THE HERRING BIPLANE.
At the Boston Aircraft Exhibition in February, 1910, the Herring biplane attracted much attention, not only because of its superiority of mechanical finish, but also on account of its six triangular stabilizing fins set upright on the upper plane. Subsequent trials proved that this machine was quite out of the ordinary in action. It rose into the air after a run of but 85 feet, and at a speed of only 22 miles per hour, and made a 40-degree turn at a tipping angle of 20 degrees. As measured by the inventor, the machine rose in the air with the pilot (weighing 190 lbs.), with a thrust of 140 lbs., and required only a thrust of from 80 to 85 lbs. to keep it flying.
The spread of the planes is 28 feet, and they are 4 feet in depth, with a total supporting surface of 220 feet. A 25 horse-power Curtiss motor turns a 4-bladed propeller of 6 feet diameter and 5-foot pitch (designed by Mr. Herring) at the rate of 1,200 revolutions per minute.
The L. A. W. (League of American Wheelmen) biplane at the Boston Aircraft Exhibition, February, 1910. Note the peculiar curve of the divided planes. The motor is of the rotating type, of 50 horse-power.
The elevator consists of a pair of parallel surfaces set upon hollow poles 12 feet in front of the main planes. The tail is a single surface.
The stabilizing fins act in this manner: when the machine tips to one side, it has a tendency to slide down an incline of air toward the ground. The fins offer resistance to this sliding, retarding the upper plane, while the lower plane slides on and swings as a pendulum into equilibrium again.