AERIAL NAVIGATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 56, 24 July 1912, Page 5

AERIAL NAVIGATION

THE MAX-POWER AEROPLANE. Some few months ago the French journal ''Auto," revived the question as to whether it would be possible for a man to propel an aeroplane by liis own muscular power, and as an editorial contribution to the solution of the problem suggested that a machine built on the lines of a bicycle could certainly gain the necessary initial impulse for flight. The article in the "Auto" elicited several letters whose writers stated that they had already made experiments on the lines suggested, and with some degree of success. The method followed is to have a bicycle fitted with a propeller, which is operated by the pedals and provided with wings, the weight of which is usually borne by the shoulders of the rider. One v,Titer stated that he had flown over one hundred yards by these means. The idea has aroused keen interest among the cycle manufacturers of France, and the firm of Peugeot has offered a prize of 1000 francs for the best flight made by -muscular power alone. The contest is to take place during this month, and six weeks ago over 100 entries had been received. The publicity thus given to the (matter has led to a discussion of the problem by the foremost aviators of other countries. The Allomeine Automobil Zeitung, published recently an article by Georges Prade, in which it is argued that the success of heavier-than-air flying machines has been solely due to the comparative lightness of the source of power. Man, in attempting to fly by his own musclar power is attempting to emulate the bird, but man, like all other mammals, is five or six times as heavy as a bird in proportion to his muscular power. The successes of bicycle investigatofs do not hold out much hope, M. Prade considers, as the momentum necessary to flight is gained by a long run on the ground, and cannot be maintained while in the air. While these contentions appear incontrovertible it will be interesting to learn what measure of success has been achieved by the competitors for the Peugeot prize.