of pressure made it necessary to put sand on the front rudder to bring
the centres of gravity and pressure into coincidence, consequently the
weight of the machine varied from 98 lbs. to 108 lbs. in the different
tests) = 17 lbs., so that, although the higher wind velocity must
have caused an increase in the head resistance, the tangential force
still came within 1 lb. of overcoming it. After our return from Kitty
Hawk we began a series of experiments to accurately determine the
amount and direction of the pressure produced on curved surfaces when
acted upon by winds at the various angles from zero to 90 degrees.
These experiments are not yet concluded, but in general they support
Lilienthal in the claim that the curves give pressures more favourable
in amount and direction than planes; but we find marked differences
in the exact values, especially at angles below 10 degrees. We were
unable to obtain direct measurements of the horizontal pressures of
the machine with the operator on board, but by comparing the distance
travelled with the vertical fall, it was easily calculated that at a
speed of 24 miles per hour the total horizontal resistances of our
machine, when bearing the operator, amounted to 40 lbs, which is
equivalent to about 2⅓ horse-power. It must not be supposed, however,
that a motor developing this power would be sufficient to drive a
man-bearing machine. The extra weight of the motor would require either
a larger machine, higher speed, or a greater angle of incidence in
order to support it, and therefore more power. It is probable, however,
that an engine of 6 horse-power, weighing 100 lbs. would answer the
purpose. Such an engine is entirely practicable. Indeed, working motors
of one-half this weight per horse-power (9 lbs. per horse-power) have
been constructed by several different builders. Increasing the speed of
our machine from 24 to 33 miles per hour reduced the total horizontal
pressure from 40 to about 35 lbs. This was quite an advantage in
gliding, as it made it possible to sail about 15 per cent farther
with a given drop. However, it would be of little or no advantage in
reducing the size of the motor in a power-driven machine, because the
lessened thrust would be counterbalanced by the increased speed per
minute. Some years ago Professor Langley called attention to the great
economy of thrust which might be obtained by using very high speeds,
and from this many were led to suppose that high speed was essential to
success in a motor-driven machine. But the economy to which Professor
Langley called attention was in foot pounds per mile of travel, not in
foot pounds per minute. It is the foot pounds per minute that fixes the
size of the motor. The probability is that the first flying machines
will have a relatively low speed, perhaps not much exceeding 20 miles
per hour, but the problem of increasing the speed will be much simpler
in some respects than that of increasing the speed of a steamboat;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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