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nearly a century later； and then Englishmen were forestalled by the Wright
brothers； of America； as well as by several French inventors。
The distinguished French writer； Alphonse Berget； in his book； The
Conquest of the Air； pays a striking tribute to our English inventor； and
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this； coming from a gentleman who is writing from a French point of view；
makes the praise of great value。 In alluding to Sir George； M。 Berget says：
〃The inventor； the incontestable forerunner of aviation； was an
Englishman； Sir George Cayley； and it was in 1809 that he described his
project in detail in Nicholson's Journal。 。 。 。 His idea embodied
'everything'the wings forming an oblique sail； the empennage； the
spindle forms to diminish resistance； the screw…propeller； the 'explosion'
motor； 。 。 。 he even described a means of securing automatic stability。 Is
not all that marvellous； and does it not constitute a complete specification
for everything in aviation？
〃Thus it is necessary to inscribe the name of Sir George Cayley in
letters of gold； in the first page of the aeroplane's history。 Besides； the
learned Englishman did not confine himself to 'drawing…paper'： he built
the first apparatus （without a motor） which gave him results highly
promising。 Then he built a second machine； this time with a motor； but
unfortunately during the trials it was smashed to pieces。〃
But were these ideas of any practical value？ How is it that he did not
succeed in flying； if he had most of the component parts of an aeroplane as
we know it to…day？
The answer to the second question is that Sir George did not fly；
simply because there was no light petrol motor in existence； the crude
motors in use were far too heavy； in proportion to the power developed；
for service in a flying machine。 It was recognized； not only by Sir George；
but by many other English engineers in the first half of the nineteenth
century； that as soon as a sufficiently powerful and light engine did appear；
then half the battle of the conquest of the air would be won。
But his prophetic voice was of the utmost assistance to such inventors
as Santos Dumont； the Wright brothers； M。 Bleriot； and others now world…
famed。 It is quite safe to assume that they gave serious attention to the
views held by Sir George； which were given to the world at large in a
number of highly…interest… ing lectures and magazine articles。 〃Ideas〃 are
the very foundation…stones of inventionif we may be allowed the figure
of speechand Englishmen are proud； and rightly proud； to number within
their ranks the original inventor of the heavier…than…air machine。
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CHAPTER XVI The 〃Human Birds〃
For many years after the publication of Sir George Cayley's articles
and lectures on aviation very little was done in the way of aerial
experiments。 True； about midway through the nineteenth century two
clever engineers； Henson and Stringfellow； built a model aeroplane after
the design outlined by Sir George； but though their model was not of
much practical value； a little more valuable experience was accumulated
which would be of service when the time should come； in other words；
when the motor engine should arrive。 This model can be seen at the
Victoria and Albert Museum； at South Kensington。
A few years later Stringfellow designed a tiny steam…engine； which he
fitted to an equally tiny monoplane； and it is said that by its aid he was
able to obtain a very short flight through the air。 As some recognition of
his enterprise the Aeronautical Society； which was founded in 1866；
awarded him a prize of L100 for his engine。
The idea of producing a practical form of flying machine was never
abandoned entirely。 Here and there experiments continued to be carried
out； and certain valuable conclusions were arrived at。 Many advanced
thinkers and writers of half a century ago set forth their opinions on the
possibilities of human flight。 Some of them； like Emerson； not only
believed that flight would come； but also stated why it had not arrived。
Thus Emerson； when writing on the subject of air navigation about fifty
years ago； remarked： 〃We think the population is not yet quite fit for them；
and therefore there will be none。 Our friend suggests so many
inconveniences from piracy out of the high air to orchards and lone houses；
and also to high fliers； and the total inadequacy of the present system of
defence； that we have not the heart to break the sleep of the great public by
the repetition of these details。 When children come into the library we put
the inkstand and the watch on the high shelf until they be a little older。〃
About the year 1870 a young German engineer； named Otto Lilienthal；
began some experiments with a motorless glider； which in course of time
were to make him world…famed。 For nearly twenty years Lilienthal carried
on his aerial research work in secrecy； and it was not until about the year
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1890 that his experimental work was sufficiently advanced for him to give
demonstrations in public。
The young German was a firm believer in what was known as the
〃soaring…plane〃 theory of flight。 From the picture here given we can get
some idea of his curious machine。 It consisted of large wings； formed of
thin osiers； over which was stretched light fabric。 At the back were two
horizontal rudders shaped somewhat like the long forked tail of a swallow；
and over these was a large steering rudder。 The wings were arranged
around the glider's body。 The whole apparatus weighed about 40 pounds。
Lilienthal's flights； or glides； were made from the top of a specially…
constructed large mound； and in some cases from the summit of