----------------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------ [Illustration: Wright. Model B. UAS] [Illustration: Wright. Model C. _From "Aeronautics," U.S.A._ UAS.] U.S.A. DIRIGIBLES. There are a few small dirigibles in the U.S.A., but they are in no way to be compared to French and German productions. Up-to-date, they have only been used as attractions at fairs about the country. In the past several larger ones of poor design have been built and found failures. ~Military.~ BALDWIN (1908) 20,000 c. feet (560 m cubed) Part B. HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT. In the following pages an attempt has been made to include photographs of all aeroplanes of the past six years, which, for one reason or another, "made history" in their own day. While many are merely freak machines, which in the light of present knowledge seem ridiculous, the germ of modern practice is to be found in many other aircraft illustrated in this cemetery of dead ideals; and it is worth noting that at least one constructor, who is one of the first in the field to-day, commenced operations with machines which were entirely "freaks." ~AUSTRIAN.~ [Illustration: WELS & ETRICH (1908). Original form of the modern _Etrich_ (q.v.).] [Illustration: HIPSSICH (1908). Tandem mono. with one propeller before and another in rear of rear plane.] [Illustration: NEMETHY (1908). The first "Aviette."] [Illustration: SOLTAU (1910). An ornithopter based on the earlier ideas of _Adehmar de la Hault_ (see Belgium).] ~BELGIAN.~ [Illustration: DE LA HAULT (1907). One of the earliest attempts at an ornithopter. No flights.] [Illustration: DE LA HAULT II. (1910-11). The ornithopter principle applied to a monoplane. No success met with.] [Illustration: D'HESPEL (1909-10). Single plane and suspended body. Early example of enclosed body. No flights.] ~BRAZIL.~ [Illustration: SANTOS-DUMONT XIX. This little machine, surface only 9 m squared. made an extraordinary sensation in France in 1909. It flew at the then incredible speed of 65 m.p.h. (100 k.p.h.) Santos-Dumont presented all rights to the world soon afterwards, and a large number were built before it was realised that only an extremely light weight pilot could fly in one. Few of the copies ever left the ground.] ~BRITISH.~ [Illustration: AVRO (1906). This 24 h.p. biplane, designed by A. V. Roe, was the first British machine to leave the ground.] [Illustration: AVRO (1907). Tractor triplane of only 9 h.p. This flew in Lea Marshes--the lowest horse power yet flown in Europe to the present day.] [Illustration: CODY (1909). Development of a much earlier machine. This one was a general laughing stock for a long time; but it was the direct predecessor of the machine (not very materially different) which was an easy first in the British Army aeroplane trials, 1912.]