How It Flies; or, The Conquest of the Air / The Story of Man's Endeavors to Fly and of the Inventions by Which He Has Succeeded

by Richard Ferris

THE FARMAN BIPLANE.

The second biplane built by the Voisins went into the hands of Henri Farman, who made many flights with it. Not being quite satisfied with the machine, and having an inventive mind, he was soon building a biplane after his own designs, and the Farman biplane is now one of the foremost in favor among both professional and amateur aviators.

It is decidedly smaller in area of surface than the Wright and Voisin machines, having but 430 square feet in the two supporting planes. It has a spread of 33 feet, and the planes are 7 feet wide, and set 6 feet apart. In the Farman machine the vertical curtains of the Voisin have been dispensed with. The forward elevator is there, but raised nearly to the level of the upper plane, and placed 9 feet from the front edge of the main planes. To control the equilibrium, the two back corners of each plane are cut and hinged so that they hang vertically when not in flight. When in motion these flaps or ailerons stream out freely in the wind, assuming such position as the speed of the passing air gives them. They are pulled down by the pilot at one end or the other, as may be necessary to restore equilibrium, acting in very much the same manner as the warping tips of the Wright machine. A pair of tail planes are set in parallel on a framework about 20 feet in the rear of the main planes, and a double rudder surface behind them. Another model has hinged ailerons on these tail planes, and a single rudder surface set upright between them. These tail ailerons are moved in conjunction with those of the main planes.

The Farman biplane, showing the position of the hinged ailerons when at rest. At full speed these surfaces stream out in the wind in line with the planes to which they are attached.

Diagram of the Farman biplane. A later type has the hinged ailerons also on the tail planes.

The motor has 4 cylinders, and turns a propeller made of wood, 8 feet 6 inches in diameter, at a speed of 1,300 revolutions per minute—nearly three times as fast as the speed of the Wright propellers, which are about the same size. The propeller is placed just under the rear edge of the upper main plane, the lower one being cut away to make room for the revolving blades. The motor develops 45 to 50 horse-power, and drives the machine at a speed of 41 miles per hour.

The “racing Farman” is slightly different, having the hinged ailerons only on one of the main planes. The reason for this is obvious. Every depression of the ailerons acts as a drag on the air flowing under the planes, increasing the lift at the expense of the speed.

Sketch of Farman machine, showing position of operator. A, A, main planes; B, elevator; C, motor; P, tail planes.

The whole structure is mounted upon skids with wheels attached by a flexible connection. In case of a severe jar, the wheels are pushed up against the springs until the skids come into play.

The elevator and the wing naps are controlled by a lever at the right hand of the pilot. This lever moves on a universal joint, the side-to-side movement working the flaps, and the forward-and-back motion the elevator. Steering to right or left is done with a bar operated by the feet.

Henri Farman carrying a passenger across country.

Farman has himself made many records with his machine, and so have others. With a slightly larger and heavier machine than the one described, Farman carried two passengers a distance of 35 miles in one hour.