the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第13章
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momentum had been gained for the craft to go forward on its own account。
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The first aeroplane made by the two brothers was a very simple one； as
was the method adopted to balance the craft。 There were two main planes
made of long spreads of canvas arranged one above another； and on the
lower plane the pilot lay。 A little plane in front of the man was known as
the ELEVATOR； and it could be moved up and down by the pilot； when
the elevator was tilted up； the aeroplane ascended； when lowered； the
machine descended。
At the back was a rudder； also under control of the pilot。 The pilot's
feet； in a modern aeroplane； rest upon a bar working on a central swivel；
and this moves the rudder。 To turn to the left； the left foot is moved
forward； to turn to the right the right foot。
But it was in the balancing control of their machine that the Wrights
showed such great ingenuity。 Running from the edges of the lower plane
were some wires which met at a point where the pilot could control them。
The edges of the plane were flexible； that is； they could be bent slightly
either up or down； and this movement of the flexible plane is known as
WING WARPING。
You know that when a cyclist is going round a curve his machine leans
inwards。 Perhaps some of you have seen motor races； such as those held at
Brooklands； if so； you must have noticed that the track is banked very
steeply at the corners； and when the motorist is going round these corners
at； say； 80 miles an hour； his motor makes a considerable angle with the
level ground； and looks as if it must topple over。 The aeroplane acts in a
similar manner； and； unless some means are taken to prevent it； it will turn
over。
Let us now see how the pilot worked the 〃Wright〃 glider。 Suppose the
machine tilted down on one side； while in the air； the pilot would pull
down； or warp； the edges of the planes on that side of the machine which
was the lower。 By an ingenious contrivance； when one side was warped
down； the other was warped up； with the effect that the machine would be
brought back into a horizontal position。 （As we shall return to the subject
of wing warping in a later chapter； we need not discuss it further here。）
It must not be imagined that as soon as the Wrights had constructed a
glider fitted with this clever system of controlling mechanism they could
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fly when and where they liked。 They had to practise for two or three years
before they were satisfied with the results of their experiments： neglecting
no detail； profiting by their failures； and moving logically from step to step。
They never attempted an experiment rashly： there was always a reason for
what they did。 In fact； their success was due to systematic progress；
achieved by wonderful perseverance。
But now； for a short time； we must leave the pioneer work of the
Wright brothers； and turn to the invention of the petrol engine as applied
to the motor car； an invention which was destined to have far…reaching
results on the science of aviation。
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CHAPTER XX The Internal…combustion Engine
We have several times remarked upon the great handicap placed upon
the pioneers of aviation by the absence of a light but powerful motor
engine。 The invention of the internal…combustion engine may be said to
have revolutionized the science of flying； had it appeared a century ago；
there is no reason to doubt that Sir George Cayley would have produced
an aeroplane giving as good results as the machines which have appeared
during the last five or six years。
The motor engine and the aeroplane are inseparably connected； one is
as necessary to the other as clay is to the potter's wheel； or coal to the
blast…furnace。 This being the case； it is well that we trace briefly the
development of the engine during the last quarter of a century。
The original mechanical genius of the motoring industry was Gottlieb
Daimler； the founder of the immense Daimler Motor Works of Coventry。
Perhaps nothing in the world of industry has made more rapid strides
during the last twenty years than automobilism。 In 1900 our road traction
was carried on by means of horses； now； especially in the large cities； it is
already more than half mechanical； and at the present rate of progress it
bids fair to be soon entirely horseless。
About the year 1885 Daimler was experimenting with models of a
small motor engine； and the following year he fitted one of his most
successful models to a light wagonette。 The results were so satisfactory；
that in 1888 he took out a patent for an internal… combustion engineas the
motor engine is technically calledand the principle on which this engine
was worked aroused great enthusiasm on the Continent。
Soon a young French engineer； named Levassor； began to experiment
with models of motor engines； and in 1889 he obtained； with others； the
Daimler rights to construct similar engines in France。 From now on；
French engineers began to give serious attention to the new engine； and
soon great improvements were made in it。 All this time Britain held aloof
from the motor…car； indeed； many Britons scoffed at the idea of
mechanically…propelled vehicles； saying that the time and money required
for their development would be wasted。
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During the years 1888…1900 strange reports of smooth…moving；
horseless cars； frequently appearing in public in France； began to reach
Britain； and people wondered if the French had stolen a march on us； and
if there were anything in the new invention after all。 Our engineers had
just begun to grasp the immense possibilities of Daimler's engine； but the
Government gave them no encouragement。
At length the Hon。 Evelyn Ellis； one of the first British motorists；
introduced the 〃horseless carriage〃 into this country； and the following
account of his early trips； which appeared in the Windsor and Eton
Express of 27th July； 1895； may be interesting。
〃If anyone cares to run over to Datchet； they will see the Hon。 Evelyn
Ellis； of Rosenau； careering round the roads； up hill and down dale； and
without danger to life or limb； in his new motor carriage； which he
brought over a short time ago from Paris。
〃In appearance it is not unlike a four…wheeled dog…cart； except that the
front part has a hood for use on long 〃driving〃 tours； in the event of wet
weather； it will accommodate four persons； one of whom； on the seat
behind； would； of course； be the 'groom'； a misnomer； perhaps； for carriage
attendant。 Under the front seat are receptacles； one for tools with which to
repair damages； in the event of a breakdown on the road； and the other for
a store of oil； petroleum； or naphtha in cans； from which to replenish the
oil tank of the carriage on the journey； if it be a long one。
〃Can it be easily driven？ We cannot say that such a vehicle would be
suitable for a lady； unless rubber…tyred wheels and other improvements are
made to the carriage； for a grim grip of the steering handle and a keen eye
are necessary for its safe guidance； more especially if the high road be
rough。 It never requires to be fed； and as it is； moreover； unsusceptible of
fatigue； it is obviously the sort of vehicle that should soon achieve a
widespread popularity in this country。
〃It is a splendid hill climber； and； in fact； such a hill as that of Priest
Hill （a pretty good test of its capabilities） shows that it climbs at a faster
pace than a pedestrian can walk。
〃A trip from Rosenau to Old Windsor； to the entrance of Beaumont
College； up Priest Hill； descending the steep； rough； and treacherous hill
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on the opposite side by Woodside Farm； past the workhouse； through old
Windsor； and back to Rosenau within an hour； amply demonstrated how
perfectly under control this carriage is； while the sensation of being
whirled rapidly along is decidedly pleasing。〃
Another pioneer of motorism was the Hon。 C。 S。 Rolls； whose
untimely death at Bournemouth in 1910； while taking part in the
Bournemouth aviation meeting； was deeply deplored all over the country。
Mr。 Rolls made a tour of the country in a motor…car in 1895； with the
double object of impressing people with the stupidity of the law with
regard to locomotion； and of illustrating the practical possibilities of the
motor。 You may know that Mr。 Rolls was the first man to fly across the
Channel； and back again to Dover； without once alighting。
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CHAPTER XXI The Internal…combustion
Engine（Cont。）
I suppose many of my readers are quite familiar with the working of a
steam…engine。 Probably you have owned models of steam…engines right
from your earliest youth； and there are few boys who do not know how the
railway engine works。
But though you may be quite familiar with the mechanism of this
engine； it does not follow that you know how the petrol engine works； for
the two are highly dissimilar。 It is well； therefore； that we include a short
description of the internal…combustion engine such as is applied to motor…
cars； for then we shall be able to understand the principles of the aeroplane
engine。
At present petrol is the chief fuel used for
