PROFESSOR LANGLEY’S STEAM ENGINE
The Langley steam driven model, of which so much has been said, and which on one occasion flew a distance of one-half mile in 90 seconds, had a total weight of 30 lbs., the engine and generating plant constituting one-quarter of this weight. The weight of the complete plant worked out to 7 lbs. per h.p. The engine developed from 1 to 1¹⁄₂ h.p. A flash type boiler was used, with a steam pressure of from 150 to 200 lbs., the coils having been made of copper. A modified naphtha blow-torch, such as is used by plumbers, was used to eject a blast or flame about 2000 Fahrenheit through the center of this coil. A pump was used for circulation purposes. With the best mechanical assistance that could be obtained at that date, it took Professor Langley one year to construct the model.