Littell's Living Age/Volume 128/Issue 1654/Miscellany

New Aerial Machine — Experiments were made on the Great Lines, on the 15th inst., at Chatham, by order of the authorities, with the new aerial machine, the invention of Mr. Simmonds, the aeronaut. The experiments were made under the direction and in the presence of the Royal Engineer Committee, a large number of officers being upon the ground. The machine, should it answer, is intended to be used in the field in time of war, by means of which observations might be taken. It is a large affair, the covering being of French cambric, made waterproof by being coated with a solution of india-rubber, the framework being made of spans of wood about an inch and a quarter thick, and thin galvanized iron wire, and when in the air it assumes the shape of a parachute, on the covering becoming fully inflated. It is said that the advantage it has over a balloon is, that it requires no gas to inflate it, but then a good breeze is necessary to float it in the air, without which it is of but little use, as was proved by the experiments. The machine having been got ready, and a sand-bag being placed where the car would be, a number of Royal Engineers attempted to get it up by running with a rope, which was attached to the framework, the process being precisely similar to that employed by boys in flying kites. After one or two attempts, the machine went up, and after reaching a height of about one hundred feet, the ballast was not sufficient, and there was not enough wind to keep it in the air, consequently it fell to the ground, by the concussion some of the framework was broken, and the experiments were thus stopped. It is thought that with a good breeze the experiments would have been successful. The damages will be repaired, and some further experiments made next week.