CHANNEL CONQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 571, 28 July 1909, Page 7

CHANNEL CONQUEST.

t AEROPLANES. DIRIGIBLE BALLOON'S ADVANTACE. ' WEIGHT-CARRYING. (Dy Tolcerßpb.T-Preßa ABSoclitlon.-Oopyrlßht.) London, July 26. Tho jubilation in' Paris over tho suocossful cross-Ohannel'flight of M. Bloriot's monopiano from Franco to England is describod as "Blcriot fever." "Tho Timcß".,says that upon tho wholo it is probable that'M. Bleriot is working on tho right linos.' At tho samo time there aro limits to the extension of aeroplanes in tho direction of-,weight-carrying'. : This department must bo left to tho dirigiblo balloon, which has tho great advantago that its power increases with its sizo at a greater rato than tho resistance offoiod by tho air, whereas tho , limitations upon increase of sizo and power in aeroplanes aro inexorable, sinco tho weight of tho heaviest bird that flics is inconsiderable.

Mr. Astor, the American millionaire, has con' tributed £1000 towards the fund boing raised by tho "Morning' Post" for presenting an airship .(dirigiblo balloon) to tho nation. BLERIOT AND LATHAM. TWO MONOPLANISTS ON THE MARK. WIND-WATCHING. London, July 26. At tho timo when M. Blcriot was awaiting his chauco to, essay tho flight across tho Channel, another ,monoplanist, Mr. Hubert Latham (an aeronaut described as of Eng. lisli extraction but Frcncli citizenship) was also contemplating the making good of his recent failure, previously cabled. M. Lo Vavasseur, tho inventor of- Mr, Latham's aeroplane, roso thrice during the night, but, deciding that tho weather was unfavourable,vho did notwako Mr. Latham until ho saw tho Blcriot machine in mid-air. Mr. Latham'hurriedly got out his monopiano, but was dissuaded from making an ascent owing to tho rising wind. WITH FOLDED WINGS. • I BLEIIIOT MACHINE IN LONDON. London,, July 26. M.-Bloriot's machine is being exhibited in ' London for tho'benefit' of'the London lies- I pital. With its wings folded, it occupies | about tho same spaco' as a medium-sized . motorcar. M. Blcriot was banqueted at tho Savoy to-; night, and Mas presented with tho £50 gold cup offered by Captain Windham, ■• founder of tho Ac-roplano Club, for' the best attempt lo cioss tho Channel within twelve months. WELCOME TO THE INVADER. BY THE-SECRETARY FORFAR. (Rro'J'tly 23, 015 a.m.) London, July 11. lj M. Blcriot,had a crcat wclcomo at the Savoy Hotel.'' Mr. ,'Haldano, Secretary for War, was among tho first to congratulate him. ' Tho monoplano has boon inspected by 25,000 people. A wnall ohargo was mado for in&pection, and tho result is that £200 was received,'' and' will bo \forwarded to itho' London Hospital. ' > 'AERONAUTIC CLASSES. , , London, July 26. Tho Imperial College 1 at Kensington, tho Northampton. Polytechnic, and tho Regent Stioet'. Polytechnic have commenced aeronautic classes. THEWINDHAM' DOUBLE MONOPLANE. : The Regent Street Polytechnic was'the.'s'ceno of a recent lectures given by Captain .Windham recently, in which',ho showed aiinodel of tho ." Windham-Howard". : machine/-' which ;ho'now. has ili process.of construction.'.,., ■-.-■■ • . ■'-'■■• .This machine is a,, double ".monoplane, its chief feature boin^f.that-it. is built so as to' ruii in lino with tho'wind, not against it like machines of tho- biiilanqs type, Itcotisists of two square planes xifj unequal'' size,,; the smaller being placed-, forward:" of -tho larger.- These are' ben t ; along, their'diagonals: to, a broad V section, so* that, two' triarigitlar-.planes project on each:side of tkoceiUral Hne-.of..the machine at; a small aiiglo to the horizontal. .The ■ area of 'the .forward . plane is'i'lM.l'squ'aro feet and of- tho" rear 0ne.;288 square feet.-. -.Beneath each :of, : these square'.-plancs ithere is. a .vertical 'keel' of triangular shapeY'tho function of which'is to, give direction-and . lateral stability,' and ,to enable tho.- machine',to- bb l flown, sideways: to -a: galo.of wind-without^loss of equilibrium, Tho are'a'of each keel to half,the area of tho piano above .it. >:■•'■fri'V'-'■'■'••■' <'. ■"■■'-':'■•'■ ■ '■'■:, The frame is-in.,shape liko a'skate; so that it. may act, as a skid'-should tho machine come to ldnd. with too-ranch-'violence ,to, : be absorbed by, the wheels, .of. which two' are" placed-be-ncath the-rear-plane, and one beneath the front' one. The'franiw;ork is constructed "of; bamboo throughout, v'eaah.".:section',-being■■''. bound ' with light cord and'varnished to' prevent shrinking.. Strength is obtained by upright .'stanchions, of wood, withjsteel,wires across them. Tho weight of the frame complete- is' 1251b.. The'.engine,' which is air-cooled, is placed forward, and direotly to its jprank-shaft is.connected,a.twobladed' wooden;propeller, working at tho rear] of the machine. ; Tho total weight: of engine and propeller'i,s'-Gslb, Both tho'horizontal and tho vertical judders,' aro situated at,therear end of the fra'me.-jThe canvas,'which is made of specially prepared spinnaker cloth, strength-, oned. with: cotton bands .to;prevent .stretching, weighs 251b., i and; tho'total weight of the ma-.i chine, including ,601b. for the wheels and '201b. for the petrol oilWnd aviator's seat, is 2951b. The machine}-' though 45ft. long, has'stood a test of three .men's',weight in tho centre, and can be:takenito'pieces in half an hour and packed,on'aimule's,.back for transport. '.'■'"'■'