PART I

I. Introductory … 1

II. Preliminary … 5

Experiments with small models … 6

Abbreviations and symbols employed … 14

Experiments with Aerodromes Nos. 30 and 31 … 16

III. Available motors … 21

India rubber … 21

Steam engine … 24

Gunpowder, hot-water, compressed air … 25

Gas, electricity … 26

Carbonic-acid gas … 28

IV. Early steam motors and other models … 30

V. On sustaining surfaces … 41

Experiments in the open wind … 42

Relation of air to weight and power … 43

VI. Balancing the aerodrome … 45

Lateral and longitudinal stability … 45

VII. History of construction of frame and engines of aerodromes … 53

1893 … 53

1894 … 64

1895 … 75

1896 … 79

VIII. History of construction of sustaining and guiding surfaces of aerodromes 4, 5, and 6 … 80

Introduction … 80

1893, 1894 … 81

1895 … 85

1896 … 89

IX. History of launching apparatus and field trials of aerodromes 4, 5, and 6 … 92

1892 … 92

1893 … 93

Field trials … 93

1894 … 96

1895 … 101

1896 … 106

X. Description of the launching apparatus of aerodromes Nos. 5 and 6 … 110

Description of Aerodrome No. 5 … 111

Description of Aerodrome No. 6 … 120