wherein¡¡mechanical¡¡flight¡¡is¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡analogous
to¡¡bird¡¡flight¡£
SPEED¡¡AND¡¡SURFACE¡£Birds¡¡which¡¡poise¡¡in¡¡the
air£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡humming¡¡bird£»¡¡do¡¡so¡¡because¡¡they
beat¡¡their¡¡wings¡¡with¡¡great¡¡rapidity¡£¡¡Those
which¡¡soar£»¡¡as¡¡stated£»¡¡can¡¡do¡¡so¡¡only¡¡by¡¡moving
through¡¡the¡¡atmosphere¡¡rapidly£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡having¡¡a
large¡¡wing¡¡spread¡¡relative¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weight¡£¡¡It¡¡will
thus¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡speed¡¡and¡¡surface¡¡become¡¡the
controlling¡¡factors¡¡in¡¡flight£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡while¡¡the
latter¡¡may¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡eliminated¡¡from¡¡the¡¡problem£»
speed¡¡is¡¡absolutely¡¡necessary¡¡under¡¡any¡¡and
all¡¡conditions¡£
By¡¡speed¡¡in¡¡this¡¡connection¡¡is¡¡not¡¡meant¡¡high
velocity£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡a¡¡movement£»¡¡produced¡¡by¡¡power
expressed¡¡in¡¡some¡¡form£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡and¡¡most¡¡necessary
requisite¡¡to¡¡movement¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with
all¡¡heavier¡than¡air¡¡machines¡£
If¡¡sufficient¡¡power¡¡can¡¡be¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡an¡¡aeroplane£»
surface¡¡is¡¡of¡¡no¡¡consequence£»¡¡shape¡¡need
not¡¡be¡¡considered£»¡¡and¡¡any¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡contrivance
will¡¡move¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air¡¡horizontally¡£
CONTROL¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡DIRECTION¡¡OF¡¡FLIGHT¡£But¡¡the
control¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡body£»¡¡when¡¡propelled¡¡through
space¡¡by¡¡force¡¡alone£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡different¡¡matter¡£¡¡To
change¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡from¡¡a¡¡straight¡¡path¡¡to¡¡a
curved¡¡one£»¡¡means¡¡that¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡by
some¡¡external¡¡force¡£
We¡¡have¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡power¡¡is¡¡something
which¡¡is¡¡inherent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡itself¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡in¡¡order
that¡¡there¡¡may¡¡be¡¡a¡¡change¡¡imparted¡¡to¡¡a
moving¡¡mass£»¡¡advantage¡¡must¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡of¡¡the¡¡medium
through¡¡which¡¡it¡¡moves£»the¡¡atmosphere¡£
VERTICAL¡¡CONTROL¡¡PLANES¡£If¡¡vertically¡arranged
planes¡¡are¡¡provided£»¡¡either¡¡fore¡¡or¡¡aft¡¡of
the¡¡machine£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡both¡¡ends£»¡¡the¡¡angles¡¡of¡¡incidence
may¡¡be¡¡such¡¡as¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡to
turn¡¡from¡¡its¡¡straight¡¡course¡£
In¡¡practice£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡since¡¡it¡¡is¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡supply
sufficient¡¡power¡¡to¡¡a¡¡machine¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡in¡¡motion
horizontally£»¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times£»¡¡aeroplanes¡¡are¡¡provided
with¡¡supporting¡¡surfaces£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡aid¡¡in
holding¡¡it¡¡up¡¡grows¡¡less¡¡and¡¡less¡¡as¡¡its¡¡speed¡¡increases¡£
But£»¡¡however¡¡strong¡¡the¡¡power£»¡¡or¡¡great¡¡the
speed£»¡¡its¡¡control¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side¡¡is¡¡not¡¡dependent
on¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engine£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡speed
at¡¡which¡¡it¡¡travels¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air¡£
Here¡¡the¡¡size¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vertical¡¡planes£»¡¡and¡¡their
angles£»¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only¡¡factors¡¡to¡¡be¡¡considered£»¡¡and
