Within a few months Voisin had finished his first biplane, and Delagrange made his initial flight with it—a mere hop of 30 feet—on March 16, 1907.
Bleriot, however, had his own ideas, and on August 6, 1907, he flew for 470 feet in a monoplane machine of the tandem type. He succeeded in steering his machine in a curved course, a feat which had not previously been accomplished in Europe.
In October of the same year, Henri Farman, then a well-known automobile driver, flew the second Voisin biplane in a half circle of 253 feet—a notable achievement at that date.
But Santos-Dumont had been pushing forward several different types of machines, and in November he flew first a biplane 500 feet, and a few days later a monoplane 400 feet.
At this point in our story the past seems to give place to the present. The period of early development was over, and the year 1908 saw the first of those remarkable exploits which are recorded in the chapter near the end of this work entitled, “Chronicle of Aviation Achievements.”
It is interesting to note that the machines then brought out are those of to-day. Practically, it may be said that there has been no material change from the original types. More powerful engines have been put in them, and the frames strengthened in proportion, but the Voisin, the Bleriot, and the Wright types remain as they were at first. Other and later forms are largely modifications and combinations of their peculiar features.
Chapter V.
FLYING MACHINES: THE BIPLANE.
Successful types of aeroplanes—Distinguishing features—The Wright biplane—Construction—New type—Five-passenger machine—The Voisin biplane—New racing type—The Curtiss biplane—The Cody biplane—The Sommer biplane—The Baldwin biplane—New stabilizing plane—The Baddeck No. 2—Self-sustaining radiator—The Herring biplane—Stabilizing fins.
In the many contests for prizes and records, two types of flying machines have won distinctive places for themselves—the biplane and the monoplane. The appearance of other forms has been sporadic, and they have speedily disappeared without accomplishing anything which had not been better done by the two classes named.