Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume III

FLYING MACHINES OF TO-DAY. 27 sistance. We may add that the builders of monoplanes seem to have devoted special atten- tion to the shaping and finish of the decks, which in all cases are covered on both sur- pletely out of sight; and a 50 horse-power engine is used. As a class the Blériot monoplanes are very speedy. The Chan- faces, and brought to a sharp edge in front. M. Blériot’s small monoplane (Fig. 6) has a span of 28 feet and a length over all of 25 feet. The decks, which have the rather low aspect ratio of 4| to 1, are rounded at the ends, and Fig. 6.—DIAGRAM OF BLÉRIOT MONOPLANE. nel was crossed at an average velocity of 45 miles per hour. At Rheims, M. Blériot made the Fig. 7.—WHEELED CAR- RIAGE OF BLERIOT MA- CHINE. are detachable from the body for convenience of transport. The body is a trussed frame about 20 feet long, tapering to the rear. At the front end is placed the three-cylinder Anzani engine, geared direct to a 6-foot 6-inch wooden propeller. Immediately behind the engine is the petrol tank, and behind that again the pilot’s seat, which is in line with the rear edge of the decks. Near the after end of the body truss, and underneath it, is the fixed tail, with two movable elevating tips. At the extreme end is a vertical rudder. Balancing is effected by warping the main decks. The wheeled carriage, of which a sketch is appended, has some points of interest (Fig. 7). The No. XII. monoplane is a somewhat larger machine, having a deck area of 230 square feet. In point of weight it exceeds all other flying machines—except Cody’s—with its 1,300 lbs. Nevertheless it has carried two passengers besides the pilot. In the latest model the petrol tanks and lubricating oil reservoirs are housed between the two surfaces of the wings, and so are com- fastest time for a single lap of the 10 kilo- metre circuit. THE ANTOINETTE MONOPLANE. The Antoinette monoplane (Fig. 8) has dis- tinguished itself for its speed and wonderful capacity for attaining great altitudes. During his second attempt to cross the Channel, M. Latham was credited with a velocity of nearly 55 miles per hour. In deck surface and weight the Antoinette, with its 575 square feet and 1,250 lbs., equals the larger biplanes. The wings, which have a spread of about 40 feet, project from a boat-shaped body, along the sides of which run the tubes of the engine radiator. The body tapers away to the rear, on which are set two vertical and one hori- zontal rudder, besides two fixed vertical stability planes. The decks are inclined at a slight upward angle to each other, and are covered with rubbered silk on both surfaces. To maintain stability, two small wings, or ailerons, are attached to the back of the decks, near their ends.