these¡¡questions¡¡will¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡in¡¡their¡¡proper
places¡£
CHAPTER¡¡III
THE¡¡FORM¡¡OR¡¡SHAPE¡¡OF¡¡FLYING¡¡MACHINES
EVERY¡¡investigator£»¡¡experimenter£»¡¡and¡¡scientist£»
who¡¡has¡¡given¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡flight¡¡study£»¡¡proceeds
on¡¡the¡¡theory¡¡that¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡man¡¡must
copy¡¡nature£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡the
type¡¡so¡¡provided¡£
THE¡¡THEORY¡¡OF¡¡COPYING¡¡NATURE¡£If¡¡such¡¡is¡¡the
case¡¡then¡¡it¡¡is¡¡pertinent¡¡to¡¡inquire¡¡which¡¡bird¡¡is
the¡¡proper¡¡example¡¡to¡¡use¡¡for¡¡mechanical¡¡flight¡£
We¡¡have¡¡shown¡¡that¡¡they¡¡differ¡¡so¡¡radically¡¡in
every¡¡essential£»¡¡that¡¡what¡¡would¡¡be¡¡correct¡¡in¡¡one
thing¡¡would¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡wrong¡¡in¡¡another¡£
The¡¡bi¡plane¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡a¡¡true¡¡copy¡£¡¡The
only¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Wright¡¡machine¡¡which¡¡in¡¡any
way¡¡resembles¡¡the¡¡bird's¡¡wing£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡rounded¡¡end
of¡¡the¡¡planes£»¡¡and¡¡judging¡¡from¡¡other¡¡machines£»
which¡¡have¡¡square¡¡ends£»¡¡this¡¡slight¡¡similarity¡¡does
not¡¡contribute¡¡to¡¡its¡¡stability¡¡or¡¡otherwise¡¡help
the¡¡structure¡£
The¡¡monoplane£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡much¡¡nearer¡¡the¡¡bird
type£»¡¡has¡¡also¡¡sounded¡¡wing¡¡ends£»¡¡made¡¡not¡¡so
much¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡imitating¡¡the¡¡wing¡¡of¡¡the
bird£»¡¡as¡¡for¡¡structural¡¡reasons¡£
HULLS¡¡OF¡¡VESSELS¡£If¡¡some¡¡marine¡¡architect
should¡¡come¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡assert¡¡that¡¡he¡¡intended
to¡¡follow¡¡nature¡¡by¡¡making¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hull¡¡of
the¡¡shape¡¡or¡¡outline¡¡of¡¡a¡¡duck£»¡¡or¡¡other¡¡swimming
fowl£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡laughed¡¡at£»¡¡and¡¡justly¡¡so£»¡¡because
the¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡vessels¡¡which¡¡are¡¡most¡¡efficient
are¡¡not¡¡made¡¡like¡¡those¡¡of¡¡a¡¡duck¡¡or¡¡other¡¡swimming
creatures¡£
MAN¡¡DOES¡¡NOT¡¡COPY¡¡NATURE¡£Look¡¡about¡¡you£»
and¡¡see¡¡how¡¡many¡¡mechanical¡¡devices¡¡follow¡¡the
forms¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡by¡¡nature£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡what¡¡respect
man¡¡uses¡¡the¡¡types¡¡which¡¡nature¡¡provides¡¡in¡¡devising
the¡¡many¡¡inventions¡¡which¡¡ingenuity¡¡has
brought¡¡forth¡£
PRINCIPLES¡¡ESSENTIAL£»¡¡NOT¡¡FORMS¡£It¡¡is¡¡essential
that¡¡man¡¡shall¡¡follow¡¡nature's¡¡laws¡£¡¡He¡¡cannot
evade¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡operations
of¡¡mechanism¡¡depend£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡he¡¡has£»¡¡in
nearly¡¡every¡¡instance£»¡¡departed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡form
which¡¡nature¡¡has¡¡suggested£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡the¡¡machine
irrespective¡¡of¡¡nature's¡¡type¡£
Let¡¡us¡¡consider¡¡some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡striking¡¡differences
to¡¡illustrate¡¡this¡¡fact¡£¡¡Originally¡¡pins¡¡were
stuck¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡web¡¡by¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡in
rows£»¡¡equidistant¡¡from¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡This¡¡necessitates
the¡¡cooperative¡¡function¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fingers¡¡and
the¡¡eye¡£¡¡An¡¡expert¡¡pin¡¡sticker¡¡could¡¡thus¡¡assemble
from¡¡four¡¡to¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡pins¡¡a¡¡day¡£
The¡¡first¡¡mechanical¡¡pinsticker¡¡placed¡¡over
500£»000¡¡pins¡¡a¡¡day¡¡on¡¡the¡¡web£»¡¡rejecting¡¡every¡¡bent
or¡¡headless¡¡pin£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡the¡¡work¡¡with¡¡greater
accuracy¡¡than¡¡it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡¡by¡¡hand¡£
