W. E., 1902, A simple aerial machine
| Original title | A simple aerial machine |
|---|---|
| Simple title | A simple aerial machine |
| Authors | W. E. |
| Date | 1902 |
| Countries | US |
| Languages | en |
| Keywords | kite, stability, airplane, piloting |
| Journal | Aer. World |
| Related to aircraft? | 1 |
| Page count | 2 |
| Word count | 535 |
| Wikidata id |
- W. E. seems to have been an editor of the Aeronautical World, an author of many articles, and a person whose full name is not shown.
Sources
- Brockett 1910, page 268, entry 3896: E., W. A simple aerial machine. Aer. World, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1902, Glenville, Ohio, pp. 8-9. S (3896
- Scan at Internet Archive
Full text
A Simple Aerial Machine.
A flying kite is simply a captive aeroplane machine, oscillated about its axis by several contending forces. These forces constantly work to intermittently perform their respective functions, but just as one force is on the point of prevailing, it creates and brings into play new factors and new forces, which neutralize and overcome it. Then just when these new forces are on the point of prevailing, they, likewise, create new conditions, which destroy their power and, so on does this circle of events continue so long as the kite remains in air. The results of all this is an irregular, sea-saw motion, in which the string limits the oscillating of the kite on its axis.
Now if a man, as an integral part of a free kite in air, could maintain the same oscillating motion as imparted by the taut string of a tethered kite, he would demonstrate the practicability of the aeroplane. The question then arises, is it possible for a man, when so situated, to weaken and overpower the force tending to prevail, immediately before it actually predominates ?
The writer knows from experiments that it is not only possible, but as easy of accomplishment as for a cyclist to maintain his equilibrium on his travelling machine. That being the case, what further is requisite to make aerial navigation, by means of aeroplanes, practical ? To this question the writer's answer is nothing more than a simple and properly constructed areoplane machine, and an intelligent, cool, cautious, man, possessing the courage to make the first attempt. It would be simply necessary for the aeronaut to move his body and center of gravity of the system, so as to vary the resistance and inclination of. this aero-surface against the force of the wind, the horizontal pressure of the atmosphere, the attractive force of the earth or the upward pressure of the air, and this he would do instinctively as in walking, running, or riding, etc. Thus he would transform the force of gravity into horizontal, or progressive motion, and utilize the wind, whatever its direction, for lift and advancement, and the upward pressure of the atmosphere, for sustainment. To emphasize the above, the statement is repeated in another way, thus : If a person forming a low down center of gravity, and a part of a kite-like contrivance supported in air, will render the same simple service as the boy on the ground and the kite string, by swaying his body back and forth of the axis of the system, and so change the position of the center of gravity and alter the angle of incidence of the aeropane relatively to and against the opposing forces, he will be able to ascend, descend, or glide through the air, either with, against, or across the wind, and thus prove aerial navigation is no longer a hopeless enigma, as so many people suppose, but an easily accomplished and practically established fact, wherein the momentum required from the earth attractive force during descents, may be utilized as a direct power to again lift and advance him
W. E.
