ORVILLE WRIGHT IN THE 80-MILE-AN-HOUR “BABY WRIGHT” RACER.

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, B.S., C.E.
Illustrated by Over One Hundred and Fifty Half-tones and Line
Drawings, Showing the Stages of Development from the
Earliest Balloon to the Latest Monoplane and Biplane
New York
THOMAS NELSON AND SONS
381-385 Fourth Avenue

THE TROW PRESS, NEW YORK

PREFACE

In these pages, by means of simple language and suitable pictures, the author has told the story of the Ships of the Air. He has explained the laws of their flight; sketched their development to the present day; shown how to build the flying machine and the balloon, and how to operate them; recounted what man has done, and what he hopes to do with their aid. In a word, all the essential facts that enter into the Conquest of the Air have been gathered into orderly form, and are here presented to the public.

We who live to-day have witnessed man’s great achievement; we have seen his dream of ages come true. Man has learned to fly!