Chapter XI.
MODEL FLYING MACHINES.
Awakened popular interest—The workshop’s share—Needed devices—Super-sensitive inventions—Unsolved problems—Tools and materials—A model biplane—The propeller—The body—The steering plane—The main planes—Assembling the parts—The motive power—Flying the model—A monoplane model—Carving a propeller—Many ideas illustrated—Clubs and competitions—Some remarkable records.
It is related of Benjamin Franklin that when he went out with his famous kite with the wire string, trying to collect electricity from the thundercloud, he took a boy along to forestall the ridicule that he knew would be meted out to him if he openly flew the kite himself.
Other scientific experimenters, notably those working upon the problem of human flight in our own time, have encountered a similar condition of the public mind, and have chosen to conduct their trials in secret rather than to contend with the derision, criticism, and loss of reputation which a sceptical world would have been quick to heap upon them.
But such a complete revolution of thought has been experienced in these latter days that groups of notable scientific men gravely flying kites, or experimenting with carefully made models of flying machines, arouse only the deepest interest, and their smallest discoveries are eagerly seized upon by the daily press as news of the first importance.
So much remains to be learned in the field of aeronautics that no builder and flyer of the little model aeroplanes can fail to gain valuable information, if that is his intention. On the other hand, if it be the sport of racing these model aeroplanes which appeals to him, the instruction given in the pages following will be equally useful.
The earnest student of aviation is reminded that the progressive work in this new art of flying is not being done altogether, nor even in large part, by the daring operators who, with superb courage, are performing such remarkable feats with the flying machines of the present moment. Not one of them would claim that his machine is all that could be desired. On the contrary, these intrepid men more than any others are fully aware of the many and serious defects of the apparatus they use for lack of better. The scientific student in his workshop, patiently experimenting with his models, and working to prove or disprove untested theories, is doubtless doing an invaluable part in bringing about the sort of flying which will be more truly profitable to humanity in general, though less spectacular.
A model flying machine built and flown by Louis Paulhan, the noted aviator, at a prize contest for models in France. The design is after Langley’s model, with tandem monoplane surfaces placed at a dihedral angle.