This requirement is fully met, the inventor says, by the arrangement advocated by him, and none but edge resistance is offered to the air, except the sharp lines of the necessary vehicle. The manufacture of such an apparatus upon a scale of utility would be as follows: A flat-bottomed receptacle, somewhat of boat shape, would be fixed upon wheels. At the fore part of the boat a motor would from each side elevate and depress two wing-arms, each 15 ft. long. (See Figure.) Along the wing-arms is attached a fabric which would form the front part of a kite, which, being fastened in the center to the edge of the boat, would continue for 15 ft. to the rear, being extended about 6 ft. farther than the stern of the boat by a continuing spar. To a cross piece here would be fastened the tail end of the kite, which, however, instead of a point, would be about 5 ft. in width. From this again would extend a tail of about 12 ft., to which either a lateral, twisting, or a vertical movement could be imparted by cords in the hands of the operator in the boat for steering purposes. From the fore part of the boat would extend a bowsprit, from which cords would be attached to the two wing-arms to prevent the weight of the fabric from dragging them backward. An important arrangement has been adopted by the inventor, which he calls the pectoral cord, which by its automatic action assumes the functions of the pectoral muscle of the bird. This is an India-rubber cord. It is attached by its two extremities to the under portion of each wing-arm, and in models passes underneath a central shaft--in this case the boat. Its degree of elasticity is regulated by the weight. When any model with wings is committed to the action of the air, the pressure of the air causes the wings to fly upward, and power is required according to the weight sustained to depress the wings against the weight. The strength of the cord, however, is such that it maintains the outstretched wings at that angle which is suitable for gliding upon the air without, in the case of the bird, any enforced muscular exertion. The contraction of this cord assists the power exerted in the downward stroke. The wing arms would not be rigid throughout their length. They would consist of a number of rattans or canes firmly bound together by close wrapping, and tapered by cutting off one at intervals, this being practically unbreakable by any accident likely to occur. The portion next to the body for 5 ft. or 6 ft. might be stiffened by a steel tube, forming the center round which the rattans are wrapped. By this method of forming the wing-arms their length may be increased at pleasure. A small model upon this principle, but without any motive power, was liberated as an experiment by Captain Templer, from a balloon which had risen 200 ft. or 300 ft. from Woolwich Arsenal, and it traveled back again to the arsenal half a mile against the wind uninjured.