FOOL-PROOF FLYING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1987, 18 February 1914, Page 5

FOOL-PROOF FLYING.

DETAILS OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' PATENT.. The Wright Brothers' original stabiliser,, tho latest achievements of which were referred to recently in the cable messages, was mada tho subject matter of a joint patent as far beck as 1008, and it is only thaukis to mechanical progress that iljcir brilliant scheme lm be?n brought.by Air. Orvilie Wright to a practical conclusion. Explained in brief language, tlio stabiliser makos control automatic by making tho wind itself actuate the controlling levers. Uneven or sudden change in tho wiiid pressure does the work of tho human handi only, better. A special plane, or vane, is poised in such a way that when it is blown up or down bv the wind it moves with it or shifts alever that opens or closes a valve. Through this valve air from a storage tank of compressed air is allowed'to escape into a compound cylinder, tho pistons of which are forced down, and this downward movement turns round a.wooden drum which works the rudder by means of ropes or wires. Tho idea is very -simple, but a great amount of ingenious work had to be done in order to make the system work smoothly and with the necessary precir sion. This guiding vano can bo set a± different angles at will by the pilot, so that he can fly in any direction with iho stabiliser at work. The fore-and-aft balance and the lateral balance of the aeroplane aro both automatically maintained, one by . the special vane, the latter by a pendulum, and a much more subtle control over the stability is ensured than any human guiding could produce. "Wo wish it to bo understood," said the Wright Brothers in their patent specification, "that we do net desire to, bo limited to tho exact detail's of construction shown, for obvious modifications will occur to a person, skilled in tho art." It appears to have taken somo six years to find the exact details of construction necessary for making a "fool-proof" aeroplane.