AERIEL NAVIGATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1359, 8 February 1881, Page 2

AERIEL NAVIGATION.

Another attempt to navigate a balloon in any desired direction has resulted in a failure. A few months ago a German engineer designed an apparatus for the purpose, and, confident that he had at length solved the problem which has puzzled eo many generations of aeronauts, submitted his invention to the General Stall of the German array. The officers of the department to whom he was referred declined, however, to have anything to do with the invention until its merits bad been proved by actual trial, and accordingly the other day an experiment was undertaken with the new machine. It consists of a light framework, to the forepart of which two paddle-wheels, of some six feet diameter, are fixed. In rear of the frame a screw, with a diameter of 3ft. and a length of 4|ft., having its blades covered with oiled silk, is placed; the screw and "paddlewheels being both connected witff a wheel, by turning which they can made to revolve a hundred times' minute. A large rudder completes the apparatus, the whole of which only weighs from 1201 b. to 1251 b. Oh the day when the trial. was made the machine was attachedtoa large balloon, which rose rapidly directly it 'was released; but at once drifted away with the wind. The still

that the principle of the invention is soumhand that by enlargening the severallfcrts of the machine it may Vet be mad&- successful.—Home News, December it.