In view of this we shall submit a general
form, which may be departed from at will.
FEATURES WELL DEVELOPED.--Certain features
are fairly well developed, however. One is the
angle of the supporting plane, with reference to
the frame itself; and the other is the height at
which the tail and rudder should be placed above
the surface of the ground when the machine is at
rest.
DEPRESSING THE REAR END.--This latter is a
matter which must be taken into consideration,
because in initiating flight the rear end of the
frame is depressed in order to give a sufficient
angle to the supporting planes so as to be able to
inaugurate flight.
In order to commence building we should have
some definite idea with respect to the power, as
this will, in a measure, determine the area of the
supporting surfaces, as a whole, and from this
the sizes of the different planes may be determined.
DETERMINING THE SIZE.--Suppose we decide on
300 square feet of sustaining surface. This may
require a 30, a 40 or a 50 horse power motor,
dependent on the speed required, and much higher
power has been used on that area.
However, let us assume that a forty horse power
motor is available, our 300 square feet of surface
may be put into two planes, each having 150 square
feet of surface, which would make each 5' by 30'
in size; or, it may be decided to make the planes
narrower, and proportionally longer.
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