Number 6 SMITHSONIAN ANNALS of FLIGHT SMITHSONIAN AIR
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Number 6 SMITHSONIAN ANNALS OF FLIGHT SMITHSONIAN AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Insti tution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge. This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, com mencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of profes sional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. These publications are distributed by subscription to libraries, laboratories, and other in terested institutions and specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available. S. DILLON RIPLEY Secretary Smithsonian Institution Langley's Aero Engine of 1903 Charles M. Manly standing in the aviator's car of the partially assembled Langley Aerodrome A working on its engine. The Aerodrome is poised on its catapult mounted on a specially designed houseboat located in the vicinity of Quantico, Virginia, sometime during September 1903. Now on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. (Smithsonian photo A18804.) SMITHSONIAN ANNALS OF FLIGHT • NUMBER 6 Langley's Aero Engine of 1903 Edited by Robert B. Meyer, Jr. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS City of Washington • 1971 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1971 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $1.25 Prologue How many things by season seasoned are to their right praise and true perfection! The Merchant of Venice, Act V, Scene 1 At the turn of the century, those who dealt seriously with experi ments in heavier-than-air "flying machines" were regarded as an eccen tric fringe element, subject to derision by both the general public and the press. Thus, it took an extra amount of moral courage and convic tion for prominent men to jeopardize their professional reputations by attempting to advance the state of the art. Such a man was Samuel Pier- pont Langley, third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, whose ef forts and dedication gave heart to others to also reach for the sky. How ever, in spite of his past accomplishments in the fields of astronomy and meteorology, Langley also could not escape the derision and ridicule of the press (Figure 1) as noted in the following skeptically flippant edito rial from the Washington Post of 14 November 1898, regarding the sec ond unsuccessful attempt to launch his man-carrying aerodrome. 14 November 1898 The Washington Post, Editorial Page "WAIT FOR THE FLYING-MACHINE—We note the published statement that the authorities are seriously considering the question of airships for the army in time of war. General Greely, of the Signal Service, proposed it, we believe, and now Professor S. P. Langley, of the Smithsonian Institu tion, the National Museum, the National Astrophysical Observatory, and perhaps a few other government positions which we haven't time to remember at the moment, has been called in to cooperate. General Greely, so far as we know, has never yet built and operated a flying- machine, but he knows all about them, understands them perfectly, and besides has rendered illustrious public service such as trying to discover the north pole, and actually saving our army at Santiago. Professor Lan gley, however, is not only an expert in aerostatics, he has actually con- structed an airship. He gave eight years of his time, or about that much, to the work, and at last he finished it. Furthermore, the ship really flew when tested. It flew half a mile, and, what is more, it didn't hurt anything or anybody except itself. Very likely it wouldn't have done even that if it hadn't stopped so suddenly. "Both General Greely and Professor Langley are convinced that the practicable airship is a possibility. Of course, they don't mean a thing that will fly only half a mile, that cannot carry passengers, and that alights with too great violence. Professor Langley built that ship merely as a demonstration of his theories. He never intended it for real use. But now that the government has agreed to consider the proposition in earnest, and General Greely has given it his official sanction, and Pro fessor Langley has promised to contribute to the project all the results of his experiments and adumbrations, the enterprise takes on a very hopeful aspect. As far as the Post is concerned, we are in a state of pleasurable excitement. The flying-machine has always been a favorite dream of ours. For years past we have been looking forward to a time when we should see other people flying about in airships and going from place to place without dust or heat or any other discomforts of travel. We have never taken a vivid interest in flying-machines that carried no passengers. The mere abstract demonstrations of science possess no charms for us. But an airship in which the inventor travels is our idea of a spectacular performance, and we anticipate it with an anxiety and a fervor far beyond all words. "We are not yet in a position to state the time at which the Greely- Langley flying-machine will make its trial trip. We know only that the enterprise is in most capable and experienced hands, and we believe that, early in the next century, it will materialize. We shall do our best to be at the launching. We intend to practice longevity with most indus trious enthusiasm in the meanwhile. We should never forgive ourselves were we so careless as to die before the ceremony." Discouragement and failure haunt all pioneering efforts and Langley was no exception. After the second unsuccessful attempt alluded to in Figure 1, the machine was never launched again and when he died in 1906, Langley was convinced that his efforts had been in vain. Author David Fairchild indicates Langley's reaction to the failure of his dreams.1 "Professor Langley's discouragement, after the plunge which wrecked his only large-scale machine, is reflected in an account given me by 1 The World Was My Garden (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1939), pp. 332- VI FIGURE 1.—"The Birds Chorus: 'Wonder Which of Us Was the Model!'" The Evening Star, Washington, D.C, 9 December 1903. (Smithsonian photo A4411.) Doctor John Brashear, a noted astronomer who was for many years the best-loved citizen of Pittsburgh. Doctor Brashear said that he was in Washington shortly after the disastrous plunge into the Potomac, and Professor Langley sent word that he would like to see him. They had been very warm friends when Professor Langley was at the Allegheny Observatory in Pittsburgh. vn " 'As I entered his office in the Smithsonian,' Doctor Brashear said, 'Professor Langley met me and grasped me by both hands and said, 'Brashear, I'm ruined, my life is a failure.' He took me to the desk and showed me two bits of steel. They were the two triggers which had failed to release his machine as it slid down the ways to get its start in the air. Instead they had caught and held it, with the result that the machine dived into the water. " 'He cried like a child,' continued Doctor Brashear. 'You may not know it, but he was a very emotional man. I tried to comfort him. I reminded him of his discoveries in astrophysics, but he would not be con soled. I believe,' said Doctor Brashear, 'that he died a bitterly disap pointed man.' " Fitting recognition of Langley's aeronautical contributions came in 1908, two years after he died, when the Smithsonian Regents estab lished the Langley Medal for Aerodromics which was awarded for sig nificant aeronautical accomplishments. The fifth recipient of this award was Langley's "aide in aerodromics," Charles Matthews Manly on 12 December 1929. "The exceptional action was taken in recognition of the fact that the outstanding merit of Mr. Manly's invention and con struction of the light, radial, gasoline airplane engine has become more and more apparent in the last years." 2 2 Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1931, pp. 7-8. The recipients of the Langley Medal for Aerodromics, to date, are: Wilbur and Orville Wright, 1909; Glenn H. Curtiss and Gustave Eiffel, 1913; Charles A. Lindbergh, 1927; Charles Matthews Manly (posthumously) and Richard Evelyn Byrd, 1929; Joseph Sweetman Ames, 1935; Jerome C. Hunsaker, 1955; Robert H. Goddard (posthumously) , 1960; Hugh Latimer Dryden, 1962; Alan B. Shepard, Jr., 1964; Wernher von Braun, 1967. Vlll Acknowledgments Copies of the original manuscript were sent to Vernon W. Balzer, son of Stephen M. Balzer; John McK. Ballou, business associate of Stephen M. Balzer; Charles W. Manly, son of Charles M. Manly; and C. B. Veal, business associate of Charles M. Manly. I am particularly grateful to Mr.