Chapter X: The Triumph of the Aeroplane

Balloon versus aeroplane, p. 272--The kite as a flying machine,
p. 273--How the air sustains a heavier-than-air mechanism, p.
274--Langley's early experiments, p. 275--Experiments in soaring,
p. 277--Lilienthal's imitation of the soaring bird, p. 279--Sir
Hiram Maxim's flying machine, p. 283--Langley's successful
aerodrome, p. 284--The failure of Langley's larger aerodrome,
p. 287--Wilbur and Orville Wright accomplish the impossible, p.
288--The first public demonstration by the Wright brothers, p.
290--The Wright aeroplane described, p. 291--A host of imitators,
p. 292--Mr. Henry Farman's successful flights, p. 293--Public
demonstrations by the Wright brothers in America and France, p.
293--The English Channel crossed by Blériot, p. 294--Orville
Wright fulfils the Government tests, p. 295--Spectacular
cross-country flights, p. 296--The Wright brothers the true
pioneers, p. 300.

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE WRIGHT AEROPLANE IN FRANCE IN 1908 _Frontispiece_

_Facing page_
"TAKING THE SUN" WITH THE SEXTANT 22

THE OLD AND THE NEW--A CONTRAST 60

MARINE ENGINES AND AN EARLY TYPE OF STEAMBOAT 64

THE STEAMSHIPS "CHARLOTTE DUNDAS" AND "CLERMONT" 68

THE "CLERMONT" 72

ROBERT FULTON 98

THE AMERICAN SUBMARINE BOAT "CUTTLEFISH" IN DRY DOCK AT
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD 108

A FLEET OF BRITISH SUBMARINES MANŒUVERING AT THE SURFACE 116

GEORGE STEPHENSON 124

A CENTURY'S PROGRESS IN LOCOMOTIVE BUILDING 128

CUGNOT'S TRACTION ENGINE AND THE "NOVELTY" LOCOMOTIVE 132

THE FAMOUS LOCOMOTIVES "ROCKET" AND "SANS-PAREIL" 134

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCOMOTIVE 150

THE HOBBY-HORSE OF 1820 CONTRASTED WITH THE MOTOR CYCLE
OF TO-DAY 154

THE EVOLUTION OF THE BICYCLE 156

THE EXTREMES OF AUTOMOBILE DEVELOPMENT 158

AN ENGLISH STEAM COACH OF 1827 AND A NEW YORK TAXICAB
OF 1909 162

A RACING AUTOMOBILE 166

RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT IN TRANSPORTATION--THE DE WITT
CLINTON TRAIN AND THE GYROCAR 200

TWO VIEWS OF MR. LOUIS BRENNAN'S MONORAIL GYROCAR 216

AN INTERNATIONAL BALLOON RACE 242

TWO FAMOUS FRENCH WAR BALLOONS 264

THE ZEPPELIN DIRIGIBLE BALLOON 266

AN ENGLISH DIRIGIBLE BALLOON 268

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN DIRIGIBLE WAR BALLOONS AND A
WRIGHT AEROPLANE 270

THE AEROPLANE OF M. SANTOS-DUMONT 272

LEARNING HOW TO FLY 278

FLYING MACHINES OF THE MONOPLANE TYPE 284

THE WRIGHT AEROPLANE 288

MR. WILBUR WRIGHT PREPARING TO ASCEND IN HIS AEROPLANE
WITH HIS PUPIL M. CASSANDIER 292

THE FARMAN AEROPLANE 294

THE MONOPLANES OF BLÉRIOT AND LATHAM 296

A BRITISH AEROPLANE 298

MR. WILBUR WRIGHT FLYING OVER NEW YORK HARBOR,
OCTOBER 4, 1909 300

THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE