Aeroplane Construction and Operation

*Mechanical Flight*. Although the elementary principles of mechanical flight are not of recent origin, the practical development of the flying machine is confined almost entirel...

*Divisions of Service*. In the army and navy, aeroplanes are used both for offensive and defensive operations. They must carry out their own work and intentions and prevent host...

*Definition*. Aerodynamics treats of the forces produced by air in motion, and is the basic subject in the study of the aeroplane. It is the purpose of this chapter to describe...

*Test Methods in General*. As already explained, the behavior of a body in an air stream cannot be predicted with any certainty by direct mathematical calculation, and for this...

*General Wing Requirements*. The performance of flat plates when used as lifting surfaces is very poor compared with curved sections or wing forms. It will be remembered that th...

*Development of Modern Wings*. The first practical results obtained by Wright Brothers, Montgomery, Chanute, Henson, Curtiss, Langley, and others, were obtained by the use of ca...

*Biplane Characteristics*. From an aerodynamic standpoint, the monoplane wing is more efficient than the superposed wings of the biplane type, since the proximity of the two sur...

*General Notes*. Up to the present we have considered only two wing outlines, the rectangular and the wing with raked tips. In addition, we have considered only the effect takin...

*General Wing Frame Layout*. In many ways, the frame of the wing is one of the most important structural parts of the aeroplane. It not only maintains the proper aerodynamic for...

*Types of Ribs*. The rib first used by the Wright Brothers consisted of two spruce strips separated by a series of small pine blocks. Practically the same construction was used...

*Purpose of Fuselage*. The fuselage of a monoplane or tractor biplane is the backbone of the machine. It forms a means of connecting the tail surfaces to the main wing surfaces,...

Classification of types. While there are a number of methods adopted in building up the fuselage structure, the common type is the "wire truss" in which wood compression members...

*General Notes*. The chassis or landing gear carries the weight of the aeroplane when resting on or running over the ground, and is subjected to very heavy shocks, especially wh...

*Effect of Weight*. Weight is an all important consideration and is most difficult to estimate unless one has accurate data on existing machines of the same type. The total weig...

*Elements of Stability*. When we balance a board on a fulcrum so that it stands in a perfectly horizontal position, the board is said to be "In equilibrium," or is supported at...

*Effect of Resistance*. Resistance to the forward motion of an aeroplane can be divided into two classes, (1) The resistance or drag due to the lift of the wings, and (2) The us...

*Power Units*. Power is the rate of doing work. If a force of 10 pounds is applied to a body moving at the rate of 300 feet per minute, the power will be expressed by 10 x 300 =...

*Principles and Use of Propellers*. A propeller converts the energy of the engine into the thrust required to overcome the resistance of the aeroplane. To maintain flight the th...

*Self-Training*. In the early days of aviation, there were few schools, and these were so expensive to attend that the majority of the aeronautical enthusiasts taught themselves...

*General Notes*. It is assumed that the reader understands the principles of the automobile motor and its accessories, for a minute description of gas-engine principles does not...

In the following list are the most common of the aeronautical words and phrases. Many of these words are of French origin, and in such cases are marked "Fr." In cases of English...