AEROPLANE

PART I

Read Carefully: Place your name and full address at the head of the paper. Any cheap, light paper like the sample previously sent you may be used. Do not crowd your work, but arrange it neatly and legibly. Do not copy the answers from the Instruction Paper; use your own words so that we may be sure that you understand the subject.

  1. What type of machine, biplane or monoplane, makes the best glider and why?
  2. Give the dimensions of a glider which will support a man's weight.
  3. In a glider which has no rudder, how is the machine controlled?
  4. Give carefully the details of the start in making a glide.
  5. In what direction relative to the wind should a glide be made? Justify your answer.
  6. How must the stability and balance of a glider in flight be controlled?
  7. State the proper conditions for a successful glide.
  8. Give the essential characteristics of a Curtiss aeroplane, defining the various parts.
  9. Describe briefly the details of construction of the main supporting surfaces of a Curtiss.
  10. Draw a diagram of the assembled planes showing how the struts and cross wires are placed to give the required rigidity.
  11. Give the details of the running gear of the Curtiss.
  12. What is the office of the Curtiss ailerons and how are they controlled from the operator's seat? Draw sketch.
  13. Describe the details of the front and rear outriggers.
  14. What type of propeller is advised for the Curtiss? Give the details of its construction.
  15. Describe carefully the manner in which a propeller should move through the air in order to give the maximum propulsion.
  16. What determines the exact location of the motor in the aeroplane?
  17. Give correct method of starting the motor when ready for a flight.
  18. What tests should be conducted before a flight is undertaken?

After completing the work, add and sign the following statement:

I hereby certify that the above work is entirely my own.

(Signed)

PART II

BUILDING A BLERIOT MONOPLANE

As mentioned in connection with the description of its construction, the Curtiss biplane was selected as a standard of this type of aeroplane after which the student could safely pattern for a number of reasons. It is not only remarkably simple in construction, easily built by anyone with moderate facilities and at a slight outlay, but it is likewise the easiest machine to learn to drive. The monoplane is far more difficult and expensive to build.