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fly； I became convinced that there was but one system to work on； and that
was the aeroplane system。 I made many calculations； and found that an
aeroplane machine driven by a steam…engine ought to lift itself into the
air。〃
Sir Hiram then went on to say that it was the work of making an
automatic gun which was the direct cause of his experiments with flying
machines。 To continue the report：
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〃One day I was approached by three gentle… men who were interested
in the gun； and they asked me if it would be possible for me to build a
flying machine； how long it would take； and how much it would cost。 My
reply was that it would take five years and would cost L50；000。 The first
three years would be devoted to developing a light internal…combustion
engine； and the remaining two years to making a flying machine。
〃Later on a considerable sum of money was placed at my disposal； and
the experiments commenced； but unfortunately the gun business called for
my attention abroad； and during the first two years of the experimental
work I was out of England eighteen months。
〃Although I had thought much of the internal…combustion engine it
seemed to me that it would take too long to develop one and that it would
be a hopeless task in my absence from England； so I decided that in my
first experiments at least I would use a steam…engine。 I therefore designed
and made a steam…engine and boiler of which Mr。 Charles Parsons has
since said that； next to the Maxim gun； it developed more energy for its
weight than any other heat engine ever made。 That was true at the time；
but is very wide of the mark now。〃
Speaking of motors； the veteran lecturer remarked： 〃Perhaps there was
no problem in the world on which mathematicians had differed so widely
as on the problem of flight。 Twenty years ago experimenters said： 'Give us
a motor that will develop 1 horse…power with the weight of a barnyard
fowl； and we will very soon fly。' At the present moment they had motors
which would develop over 2 horse…power and did not weigh more than a
12…pound barnyard fowl。 These engines had been developedI might say
createdby the builders of motor cars。 Extreme lightness had been
gradually obtained by those making racing cars； and that had been
intensified by aviators。 In many cases a speed of 80 or 100 miles per hour
had been attained； and machines had remained in the air for hours and had
flown long distances。 In some cases nearly a ton had been carried for a
short distance。〃
Such words as these； coming from the lips of a great inventor； give us
a deep insight into the working of the inventor's mind； and； incidentally；
show us some of the difficulties which beset all pioneers in their tasks。
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The science of aviation is； indeed； greatly indebted to these early inventors；
not the least of whom is the gallant Sir Hiram Maxim。
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CHAPTER XIX The Wright Brothers and their
Secret Experiments
In the beginning of the twentieth century many of the leading
European newspapers contained brief reports of aerial experiments which
were being carried out at Dayton； in the State of Ohio； America。 So
wonderful were the results of these experiments； and so mysterious were
the movements of the two brothersOrville and Wilbur Wrightwho
conducted them； that many Europeans would not believe the reports。
No inventors have gone about their work more carefully； methodically；
and secretly than did these two Americans； who； hidden from prying eyes；
〃far from the madding crowd〃； obtained results which brought them
undying fame in the world of aviation。
For years they worked at their self…imposed task of constructing a
flying machine which would really soar among the clouds。 They had read
brief accounts of the experiments carried out by Otto Lilienthal； and in
many ways the ground had been well paved for them。 It was their great
ambition to become real 〃human birds〃； 〃birds〃 that would not only glide
along down the hillside； but would fly free and unfettered； choosing their
aerial paths of travel and their places of destination。
Though there are few reliable accounts of their work in those remote
American haunts； during the first six years of the present century； the main
facts of their life…history are now well known； and we are able to trace
their experiments； step by step； from the time when they constructed their
first simple aeroplane down to the appearance of the marvellous biplane
which has made them world…famed。
For some time the Wrights experimented with a glider； with which
they accomplished even more wonderful results than those obtained by
Lilienthal。 These two young American engineersbicyclemakers by trade…
…were never in a hurry。 Step by step they made progress； first with kites；
then with small gliders； and ultimately with a large one。 The latter was
launched into the air by men running forward with it until sufficient
momentum had been gained for the craft to go forward on its own account。
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The first aeroplane made by the two brothers was a very simple one； as
was the method adopted to balance the craft。 There were two main planes
made of long spreads of canvas arranged one above another； and on the
lower plane the pilot lay。 A little plane in front of the man was known as
the ELEVATOR； and it could be moved up and down by the pilot； when
the elevator was tilted up； the aeroplane ascended； when lowered； the
machine descended。
At the back was a rudder； also under control of the pilot。 The pilot's
feet； in a modern aeroplane； rest upon a bar working on a central swivel；
and this moves the rudder。 To turn to the left； the left foot is moved
forward； to turn to the right the right foot。
But it was in the balancing control of their machine that the Wrights
showed such great ingenuity。 Running from the edges of the lower plane
were some wires which met at a point where the pilot could control them。
The edges of the plane were flexible； that is； they could be bent slightly
either up or down； and this movement of the flexible plane is known as
WING WARPING。
You know that when a cyclist is going round a curve his machine leans
inwards。 Perhaps some of you have seen motor races； such as those held at
Brooklands； if so； you must have noticed that the track is banked very
steeply at the corners； and when the motorist is going round these corners
at； say； 80 miles an hour； his motor makes a considerable angle with the
level ground； and looks as if it must topple over。 The aeroplane acts in a
similar manner； and； unless some means are taken to prevent it； it will turn
over。
Let us now see how the pilot worked the 〃Wright〃 glider。 Suppose the
machine tilted down on one side； while in the air； the pilot would pull
down； or warp； the edges of the planes on that side of the machine which
was the lower。 By an ingenious contrivance； when one side was warped
down； the other was warped up； with the effect that the machine would be
brought back into a horizontal position。 （As we shall return to the subject
of wing warping in a later chapter； we need not discuss it further here。）
It must not be imagined that as soon as the Wrights had constructed a
glider fitted with this clever system of controlling mechanism they could
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fly when and where they liked。 They had to practise for two or three years
before they were satisfied with the results of their experiments： neglecting
no detail； profiting by their failures； and moving logically from step to step。
They never attempted an exper