Among the more familiar machines which have been contesting for records at the various European meets during the season of 1910, the Hanriot monoplane earned notice for itself and its two pilots, one of them the fifteen-year-old son of the inventor. At Budapest the Hanriot machine carried off the honors of the occasion with a total of 106 points for “best performances,” as against 84 points for the Antoinette, and 77 points for the Farman biplane. A description of its unusual features will be of interest by way of comparison.
In general appearance it is a cross between the Bleriot and the Antoinette, the wings being shaped more like the latter, but rounded at the rear of the tips like the Bleriot. Its chief peculiarity is in the body of the machine, which is in form very similar to a racing shell—of course with alterations to suit the requirements of the aeroplane. Its forward part is of thin mahogany, fastened upon ash ribs, with a steel plate covering the prow. The rear part of the machine is covered simply with fabric.
The spread of the plane is 24 feet 7 inches, and it has an area of 170 square feet. The length of the machine, fore-and-aft, is 23 feet. Its weight is 463 pounds. It is mounted on a chassis having both wheels and skids, somewhat like that of the Farman running gear, but with two wheels instead of four.
The Hanriot machine is sturdily built all the way through, and has endured without damage some serious falls and collisions which would have wrecked another machine.
It is fitted either with a Darracq or a Clerget motor, and speeds at about 44 miles per hour.
THE PFITZNER MONOPLANE.
The Pfitzner monoplane has the distinction of being the first American machine of the single-plane type. It was designed and flown by the late Lieut. A. L. Pfitzner, and, though meeting with many mishaps, has proved itself worthy of notice by its performances, through making use of an entirely new device for lateral stability. This is the sliding wing tip, by which the wing that tends to fall from its proper level may be lengthened by 15 inches, the other wing being shortened as much at the same time.
There is no longitudinal structure, as in the other monoplanes, the construction being transverse and built upon four masts set in the form of a square, 6 feet apart, about the centre. These are braced by diagonal struts, and tied with wires on the edges of the squares. They also support the guys reaching out to the tips of the wings.
The Pfitzner monoplane from the rear, showing the sliding wing tips; dihedral angle of the wings; square body; and transverse trussed construction.