POPULAR MECHANICS
The method of making the joint at B is well shown in the drawing. The use of steel or aluminum plates is very important for it would be impossible to secure the necessary strength without them. The clever idea adopted by the inventor of the machine practically makes this joint in one piece, and he experienced little or no trouble at this point. The ends of the two smaller pieces are inserted for about a quarter of an inch into the vertical piece as is shown. If one wishes to finish the work particularly well, cabinetmaker's muscilage or several coats of varnish may be put on at these joints. It serves to retard decay in the bamboo.
Plate IV shows the details of the horizontal rudder which governs the altitude of the machine. "Gouvenail de Profendeur" is the French term for it. It should be constructed in the same general way as the vertical rudder. At the point where the rudders join it is necessary to cut the cloth of the horizontal rudder and sew it to the cloth of the vertical rudder on both sides. If this is done properly no rods will be visible, all being covered by the cloth. The manner in which the cloth covers the rods is shown at Con Plate III.
.jpg)
Rear View of "Demoiselle"
The method of attaching the rudders to the frame is shown on Plate IV. This is practically a universal joint, allowing the steering device to be turned in any direction by the controlling wires shown on Plate I, and also in the smaller illustration of the monoplane. These wires should be carefully selected and tested for a great deal depends upon their strength. It would be very imprudent to use ordinary piano string or wire. Santos-Dumont uses a flexible metallic wire, gauge No. 13, with a flaxen cord in the center. This wire will withstand the constant bending without danger of breaking. The joint should be made of the best steel tubing procurable as it performs a very important function. Good bicycle tubing is excellent.
(Concluded in the July Issue of
Popular Mechanics )
PAULHAN WINS $50,000 PRIZE IN WORLD'S GREATEST
AERIAL RACE
Louis Paulhan, the daring French aviator, broke the long-distance record for aeroplane flights on April 28th, and captured the prize of $50,000 offered by Lord Northcliffe, the English publisher, when he flew from London to Manchester, a distance of 186 miles.
Although the prize has for some time been awaiting the accomplishment of this trip, the fact that Graham White, an English pilot, undertook to start at about the same time, added to the event the excitement of a race. White, much less experienced than Paulhan, met difficulty in the heavy winds.
Paulhan made the trip in 12 hours and
