Model Aeroplanes and Their Engines: A Practical Book for Beginners

by George Anthony Cavanagh

HISTORY OF MODEL AVIATION

Model aëroplaning, as a sport, was first introduced in America during the year of 1907. It was then that the first model aëroplane club in America was formed by Miss E. L. Todd, with the assistance of Mr. Edward Durant, now Director of the Aëro Science Club of America. Prior to this the model aëroplane was considered an instrument of experimentation or, when built to resemble a full sized machine, was used for exhibition purposes. Noted scientists, men such as Maxim, Langley, Eiffel and others, depended largely on models to bring about the desired results during their experiments. Before the Wright Brothers brought forth and launched the first heavier than air machine their experiments, to a great extent, were confined to model aëroplanes. There is little doubt but that a large majority of aviators engaged in flying machines in different parts of the world were at one time in their career interested in the construction and flying of model aircraft, and from which no doubt they obtained their initial knowledge of the aëroplane, in so far as the same principles and laws apply to any aëroplane, regardless of its size.

The first model aëroplane club went under the name of the New York Model Aëro Club and during its existence a great many of its contests were carried on in armories. The reason for this was because of the fact that the greater number of the models prevalent at that time were built along the lines of full sized machines, and their manner of construction was such as to interfere with the flying efficiency of the model. Streamline construction was something unknown to model constructors in those days and, in consequence, crudely constructed and heavy models were very often evidenced, and, as a result, flights of over one hundred feet were very seldom made. At about the same time model enthusiasts in both England and France were actively engaged in constructing and flying models, but the type of model used was of a different design from those flown by the American modelists and as a result of this innovation many of the early records were held abroad. The type of model flown by the English modelists resembled in appearance the letter “A”, hence the term “A” type.

It was not long after the introduction of this type of model in America that model aëroplaning as a sport began to assume an aspect of great interest. Models were constructed along simpler lines and with a greater tendency toward doing away with all unnecessary parts, thus increasing the flying qualities of the models. Flights of greater distance and duration were the objects sought and, in their efforts to achieve them new records were made at most every contest, until flights of from 500 to 1000 feet were common occurrences. By the use of the A type model and the single stick model which made its appearance shortly after the A type model, American modelists succeeded in breaking most of the world records for this type of model which is now termed by English modelists “flying sticks.”

First model aëroplane exhibition held at Boston, 1910

One by one model aëroplane clubs were formed in different parts of the country until to-day there are in existence about twenty-five clubs and all with memberships of from two to eight times that of the first model aëro club. The work which was started by the New York Model Aëro Club is now being carried on by the Aëro Science Club of America and its affiliated clubs. The interest in model flying grew to such an extent that during the year of 1915 the Aëro Club of America decided to hold the First National Model Aëroplane Competition for the purpose of offering to the young men of America an opportunity of becoming acquainted with this new sport and its advantages. The results of this competition were beyond expectation. Models were made capable of flying distances and with durations that, to the early flyers, seemed impossible. In the hand launched contests models were flown for distances ranging from 2000 to 2500 feet, the winning flight being 3537 feet, and it might also be said that the contestant who flew this model, with a model of the same design established a duration record of 195 seconds. As this goes to press, information is received that the World’s Record for distance for hand launched models has been broken by Thomas Hall, of Chicago, Ill., an Illinois Model Aëro Club member, with a flight of 5337 feet. Another interesting result of the competition was the establishing of a world hydroaëroplane record by a member of the Illinois Model Aëro Club with a model of the tractor type, a four-bladed propeller being used in connection with the model. The flying boat which is a late advent to the field of model flying also proved a record breaker in this competition, having remained in the air after rising from the surface of the water, for a duration of 43 seconds. This model was flown by a member of the Pacific Northwest Model Aëro Club of Seattle, Washington. The establishing of these records clearly indicates the advantage of scientific designing and construction and careful handling.

So satisfactory have been the results of the First National Model Aëroplane Competition that the Aëro Club of America has made arrangements for holding the Second National Model Aëroplane Competition during the year 1916. But in the announcement of the Second National Competition the Aëro Club of America has made provision for the holding of contests for mechanically driven models, in view of the interest which is being shown by model flyers in the construction of models more closely resembling large machines to be driven by compressed air, steam and gasoline power plants. This is the outcome of a desire on the part of model constructors to substitute for what is now commonly known as the “flying stick,” models more closely resembling large machines, which models can be more satisfactorily flown by the use of compressed air, steam or gasoline power plants. As in the early days, the best flights made by models using compressed air and steam have been made by English flyers, the duration of the flights ranging anywhere from 25 to 50 seconds.

Whether or not the American flyers will repeat history and achieve greater results with this type of model motive power is something that can only be determined in the future. But in any event the scientific mechanically driven model will, without doubt, assume an important position in the field of model aviation.