The Mastery of the Air

tors such as Charles Green suggested and carried out new methods of inflating balloons, and scientific observations of great importance were made by ballooni

n to the problem of providing some apparatus, or some method, of steering their craft. One inventor suggested the hoisting of a huge sail at the side of the envelope; but when this was done the balloon simp

lm day, drifting idly down stream, and going just as fast as the stream goes? Work the rudder how you may, you will not alter the boat's course. But supposing your boat

pace can be accelerated by means of a powerful motor-engine, but the invention of the petrol-engine is very recent. Indeed, the cause of the long delay in the construction of a steerable ballo

n shape an elongated cigar. A 3-horse-power steam-engine, weighing nearly 500 pounds, was provided to work a propeller, but the enormous weight was so great in proportion to the lifting power of th

e year 1872. Instead of using steam he employed a number of men to propel the cra

ut 5 miles an hour, and the endurance of the men did not

nting a system of suspension links which connected the car to the envelope;

ve a propeller, and a speed of about 8 miles an hour was attained. It is interesting to contrast the power obtained from this engine

of La France. This air-craft was the invention of two French army captains, Reynard and Kreb

too heavy in proportion to the power they supplied. At length, however, the internal-combustion engine, such as is used in motor