The elevator and the wing naps are controlled by a lever at the right hand of the pilot. This lever moves on a universal joint, the side-to-side movement working the flaps, and the forward-and-back motion the elevator. Steering to right or left is done with a bar operated by the feet.
Henri Farman carrying a passenger across country.
Farman has himself made many records with his machine, and so have others. With a slightly larger and heavier machine than the one described, Farman carried two passengers a distance of 35 miles in one hour.
THE CURTISS BIPLANE.
This American rival of the Wright biplane is the lightest machine of this type so far constructed. The main planes are but 29 feet in spread, and 4 feet 6 inches in width, and are set not quite 5 feet apart. The combined area of the two planes is 250 square feet. The main planes are placed midway of the length of the fore-and-aft structure, which is nearly 30 feet. At the forward end is placed the elevator, and at the rear end is the tail—one small plane surface—and the vertical rudder surface in two parts, one above and the other below the tail plane. Equilibrium is controlled by changing the slant of two small balancing planes which are placed midway between the main planes at the outer ends, and in line with the front edges. These balancing planes are moved by a lever standing upright behind the pilot, having two arms at its upper end which turn forward so as to embrace his shoulders. The lever is moved to right or to left by the swaying of the pilot’s body.
Glenn H. Curtiss in his machine ready to start. The fork of the balancing lever is plainly seen at his shoulders. Behind him is the radiator, with the engine still further back.
The motor is raised to a position where the shaft of the propeller is midway between the levels of the main planes, and within the line of the rear edges, so that they have to be cut away to allow the passing of the blades. The motor is of the V type, with 8 cylinders. It is 30 horse-power and makes 1,200 revolutions per minute. The propeller is of steel, two-bladed, 6 feet in diameter, and revolves at the same speed as the shaft on which it is mounted. The high position of the engine permits a low running gear. There are two wheels under the rear edges of the main planes, and another is placed half-way between the main planes and the forward rudder, or elevator. A brake, operated by the pilot’s foot, acts upon this forward wheel to check the speed at the moment of landing.
Another type of Curtiss machine has the ailerons set in the rear of the main planes, instead of between them.