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 traveled in gliding with the vertical
fall, it was easily calculated that at a speed of 24 miles per hour the
total horizontal resistance of our machine when bearing the operator,
amounted to 40 lbs., which is equivalent to about 2-1/3 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 six 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. further 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; for, whereas in the latter case the size of the engine
must increase as the cube of the speed, in the flying machine, until
extremely high speeds are reached, the capacity of the motor increases
in less than simple ratio; and there is even a decrease in the fuel
consumption per mile of travel. In other words, to double the speed of a
steamship (and the same is true of the balloon type of airship) eight
times the engine and boiler capacity would be required, and four times
the fuel consumption per mile of travel; while a flying machine would
require engines of less than double the size, and there would be an
actual decrease in the fuel consumption per mile of travel. But looking
at the matter conversely, the great disadvantage of the flying machine
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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