There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡an¡¡eye£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡finger
in¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡machine£»¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡nature¡¡furnished
the¡¡type¡£
NATURE¡¡NOT¡¡THE¡¡GUIDE¡¡AS¡¡TO¡¡FORMS¡£Nature
does¡¡not¡¡furnish¡¡a¡¡wheel¡¡in¡¡any¡¡of¡¡its¡¡mechanical
expressions¡£¡¡If¡¡man¡¡followed¡¡nature's¡¡form
in¡¡the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡the¡¡locomotive£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡move
along¡¡on¡¡four¡¡legs¡¡like¡¡an¡¡elephant¡£¡¡Curiously
enough£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡road¡¡wagons¡¡had¡¡¡¨push
legs£»¡¨an¡¡instance¡¡where¡¡the¡¡mechanic¡¡tried¡¡to
copy¡¡nature£»and¡¡failed¡£
THE¡¡PROPELLER¡¡TYPE¡£The¡¡well¡¡known¡¡propeller
is¡¡a¡¡type¡¡of¡¡wheel¡¡which¡¡has¡¡no¡¡prototype¡¡in
nature¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡maintained¡¡that¡¡the¡¡tail¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fish
in¡¡its¡¡movement¡¡suggested¡¡the¡¡propeller£»¡¡but¡¡the
latter¡¡is¡¡a¡¡long¡¡departure¡¡from¡¡it¡£
The¡¡Venetian¡¡rower£»¡¡who¡¡stands¡¡at¡¡the¡¡stern£»
and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡long¡bladed¡¡oar£»¡¡fulcrumed¡¡to¡¡the
boat's¡¡extremity£»¡¡in¡¡making¡¡his¡¡graceful¡¡lateral
oscillations£»¡¡simulates¡¡the¡¡propelling¡¡motion¡¡of
the¡¡tail¡¡in¡¡an¡¡absolutely¡¡perfect¡¡manner£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is
not¡¡a¡¡propeller£»¡¡by¡¡any¡¡means¡¡comparable¡¡to¡¡the
kind¡¡mounted¡¡on¡¡a¡¡shaft£»¡¡and¡¡revoluble¡£
How¡¡much¡¡more¡¡efficient¡¡are¡¡the¡¡spirally¡formed
blades¡¡of¡¡the¡¡propeller¡¡than¡¡any¡¡wing¡¡or¡¡fin¡¡movement£»
in¡¡air¡¡or¡¡sea¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡comparison¡¡between
the¡¡two¡¡forms¡¡in¡¡utility¡¡or¡¡value¡£
Again£»¡¡the¡¡connecting¡¡points¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡and
legs¡¡with¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡of¡¡a¡¡human¡¡body¡¡afford¡¡the
most¡¡perfect¡¡types¡¡of¡¡universal¡¡joints¡¡which¡¡nature
has¡¡produced¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡made¡¡universal
joint¡¡has¡¡a¡¡wider¡¡range¡¡of¡¡movement£»¡¡possesses
greater¡¡strength£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡more¡¡perfect¡¡mechanically¡£
A¡¡universal¡¡joint¡¡is¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡mechanism
between¡¡two¡¡elements£»¡¡which¡¡enables¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be
turned£»¡¡or¡¡moved£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡angle¡¡relative¡¡to¡¡each
other¡£
But¡¡why¡¡multiply¡¡these¡¡instances¡£¡¡Like¡¡samples
will¡¡be¡¡found¡¡on¡¡every¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions£»
and¡¡man£»¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡of¡¡nature's
products£»¡¡while¡¡imperfect¡¡in¡¡himself£»¡¡is¡¡improving
and¡¡adapting¡¡the¡¡things¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡about¡¡him¡£
WHY¡¡SPECIALLY¡DESIGNED¡¡FORMS¡¡IMPROVE¡¡NATURAL
STRUCTURES¡£The¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡this¡¡is£»¡¡primarily£»
that¡¡the¡¡inventor¡¡must¡¡design¡¡the¡¡article
for¡¡its¡¡special¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡better
adapted¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that¡¡particular¡¡thing¡£¡¡The
hands¡¡and¡¡fingers¡¡can¡¡do¡¡a¡¡multiplicity¡¡of¡¡things£»
but¡¡it¡¡cannot¡¡do¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡work¡¡with¡¡the¡¡facility
or¡¡the¡¡degree¡¡of¡¡perfection¡¡that¡¡is¡¡possible
with¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡made¡¡for¡¡that¡¡purpose¡£
The¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡fingers¡¡will¡¡bind¡¡a¡¡sheaf¡¡of
wheat£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡cannot¡¡compete¡¡with¡¡the¡¡special¡¡machine
made¡¡for¡¡that¡¡purpose¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand
