Following up the success of my new hydroaeroplane, I have taken great interest in the idea of a flight across the Atlantic Ocean by aeroplane. I consider the flight possible, and I am willing to undertake the construction of a machine for the purpose, provided any of the aviators now considering flight wish me to do so. I am not prepared to give the details of such a machine as would be required to make the flight, but I simply express the opinion that the feat is possible and that under certain conditions I will undertake to furnish the equipment.
[CHAPTER IV FUTURE PROBLEMS OF AVIATION]
In a consideration of the final structure of the Coming Aeroplane, we pass into the realm of pure prophecy, for the aerial liners and dreadnaughts of the future are still snug in the brains of men like Rudyard Kipling or H. G. Wells. My part in the consideration of what is coming is here confined to the consideration of the immediate, or at least the not far distant, future.
Biplanes will always be the standard machines in my opinion, because you can get more supporting surface for the same weight.
Surfaces may be set one far out in front of the other, as Farman has done, but with three surfaces the third requires a full set of struts and wires and just as much weight as for two ordinary surfaces, and adds only one half more surface, and the head resistance is also increased once again. Surfaces no doubt will be made larger and machines much bigger in every way will be built.
Telescoping wings may be a feature of the future machines, so that a graduated area of wing surface can be readily obtained and changed for slow or high speed.
The limousine, or enclosed-cabin body, will be a familiar sight in the future machines built for passenger-carrying. These cabins will be provided with comfortable seats.
AUTOMATIC STABILITY
In regard to the question of automatic stability, or some device to balance the machine automatically, there seems to be no doubt that this problem will be solved; in fact it is already solved both for balancing laterally and keeping the machine from tipping sideways and also to govern its fore and aft pitching.
These devices may be of value in learning to fly. But in the practical use of the aeroplane you may see conditions arising which you wish to counteract before they occur and for which you wish to prepare. Automatic stabilisers will no doubt prove very good auxiliary devices, and some aeroplanes will have automatic stabilisers on them before this is printed, but the aviator will no doubt have to regulate the regulators in the future as he operates the levers personally in the present.