Wright biplane. Curtiss biplane.
Comparative build and area of prominent American biplanes.
Voisin biplane. Breguet biplane.
Comparative build and area of prominent European biplanes.
Chapter VI.
FLYING MACHINES: THE MONOPLANE.
The common goal—Interchanging features—The Bleriot machine—First independent flyer—Construction and controls—The “Antoinette”—Large area—Great stability—Santos-Dumont’s monoplane—Diminutive size—R-E-P monoplane—encased structure—Hanriot machine—Boat body—Sturdy build—Pfitzner machine—Lateral type—Thrusting propeller—Fairchild, Burlingame, Cromley, Chauviere, Vendome, and Moisant monoplanes.
In all the ardent striving of the aviators to beat each other’s records, a surprisingly small amount of personal rivalry has been developed. Doubtless this is partly because their efforts to perform definite feats have been absorbing; but it must also be that these men, who know that they face a possible fall in every flight they make, realize that their competitors are as brave as themselves in the face of the same danger; and that they are actually accomplishing marvellous wonders even if they do no more than just escape disastrous failure. Certain it is that each, realizing the tremendous difficulties all must overcome, respects the others’ ability and attainments.
Consequently we do not find among them two distinctly divergent schools of adherents, one composed of the biplanists, the other of the monoplanists. Nor are the two types of machines separated in this book for any other purpose than to secure a clearer understanding of what is being achieved by all types in the progress toward the one common goal—the flight of man.