Chapter IX: Flying Machines: How to Build

Santos-Dumont’s gift--_La Demoiselle_--Mechanical skill
required--Preparatory practice--General dimensions--The
frame--The motor--The main planes--The rudder-tail--The
propeller--Shaping the blades--Maxim’s experience--The running
gear--The controls--Scrupulous workmanship.

When Santos-Dumont in 1909 gave to the world the unrestricted privilege of building monoplanes after the plans of his famous No. 20--afterward named _La Demoiselle_--he gave not only the best he knew, but as much as any one knows about the building of flying machines. Santos-Dumont has chosen the monoplane for himself because his long experience commends it above others, and _La Demoiselle_ was the crowning achievement of years spent in the construction and operation of airships of all types. In view of Santos-Dumont’s notable successes in his chosen field of activity, no one will go astray in following his advice.

Of course, the possession of plans and specifications for an aeroplane does not make any man a skilled mechanic. It is well to understand at the start that a certain degree of mechanical ability is required in building a machine which will be entirely safe. Nor does the possession of a successful machine make one an aeronaut. As in the case of bicycling, there is no substitute for actual experience, while in the airship the art of balancing is of even greater importance than on the bicycle.

The would-be aviator is therefore advised to put himself through a course of training of mind and body.

Intelligent experimenting with some one of the models described in