the dominion of the air-第43节
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the most part； aim at the mechanical solution of the problem connected with the soaring flight of a bird。
The theoretical solution of the same problem had been attacked by Professor Langley in a masterly monograph； entitled 〃The Internal Work of the Wind。〃 By painstaking experiment with delicate instruments； specially constructed； the Professor shows that wind in general； so far from being； as was commonly assumed； mere air put in motion with an approximately uniform velocity in the same strata； is； in reality； variable and irregular in its movements beyond anything which had been anticipated； being made up； in fact； of a succession of brief pulsations in different directions； and of great complexity。 These pulsations； he argues； if of sufficient amplitude and frequency； would be capable； by reason of their own 〃internal work；〃 of sustaining or even raising a suitably curved surface which was being carried along by the main mean air stream。 This would account for the phenomenon of 〃soaring。〃 Lord Rayleigh； discussing the same problem； premises that when a bird is soaring the air cannot be moving uniformly and horizontally。 Then comes the natural question； Is it moving in ascending currents？ Lord Rayleigh has frequently noticed such currents； particularly above a cliff facing the wind。 Again； to quote another eminent authority； Major Baden…Powell； on an occasion when flying one of his own kites； found it getting to so high an angle that it presently rose absolutely overhead； with the string perpendicular。 He then took up a heavy piece of wood； which； when tied to the string； began to rise in the air。 He satisfied himself that this curious result was solely due to a strong uptake of the air。
But； again； Lord Rayleigh； lending support to Professor Langley's argument； points out that the apparent cause of soaring may be the non…uniformity of the wind。 The upper currents are generally stronger than the lower； and it is mechanically possible for a bird； taking advantage of two adjacent air streams； different in velocity； to maintain itself in air without effort on its own part。
Lord Rayleigh； proceeding to give his views on artificial flight； declares the main problem of the flying machine to be the problem of the aerial plane。 He states the case thus： 〃Supposing a plane surface to be falling vertically at the rate of four miles an hour； and also moving horizontally at the rate of twenty miles an hour； it might have been supposed that the horizontal motion would make no difference to the pressure on its under surface which the falling plane must experience。 We are told； however； that in actual trial the horizontal motion much increases the pressure under the falling plane； and it is this fact on which the possibility of natural and artificial flight depends。
Ere this opinion had been stated by Lord Rayleigh in his discourse on 〃Flight；〃 at the Royal Institution； there were already at work upon the aero…plane a small army of inventors； of whom it will be only possible in a future chapter to mention some。 Due reference； however； should here be made to Mr。 W。 F。 Wenham； of Boston； U。S。A。； who had been at work on artificial flight for many years； and to whose labours in determining whether man's power is sufficient to raise his own weight Lord Rayleigh paid a high tribute。 As far back as 1866 Mr。 Wenham had published a paper on aerial locomotion； in which he shows that any imitation by man of the far…extended wings of a bird might be impracticable； the alternative being to arrange the necessary length of wing as a series of aero…planes； a conception far in advance of many theorists of his time。
But there had been developments in aerostation in other lines； and it is time to turn from the somewhat tedious technicalities of mechanical flight and the theory or practice of soaring； to another important means for traversing the airthe parachute。 This aerial machine； long laid aside； was to lend its aid to the navigation of the air with a reliability never before realised。 Professor Baldwin； as he was termed； an American aeronaut； arrived in England in the summer of 1888； and commenced giving a series of exhibitions from the Alexandra Palace with a parachute of his own invention； which； in actual performance； seems to have been the most perfect instrument of the kind up to that time devised。 It was said to be about 18 feet in diameter； whereas that of Garnerin； already mentioned； had a diameter of some 30 feet； and was distinctly top…heavy； owing to its being thus inadequately ballasted； for it was calculated that its enormous size would have served for the safe descent； not of one man； but of four or five。 Baldwin's parachute； on the contrary； was reckoned to give safe descent to 250 lbs。； which would include weight of man and apparatus； and reduce the ultimate fall to one not exceeding 8 feet。 The parachute was attached to the ring of a small balloon of 12；000 cubic feet； and the Professor ascended； sitting on a mere sling of rope； which did duty for a car。
Mr。 Thomas Moy； who investigated the mechanics of the contrivance； estimated that after a drop of 16 feet； the upward pressure； amounting to over 2 lb。 per square foot； would act on a surface of not less than 254 square feet。 There was； at the time； much foolish comment on the great distance which the parachute fell before it opened； a complete delusion due to the fact that observers failed to see that at the moment of separation the balloon itself sprang upward。
CHAPTER XXII。 THE STORY OF THE SPENCERS。
It has been in the hands of the Spencers that the parachute； as also many other practical details of aeronautics； has been perfected； and some due sketch of the career of this family of eminent aeronauts must be no longer delayed。
Charles Green had stood godfather to the youngest son of his friend and colleague； Mr。 Edward Spencer； and in later years； as though to vindicate the fact； this same son took up the science of aeronautics at the point where his father had left it。 We find his name in the records of the Patent Office of 1868 as the inventor of a manumetric flying machine； and there are accounts of the flying leaps of several hundred feet which he was enabled to take by means of the machine he constructed。 Again； in 1882 we find him an inventor； this time of the patent asbestos fire balloon； by means of which the principal danger to such balloons was overcome。
At this point it is needful to make mention of the third generationthe several sons who early showed their zeal and aptitude for perpetuating the family tradition。 It was from his school playground that the eldest son； Percival； witnessed with intense interest what appeared like a drop floating in the sky at an immense altitude。 This proved to be Simmons's balloon； which had just risen to a vast elevation over Cremorne Gardens； after having liberated the unfortunate De Groof； as mentioned in a former chapter。 And one may be sure that the terrible reality of the disaster that had happened was not lost on the young schoolboy。 But his wish was to become an aeronauts； and from this desire nothing deterred him； so that school days were scarcely over before he began to accompany his father aloft； and in a very few years； i。e。 in 1888； he had assumed the full responsibilities of a professional balloonist。
It was in this year that Professor Baldwin appeared in England； and it is easy to understand that the parachute became an object of interest to the young Spencer； who commenced on his own account a series of trials at the Alexandra Palace； and it was now； also； that chance good fortune came his way。 An Indian gentleman； who was witness of his experiments； and convinced that a favourable field for their further development existed in his own country； proposed to the young aspirant that he should accompany him to India； with equipment suited for the making of a successful campaign。
Thus it came about that in the early days of 1889； in the height of the season； Mr。 Percival Spencer arrived at Bombay； and at once commenced professional business in earnest。 Coal gas being here available； a maiden ascent was quickly arranged； and duly announced to take place at the Government House； Paral； the chief attraction being the parachute descent； the first ever attempted in India。
This preliminary exhibition proving in all ways a complete success； Mr。 Spencer； after a few repetitions of his performance； repaired to Calcutta； but here great difficulties were experienced in the matter of gas。 The coal gas available was inadequate； and when recourse was had to pure hydrogen the supply proved too sluggish。 At the advertised hour of departure the balloon was not sufficiently inflated； while the spectators were growing impatient。 It was at this critical moment that Mr。 Spencer resolved on a surprise。 Suddenly casting off the parachute； and seated on a mere sling below the half…inflated balloon； without ballast； without grapnel； and unprovided with a valve； he sailed away over the heads of the multitude。
The afternoon was already far advanced； and the short tropical twilight soon gave way to darkness； when the intrepid voyager disappeared completely from sight。 Excitement was intense
