communication with the coast during his voyage by wireless telegraphy and other methods of signalling。 He was to make use of the 〃Herve Deviator；〃 or steering apparatus； which may be described as a series of cupshaped plates dipping in the water at the end of a trail rope。 By means of controlling cords worked from the car； the whole series of plates could be turned at an angle to the direction of the wind； by which the balloon's course would be altered。 Count de la Vaulx attempted this grand journey on October 12th； starting from Toulon with the intention of reaching Algiers； taking the precaution； however； of having a cruiser in attendance。 When fifty miles out from Marseilles a passing steamer received from the balloon the signal； 〃All's well〃； but the wind had veered round to the east； and； remaining persistently in this quarter； the Count abandoned his venture； and； signalling to the cruiser； succeeded in alighting on her deck； not； however； before he had completed the splendid and record voyage of 41 hours' duration。
CHAPTER XXVII。 THE POSSIBILITIES OF BALLOONS IN WARFARE。
Clearly the time has not yet arrived when the flying machine will be serviceable in war。 Yet we are not without those theorisers who； at the present moment； would seriously propose schemes for conveying dynamite and other explosives by air ship； or dropping them over hostile forces or fortresses； or even fleets at sea。 They go yet further； and gravely discuss the point whether such warfare would be legitimate。 We； however； may say at once； emphatically； that any such scheme is simply impracticable。 It must be abundantly evident that； so far； no form of dirigible air ship exists which could be relied on to carry out any required manoeuvre in such atmospheric conditions as generally prevail。 If；
