the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第12章
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forward。 The chief use of the planes is for support to the machine； and the
chief duty of the pilot is to balance and steer the craft by the manipulation
of the rudder； elevation and warping controls。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XVIII A Great British Inventor of
Aeroplanes
Though； as we have seen； most of the early attempts at aerial
navigation were made by foreign engineers； yet we are proud to number
among the ranks of the early inventors of heavier…than…air machines Sir
Hiram Maxim； who； though an American by birth； has spent most of his
life in Britain and may therefore be called a British inventor。
Perhaps to most of us this inventor's name is known more in
connection with the famous 〃Maxim〃 gun； which he designed； and which
was named after him。 But as early as 1894； when the construction of
aeroplanes was in a very backward state； Sir Hiram succeeded in making
an interesting and ingenious aeroplane； which he proposed to drive by a
particularly light steam…engine。
Sir Hiram's first machine； which was made in 1890； was designed to
be guided by a double set of rails； one set arranged below and the other
above its running wheels。 The intention was to make the machine raise
itself just off the ground rails； but yet be prevented from soaring by the set
of guard rails above the wheels； which acted as a check on it。 The motive
force was given by a very powerful steam…engine of over 300 horse…power；
and this drove two enormous propellers； some 17 feet in length。 The total
weight of the machine was 8000 pounds； but even with this enormous
weight the engine was capable of raising the machine from the ground。
For three or four years Sir Hiram made numerous experiments with his
aeroplane； but in 1894 it broke through the upper guard rail and turned
itself over among the surrounding trees； wrecking itself badly。
But though the Maxim aeroplane did not yield very practical results； it
proved that if a lighter but more powerful engine could be made； the chief
difficulty iii the way of aerial flight would be removed。 This was soon
forthcoming in the invention of the petrol motor。 In a lecture to the
Scottish Aeronautical Society； delivered in Glasgow in November； 1913；
Sir Hiram claimed to be the inventor of the first machine which actually
rose from the earth。 Before the distinguished inventor spoke of his own
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work in aviation he recalled experiments made by his father in 1856…7；
when Sir Hiram was sixteen years of age。 The flying machine designed by
the elder Maxim consisted of a small platform； which it was proposed to
lift directly into the air by the action of two screw…propellers revolving in
reverse directions。 For a motor the inventor intended to employ some kind
of explosive material； gunpowder preferred； but the lecturer distinctly
remembered that his father said that if an apparatus could be successfully
navigated through the air it would be of such inevitable value as a military
engine that no matter how much it might cost to run it would be used by
Governments。
Of his own claim as an inventor of air…craft it would be well to quote
Sir Hiram's actual words； as given by the Glasgow Herald； which
contained a full report of the lecture。
〃Some forty years ago； when I commenced to think of the subject； my
first idea was to lift my machint by vertical propellers； and I actually
commenced drawings and made calculations for a machine on that plan；
using an oil motor； or something like a Brayton engine； for motive power。
However； I was completely unable to work out any system which would
not be too heavy to lift itself directly into the air； and it was only when I
commenced to study the aeroplane system that it became apparent to me
that it would be possible to make a machine light enough and powerful
enough to raise itself without the agency of a balloon。 From the first I was
convinced that it would be quite out of the question to employ a balloon in
any form。 At that time the light high…speed petrol motor had no existence。
The only power available being steam…engines； I made all my calculations
with a view of using steam as the motive power。 While I was studying the
question of the possibility of making a flying machine that would actually
fly； I became convinced that there was but one system to work on； and that
was the aeroplane system。 I made many calculations； and found that an
aeroplane machine driven by a steam…engine ought to lift itself into the
air。〃
Sir Hiram then went on to say that it was the work of making an
automatic gun which was the direct cause of his experiments with flying
machines。 To continue the report：
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〃One day I was approached by three gentle… men who were interested
in the gun； and they asked me if it would be possible for me to build a
flying machine； how long it would take； and how much it would cost。 My
reply was that it would take five years and would cost L50；000。 The first
three years would be devoted to developing a light internal…combustion
engine； and the remaining two years to making a flying machine。
〃Later on a considerable sum of money was placed at my disposal； and
the experiments commenced； but unfortunately the gun business called for
my attention abroad； and during the first two years of the experimental
work I was out of England eighteen months。
〃Although I had thought much of the internal…combustion engine it
seemed to me that it would take too long to develop one and that it would
be a hopeless task in my absence from England； so I decided that in my
first experiments at least I would use a steam…engine。 I therefore designed
and made a steam…engine and boiler of which Mr。 Charles Parsons has
since said that； next to the Maxim gun； it developed more energy for its
weight than any other heat engine ever made。 That was true at the time；
but is very wide of the mark now。〃
Speaking of motors； the veteran lecturer remarked： 〃Perhaps there was
no problem in the world on which mathematicians had differed so widely
as on the problem of flight。 Twenty years ago experimenters said： 'Give us
a motor that will develop 1 horse…power with the weight of a barnyard
fowl； and we will very soon fly。' At the present moment they had motors
which would develop over 2 horse…power and did not weigh more than a
12…pound barnyard fowl。 These engines had been developedI might say
createdby the builders of motor cars。 Extreme lightness had been
gradually obtained by those making racing cars； and that had been
intensified by aviators。 In many cases a speed of 80 or 100 miles per hour
had been attained； and machines had remained in the air for hours and had
flown long distances。 In some cases nearly a ton had been carried for a
short distance。〃
Such words as these； coming from the lips of a great inventor； give us
a deep insight into the working of the inventor's mind； and； incidentally；
show us some of the difficulties which beset all pioneers in their tasks。
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The science of aviation is； indeed； greatly indebted to these early inventors；
not the least of whom is the gallant Sir Hiram Maxim。
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CHAPTER XIX The Wright Brothers and their
Secret Experiments
In the beginning of the twentieth century many of the leading
European newspapers contained brief reports of aerial experiments which
were being carried out at Dayton； in the State of Ohio； America。 So
wonderful were the results of these experiments； and so mysterious were
the movements of the two brothersOrville and Wilbur Wrightwho
conducted them； that many Europeans would not believe the reports。
No inventors have gone about their work more carefully； methodically；
and secretly than did these two Americans； who； hidden from prying eyes；
〃far from the madding crowd〃； obtained results which brought them
undying fame in the world of aviation。
For years they worked at their self…imposed task of constructing a
flying machine which would really soar among the clouds。 They had read
brief accounts of the experiments carried out by Otto Lilienthal； and in
many ways the ground had been well paved for them。 It was their great
ambition to become real 〃human birds〃； 〃birds〃 that would not only glide
along down the hillside； but would fly free and unfettered； choosing their
aerial paths of travel and their places of destination。
Though there are few reliable accounts of their work in those remote
American haunts； during the first six years of the present century； the main
facts of their life…history are now well known； and we are able to trace
their experiments； step by step； from the time when they constructed their
first simple aeroplane down to the appearance of the marvellous biplane
which has made them world…famed。
For some time the Wrights experimented with a glider； with which
they accomplished even more wonderful results than those obtained by
Lilienthal。 These two young American engineersbicyclemakers by trade…
…were never in a hurry。 Step by step they made progress； first with kites；
then with small gliders； and ultimately with a large one。 The latter was
launched into the air by men running forward with it until sufficient
momentum had been gained for the craft to go
