Air Wonder Stories, December 1929 — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AIR WONDER STORIES ing the plane to rise upward, by virtue. of Newton's 5 second law of motion; or, now, lemme see, maybe it was the third law——” Mr, Treat was-at last interested, or at least, curious; but he was also impatient. “To hell with Newton; let’s see the thing go!” "Ves, certainly, of course; now watch, it’s wound up, and as soon as I set the gear stop——” “Somebody sure wound you up, too. If those pro- pellers develop as much wind as you do, the thing ought to go tothe moon,” “All right, ‘here goes now; the rudder is set, so that it will circle the toom ‘after it’s aloft.” Joe Flannélcake released a trigger on the device and stepped back. -The propeller spun, and:the craft rocked slightly to and fro on the rug. One end Jifted slightly, it rocked a bit more, and then the whole machine slowly lifted, in a wobbly fashion, to-a height of about three feet from the floor. At this. point-the gear stop took effect, the rear prop ceased turning, and the machine started to circle the room ina curiously Jame fashion. The rear end hung slightly downward, and the whole machine wobbled back’ and forth, “You see,” commienced Joe, “I will have to put a model of the Jenkins’ reversible propeller on the rear end, which will reverse after the machine has lifted ; this will push, and keep the rear end level. I shall also arrange to have the wings level out automatically, after rising so that it will fly faster,” The craft remained inthe air about a minute anda half, and then gradually settled-downward as the spring wound down. About a foot from the floor, the ma- chine suddenly went into a side-slip, and landed in a corner on top of Mr. Treat’s Maltese tomcat. The cat made several passes at it before Joe rescued the plane. But the cat growled ominously; it apparently thought the score hadn’t been settled yet, Mr, Treat:arose with a broad smile and extended his hand. : “Well, my boy, it isn’t much, but it seems to work. ‘Till tell you; get the thing fixed up, and: be around here next Saturday: afternoon. I'll have Mr. Maxwell, of the Peninsular Air Transport Company, here to give seo on it, If he likes it, we can have a real one made.” - “Thank-you, Mr. Treat, thank you; you have‘ made a great decision, you will be hailed as the greatest man aviation has-ever known; the royalties from this ap- paratus will make us as rich as Croesus, it‘]|——” “Can the chatter and get out! And-don't forget to be back here Saturday.” “Yes sir, I already have a-larger-model in the making, and I'll have it finished-up-by Saturday.” An Accident A. Saturday noon a group of men was assembled at the Treat home for the try-out. Mr. Treat, Mr. Maxwell, several reporters and a photographer were there to see the “latest” in aircraft. Mr. Joseph Flan- neleake proudly displayed a model: plane, powered by two miniature gasoline engines manufactured from cartridge shells. It was about four feet in length, and of about the sane wing spread. “Well, Mr: Treat, where shall we try it out? said oe. “We'd better try it outside; it’s too big for the house,” , “Not at all, Mr. Treat. The machine can be con- trolled perfectly, and besides, the wind is too strong to-day.’ < ‘Hmmm! Well, let’s take it into the reception room then; but if it breaks anything, I'll break your neck.” The reception room of the Treat mansion was of ballroom dimensions; it was high-ceilinged, and adorned with pictures, vases, and bric-a-brac of artistic or antique. design. : Joe placed his machine on the floor, and made adjust- ments on the rudder-and on the gears, “We have here, gentlemen,” he began, “a-true model of what the ideal plane should be. It is equipped with reversing propellers, adjustable wings, and. automatic stabilizers. Now, gentlemen, this machine is fool- proof; it is so constructed, that it is impossible to “crack up’ in it. It cannot go into a tail-spin, because it has no tail; it cannot: nose-dive, because of the adjustable wings; it can side-slip, but its perfect balance will cause it to right itself, It has no landing wheels, because it can travel straight up. or down,-and reeds none. It can stop, start, and go backwards while in the air. You wouldn’t havé an automobile that had no. reverse in it, would you? Then why have gn airplane——” “Will you please stop that salesmanship, and start that thing going?” broke in Mr. Treat. Joe started each of the tiny motors by winding a string around a projecting shaft, and pulling on it. They sputtered a bit, but:soon commenced to idle beau- tifully, emitting a noise like an outboard motor in the distance. ‘Fine little motors, these,” he said, “Made ’em out of ‘forty-five’ shells; a piece of string from the gas tank to the manifold serves as a carburetor, capillary attraction, just like a lamp wick. Yes sir, this little boat will go-straight up+ just an application of mechan- ics, you know. Same thing as if you take an auto- mobile, and: go up a hill that is fifty feet high. The car will do it nicely ; but if you should attempt to climb a pole of the same height, you couldn’t.do it. Not because the car hasn’t the power, but because it is not harnessed right. Now, if you would put a drum of small diameter on the rear axle, and wrap a cable around it, and tie the cable to the top of the pole, the car could be:made to pull-its own weight off the ground. Similarly, with the plane, the motor will ultimately get you to-a certain height; then, why: not straight up?” The atidience was becoming impatient; that is, except for. a newspaper man, who was inspecting one of the motors, oblivious of Joe’s speech. Said Mr. Maxwell: “Never mind about all that. Start the thing off.” Joe moved a small-lever onthe back. of the machine, which caused the motors to speed up to-a more or less uneven roar. He then removed his hand from the top of it-and stepped back. The machine floundered about for a bit, like a moth that hasbeen burnt in a candle flame, and then lifted slightly from the floor. It slipped back arid forth like a piece of cardboard in a high wind; and then-rose vertically into the air. A cloud-of pale blue smoke eddied:up with it, making it resemble a pinwheel. The exhaust pipes threw a pretty little flame, and the thing was under way. “Watch, my friends, the propeller is about to re- verse,” cried Joe above the noise. And, stre enough, the rear blades whined a moment, and changed their pitch. ‘The rear wings also adjusted themselves to the angle of the front ones, instead of opposite, and the machine started at a good rate around the room. It circled once perfectly, and the room was beginning to smoke up quite a bit, when Mrs, Treat entered the room, and, with a statement about ‘smoking up her valuable tapestries, ordered the butler to open a window. a