Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II: Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Volume 27 Number 3, Publication 1948, 1911Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont)
History
Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II: Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Volume 27 Number 3, Publication 1948, 1911
Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont)
Aeronautics; Flight
The total weight of No. 5 was 8200 grammes, or with its full supply
of fuel and water 9200 grammes. In this aerodrome the same boilers
used in No. 4 were capable of maintaining for at least a minute 115
pounds of steam, so that the engine now gave the maximum of one
brake horse-power for which it was designed, and, driving the 70
cm. propellers, lifted repeatedly nearly 45 per cent of the flying
weight. [p070]
The wings and tail constructed for No. 5 were identical with those
of No. 4, being slightly curved and containing 2.62 sq. m. (28.2 sq.
ft.), equivalent to 1.4 sq. ft. to the pound, which with the flimsy
construction of the wings gave an entirely inadequate support to the
aerodrome.
During the summer a launching apparatus of a new and improved type,
which is described in Chapter X, had been perfected, and with it
repeated tests were made of both aerodromes in October, November,
and December, with the unsatisfactory results recorded in Chapter
IX. In the course of these experiments, many slight modifications
of the burners and boilers were made, but no important changes were
introduced except that the cross-frame of No. 5 was enlarged and
strengthened so as to admit of its carrying one metre propellers
safely. The results, however, which were obtained, did not compensate
for the increased weight of the larger frame.
Viewing the work of this year from the standpoint of results obtained
in the numerous attempts at flight, it would seem that very little
progress had been made, and that there was small reason to expect
to achieve final success. However, if the work be examined more
particularly, it will be seen that two of the most difficult problems
had been solved, one completely as far as the models were concerned,
and the other to a very satisfactory degree. First, a launching
apparatus, with which it was possible to give the aerodrome any
desired initial velocity, had been devised, and so far perfected
that no trouble was ever experienced with it in testing the models.
Second, as a result of the extended and systematic series of
experiments, which had been conducted under the direction of Dr.
Barus, a steam pressure of 115 pounds could be maintained steadily
in the boilers for at least a minute, and the burners could be kept
lighted even in a considerable breeze.
A summary of these experiments, together with some account of the
difficulties encountered and the results finally obtained with the
apparatus in use at the end of the year, is given in the following
report, which was prepared by Dr. Barus in December, 1894.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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