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A heavier-than-air flying machine which lacks the faults of former similar devices, according to its in ventor, J. \V. Roshon, of Harrisburg, Pa., will be given a trial near that city in the near future. The machine was rushed in its final stages in order to have it com pleted in time for the aeroplane contest at St. Louis for the Si ii.Mini A\II:I:II.\N trophy, but delay in tin-arrival of materials prevented its being in readiness. Kig. 1 shows the aeroplane in front of the building especially built for its construction, with the inventor in the foreground. Kig. - is another view showing the engine, propeller, and propeller-shaft, as well as tin-great height of the machine. The Roshon aeroplane is constructed of aluminium and steel tubing, bamboo, steel wire, and canvas. It is 24 feet wide, 8 feet deep, and IT feet high. The upper tier of planes is 12 feet wide. The three principal supporting surfaces are com posed of a series of narrow planes arched at the front ulge, and flattening out as they approach tin- rear. These three surfaces are at tin- top, middle, and bottom of tin- machine, extending from end to end. The arched planes number eighteen. Itesides tin- arched planes there are twenty-six nar row tlat planes placed transversely at the front and rear of tin- machine. All tin- planes are of canvas. Their total area is !nm square feet. Tin- engine, shown near tin- lowest set of arched planes, is a T-horse-power double-cylinder gasoline motor of tin- air-cooled typo. Its weight is .In pounds. Tin- engine is geared to tin- propeller shaft, which it turns at tin- rate of Jim revolutions a minute. The propeller is ! feet in diameter, the pitch of tlie blades decreasing from tin- innermost edge toward tin- ends. Tin- propeller is at tin- front of tin- aero plane, and it revolves in a clockwise direction 358 The seat for the operator will be attached movably In the framework beneath the engine, within easy reach of the levers which control it. There are no horizontal or vertical rudders, the inventor intend ing to steer by shifting the center of gravity by mov ing in the operator's seat. In flight it will be neces sary for the operator to sit forward of the center of gravity, to prevent the entire machine from tipping backward. To ascend, he will move backward, and to descend, he will move forward. Turning to the side will be effected by inclining the machine by a lateral shift of the operator's position. Four wheels at the bottom of the framework sup port the aeroplane on the ground. The bicycle wheels shown were used at first, and were found to be too light. The first test will be without an operator, a bag of sand supplying the required weight. After the cen ter of gravity has been accurately determined by ex periment, the inventor will take the operator's seat. An inclined plane has been constructed near Mr. Roshon's workshop. It is 25 feet high, with a steep descent, the floor curving upward at the lowest point. The aeroplane will be taken to the top, and with the propeller turning at full speed, will be allowed to de scend the grade. The rise at the bottom is intended to start the machine skyward. The total weight of the aeroplane, without an op erator, is 450 pounds. With an operator, it will weigh 600. The area of the planes is 900 square feet. Each square foot of sustaining surface will therefore have to support only slightly over a half pound (0.66 pound of weight. This is much less weight per square foo, than is imposed upon the planes of other devices which have proved successful. Mr. Roshon, who is a photographer, has been work ing on his device fo"r a year. He has been studying the theory of aerial flight for years, however, and has also studied other airships. He believes he has avoid ed the errors made in the others. One of the strong points about his machine is its compactness.
