Part 14 (2/2)
In concert with Mr W G Walker, AMICE, Mr Alexander carried out so power of air propellers, 30 feet in diaine The results, which were of a purely technical nature, have been embodied in a carefully compiled memoir
An air shi+p 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 announcean to be made to the effect that, next to the Zeppelin air shi+p, M Santos Du iven of this air vessel by the Daily Express was soe torpedo Three feet beneath this hangs the gasoline motor which is to supply the power The propeller is 12 feet in diaine frequently gets red hot The only accommodation for the traveller is a little bicycle seat, froear 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 ulated as the course requires
A able 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 tothe wind, and the whole was operated by a 10-horse powerthe screw at 100 revolutions per minute
But before the aerial exploits of Santos Duain claiust 1st Captain Spelterini, with two coen 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 Septe out soraphy experiments in a balloon, the success of which is entirely due to the unrivalled skill of Mr Nevil Maskelyne, FRAS, 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 Bradfordof the British association, Ade, with Mr Percival Spencer in charge The experirounds two minutes after the balloon had left, and this item was entirely successful The main idea was to attempt to establish co through space at a height beyond practicable gun shot The as fast and squally, and the unavoidable rough jolting which the car received at the start put the transes, however, which were sent frorounds at Lister Park were received and watched by the occupants of the car up to a distance of twenty e 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, a 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 34in 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 VaulxKorosticheff, in Russia, in 35 hours 45a reater height, na 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 froen, under thean essential part of the equipment The start was made at 5 pm, 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 ht the coast of France was plainly seen At 25,000 feet both voyagers were gasping, and cos of ballast being left, the descent was co was effected at Romford
Subsequently Dr Berson, in co 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 ti an 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 itste adapted to run on ice or snohile the boat would float on water Poas to be derived from a petrol motor
At the same period M Henry Sutor was busy on Lake Constance with an air shi+p designed also to float on water Then Mr Buchanan folloith a fish-shaped vessel, one of the most important specialities of which consisted in side propellers, the surfaces of which were roughened with rip on the air
No less original was the air shi+p, 100 feet long, and carrying 18,000 cubic feet of gas, which Mr W Beedle was engaged upon In thisthe horizontal ulate vertical as or ballast
But by this ti his hobby with unparalleled perseverance, had built in succession no less than six air shi+ps, ht by failures, and reat or small On July 15th, 1901, he ar-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 ainst 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 becoht--July 29th--in favourable weather, hefifteen round Then on August 8th aup with a rapid ascent, and flying with the wind, Santos Dumont covered the distance to the Tower in fiveround; but, i down thean escape of gas On this Santos Duher into the sky, quitted the car, and cli the keel to inspect, and, if possible, rectify the , and the machine pitched badly, till a further rent occurred, when it co hopelessly and with a speedover a roof, the balloon caught a chi, held fast, while the car hung helplessly down a blank wall In this perilous predicaility alone averted disaster, till firemen were able to coed beyond repair, but by September 6th another was completed, and on trial appeared to ell until, while travelling at speed, it was brought up and badly strained by the trail rope catching in trees
Early in the next ain, eather conditions entirely in his favour; but again certain le for the prize, which did not take place till the 19th On this day a light cross as blowing, not sufficient, however, seriously to influence the first stage of the time race, and the outward journey was acco the tower, however, the wind began to tell prejudicially, and the propeller beca his vessel fall off fro the fraain setting in working order, though not without a delay of several round Froht minutes, and the race was, at the time, declared lost by 40 seconds only
The most important and novel feature in the air shi+ps constructed by Santos Dumont was the internal ballonet, inflated autoned to preserve the shape of thethe wind On the whole, it answered well, and took the place of the heavy wire cage used by Zeppelin
M de Fonvielle, co on the achievements of Santos Duated his balloon against ht 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 , exceed past performances”
Mr Chanute has a further word to say about the possibility of able He considers that their size will have to be great to the verge of impracticability and the power of themachines, 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 iues that the equilibrium is of prireater authority No one of living ,” and it is stated that he has had about a thousand ”slides” made by assistants, with different types of htest accident
Many other aerial vessels aged for ht as nearly as this able balloon on an ambitious scale M
Tatin is another candidate for the Deutsch prize Of Dr Barton's air shi+p ned for the War Office It is understood that the official require a h the air at a speed of 13 miles an hour, can reuine, as well as enterprising, iuste Severo Of his athered, and still less seen, fro 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 whilea trial excursion It appears that at daybreak it had been decided that the favourable ot ready, and with little delay the air vessel was dismissed and rose quietly and steadily into the cal account of what ensued:--