the¡¡binder¡¡has¡¡no¡¡capacity¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡else¡¡than
what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡specially¡¡made¡¡for¡£
In¡¡applying¡¡the¡¡same¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡reasoning¡¡to¡¡the
building¡¡of¡¡flying¡¡machines¡¡we¡¡must¡¡be¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the
conclusion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡inventor¡¡can£»¡¡and¡¡will£»¡¡eventually£»
bring¡¡out¡¡a¡¡form¡¡which¡¡is¡¡as¡¡far¡¡superior¡¡to
the¡¡form¡¡which¡¡nature¡¡has¡¡taught¡¡us¡¡to¡¡use¡¡as
the¡¡wonderful¡¡machines¡¡we¡¡see¡¡all¡¡about¡¡us¡¡are
superior¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡the¡¡special¡¡work¡¡they¡¡were
designed¡¡to¡¡do¡£
On¡¡land£»¡¡man¡¡has¡¡shown¡¡this¡¡superiority¡¡over
matter£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡Singularly£»¡¡the¡¡submarines£»
which¡¡go¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡are¡¡very¡¡far
from¡¡that¡¡perfected¡¡state¡¡which¡¡have¡¡been¡¡attained
by¡¡vessels¡¡sailing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡and¡¡while
the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡transportation¡¡on¡¡land¡¡are¡¡arriving
at¡¡points¡¡where¡¡the¡¡developments¡¡are¡¡swift¡¡and
remarkable£»¡¡the¡¡space¡¡above¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡has¡¡not¡¡yet
been¡¡conquered£»¡¡but¡¡is¡¡going¡¡through¡¡that¡¡same
period¡¡of¡¡development¡¡which¡¡precedes¡¡the¡¡production
of¡¡the¡¡true¡¡form¡¡itself¡£
MECHANISM¡¡DEVOID¡¡OF¡¡INTELLIGENCE¡£The¡¡great
error£»¡¡however£»¡¡in¡¡seeking¡¡to¡¡copy¡¡nature's¡¡form
in¡¡a¡¡flying¡¡machine¡¡is£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡invest¡¡the
mechanism¡¡with¡¡that¡¡which¡¡the¡¡bird¡¡has£»¡¡namely£»
a¡¡guiding¡¡intelligence¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡it¡¡instinctively£»¡¡as
the¡¡flying¡¡creature¡¡does¡£
A¡¡MACHINE¡¡MUST¡¡HAVE¡¡A¡¡SUBSTITUTE¡¡FOR¡¡INTELLIGENCE¡£
Such¡¡being¡¡the¡¡case¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡endowed
with¡¡something¡¡which¡¡is¡¡a¡¡substitute¡£¡¡A
bird¡¡is¡¡a¡¡supple£»¡¡pliant¡¡organism£»¡¡a¡¡machine¡¡is¡¡a
rigid¡¡structure¡£¡¡One¡¡is¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡being¡¡directed
by¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡which¡¡is¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡itself£»¡¡while
the¡¡other¡¡must¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡an¡¡intelligence¡¡which¡¡is
separate¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡responsive¡¡in¡¡feeling¡¡or
movement¡£
For¡¡the¡¡foregoing¡¡reasons¡¡success¡¡can¡¡never
be¡¡attained¡¡until¡¡some¡¡structural¡¡form¡¡is¡¡devised
which¡¡will¡¡consider¡¡the¡¡flying¡¡machine¡¡independently
of¡¡the¡¡prototypes¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡as¡¡the¡¡correct
things¡¡to¡¡follow¡£¡¡It¡¡does¡¡not£»¡¡necessarily£»¡¡have¡¡to
be¡¡unlike¡¡the¡¡bird¡¡form£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡do¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the
present¡¡structures¡¡have¡¡been¡¡made¡¡and¡¡insisted
upon¡¡blindly£»¡¡because¡¡of¡¡this¡¡wrong¡¡insistence¡¡on
forms¡£
STUDY¡¡OF¡¡BIRD¡¡FLIGHT¡¡USELESS¡£The¡¡study¡¡of
the¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡birds¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡of¡¡any¡¡special
value¡¡to¡¡the¡¡art¡£¡¡Volumes¡¡have¡¡been¡¡written¡¡on
the¡¡subject¡£¡¡The¡¡Seventh¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Argyle£»¡¡and
later£»¡¡Pettigrew£»¡¡an¡¡Englishman£»¡¡contributed¡¡a
vast¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡written¡¡matter¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of
bird¡¡flight£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that
soaring¡¡birds¡¡did¡¡not¡¡exert¡¡any¡¡power¡¡in¡¡flying¡£
Writers¡¡and¡¡experimenters¡¡do¡¡not¡¡agree¡¡on¡¡the
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
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