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system of commencing a flight。 One was that the launching apparatus was
more or less a fixture。 At any rate it could not be carried about from place
to place very readily： Supposing the biplane could not return to its
starting…point； and the pilot was forced to descend； say； 10 or 12 miles
away： in such a case it would be neces… sary to tow the machine back to
the launching ways； an obviously inconvenient arrangement； especially in
unfavourable country。
For some time the 〃wheeled〃 chassis has been in universal use； but in a
few cases it has been thought desirable to adopt a combination of runners
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and wheels。 A moderately firm surface is necessary for the machine to run
along the ground； if the ground be soft or marly the wheels would sink in
the soil； and serious accidents have resulted from the sudden stoppage of
the forward motion due to this cause。
With their first power…driven machine the Wrights made a series of
very fine flights； at first in a straight line。 In 1904 they effected their first
turn。 By the following year they had made such rapid progress that they
were able to exceed a distance of 20 miles in one flight； and keep up in the
air for over half an hour at a time。 Their manager now gave their
experiments great publicity； both in the American and European Press； and
in 1908 the brothers； feeling quite sure of their success； emerged from a
self…imposed obscurity； and astonished the world with some wonderful
flights； both in America and on the French flying ground at Issy。
A great loss to aviation occurred on 30th May； 1912； when Wilbur
Wright died from an attack of typhoid fever。 His work is officially
commemorated in Britain by an annual Premium Lecture； given under the
auspices of the Aeronautical Society。
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CHAPTER XXVII The First Man to Fly in Europe
In November； 1906； nearly the whole civilized world was astonished
to read that a rich young Brazilian aeronaut； residing in France； had
actually succeeded in making a short flight； or； shall we say； an enormous
〃hop〃； in a heavier…than…air machine。
This pioneer of aviation was M。 Santos Dumont。 For five or six years
before his experiments with the aeroplane he had made a great many
flights in balloons； and also in dirigible balloons。 He was the son of well…
to…do parentshis father was a successful coffee planterand he had ample
means to carry on his costly experiments。
Flying was Santos Dumont's great hobby。 Even in boyhood； when far
away in Brazil； he had been keenly interested in the work of Spencer；
Green； and other famous aeronauts； and aeronautics became almost a
passion with him。
Towards the end of the year 1898 he designed a rather novel form of
air…ship。 The balloon was shaped like an enormous cigar； some 80 feet
long； and it was inflated with about 6000 cubic feet of hydrogen。 The most
curious contrivance； however； was the motor。 This was suspended from
the balloon； and was somewhat similar to the small motor used on a
motor…cycle。 Santos Dumont sat beside this motor； which worked a
propeller； and this curious craft was guided several times by the inventor
round the Botanical Gardens in Paris。
About two years after these experiments the science of aeronautics
received very valuable aid from M。 Deutsch； a member of the French Aero
Club。 A prize of about L4000 was offered by this gentleman to the man
who should first fly from the Aero Club grounds at Longchamps； double
round the Eiffel Tower； and then sail back to the starting…place。 The total
distance to be flown was rather more than 3 miles； and it was stipulated
that the journeywhich could be made either in a dirigible air…ship or a
flying machineshould be completed within half an hour。
This munificent offer at once aroused great enthusiasm among
aeronauts and engineers throughout the whole of France； and； to a lesser
degree； in Britain。 Santos Dumont at once set to work on another air…ship；
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which was equipped with a much more powerful motor than he had
previously used。 In July； 1901； his arrangements were completed； and he
made his first attempt to win the prize。
The voyage from Longchamps to the Eiffel Tower was made in very
quick time； for a favourable wind speeded the huge balloon on its way。
The pilot was also able to steer a course round the tower； but his troubles
then commenced。 The wind was now in his face； and his engine…a small
motor engine of about 15 horse…power…was unable to produce sufficient
power to move the craft quickly against the wind。 The plucky inventor
kept fighting against the…breeze； and at length succeeded in returning to
his starting…point； but he had exceeded the time limit by several minutes
and thus； was disqualified for the prize。
Another attempt was made by Santos Dumont about a month later。
This time； however； he was more unfortunate； and he had a marvellous
escape from death。 As on the previous occasion he got into great
difficulties when sailing against the wind on the return journey； and his
balloon became torn； so that the gas escaped and the whole craft crashed
down on the house…tops。 Eyewitnesses of the accident expected to find the
gallant young Brazilian crushed to death； but to their great relief he was
seen to be hanging to the car； which had been caught upon the buttress of a
house。 Even now he was in grave peril； but after a long delay he was
rescued by means of a rope。
It might be thought that such an accident would have deterred the
inventor from making further attempts on the prize； but the aeronaut
seemed to be well endowed with the qualities of patience and
perseverance and continued to try again。 Trial after trial was made； and
numerous accidents took place。 On nearly every occasion it wa