Document Type: Book (Technical Reference). Purpose: Informational. Authority: Author Expertise.

Scope: The Art of Aviation was published in 1913 in London; it is NOT about aviation artwork, but rather describes in technical detail the "state of the art" regarding the design and construction of airplanes and airplane power plants a decade after the Wright Brothers first flew!

From the Preface: "This work is intended to deal more with the practical aspect of flying machines than the theoretical, and it is therefore written with the object of interesting the majority of the thinking public. The theoretical aspect of mechanical flight and aerodynamics has been so very ably dealt with, that it would be out of place to attempt to do more than touch on the fringe of the subject here.

The author of this book has been for some time more intimately connected with the construction of flying machines, and of engines of the high speed internal combustion type, and many practical notes upon these subjects are embodied herein. There are a number of works dealing with the underlying principles, of dynamic support which may be consulted, and the author of this little work attempts to strike a line between the highly scientific and the purely descriptive side of this most interesting subject.

It has been necessary and advisable to introduce certain descriptive matter, and by the help of the illustrations this has been condensed as far as possible, only a few of the leading types of flying machines and their engines being dealt with. In several places throughout this book explanations are given of the use of various controls at present adopted in aeroplane practice, and hints on the Art of Aviation and the early difficulties of the learner may prove useful to those who are contemplating becoming successful fliers. In a subject which makes such rapid strides as that of Flight it is difficult to be absolutely certain of data, makers varying their designs radically and frequently. Care has been taken to give correct figures when possible, and where mistakes or discrepancies occur the author trusts these will be excused.

There are a large number of tables throughout the book and in the Appendix, which should prove of some use in working out aeroplane problems; but it is not intended that an aeroplane could be designed upon data contained herein; certain of the fundamental formula will be found in other works devoted more particularly to the mathematical side of the subject. The author is indebted to the proprietors of Flight for permission to make use of some of their drawings and photographs as a basis for the production of several plates at the end of the book. Acknowledgment and thanks are tendered to the proprietors of the Aero for the loan of numerous photographs, which are reproduced, and for permission to use certain tables of strengths of materials.

The illustration on the front cover is from an original sketch entitled "The Aerial Scorcher of the Future," by E. Wake Cook, Esq., by whose kind permission it is reproduced.

R. W. A. B. LONDON, April 1910

and from the "Preface to Popular Edition - AVIATION has become such an important method of locomotion, particularly in connection with Naval and Military defence, that no excuse is necessary for the publication of a popular edition of this book. Every British subject should become conversant with the elementary principles of flight, as our home defence in the future will greatly depend upon our preparedness for aerial work.

Pressure of public opinion is necessary in order to create a British Flying Corps at all comparable with the splendid forces of some other great European Powers, and it is only by arousing public interest that this object can be attained.

This popular edition is an effort in that direction.

R. W. A. B. February 1913"

Contents:

"INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I A Comparison between Monoplanes and Biplanes - Difficulties of the Learner with the Respective Types

CHAPTER II The Form of an Aerofoil - Dynamic Support - Sections of Aero-foils - Fundamental Formula for Cambered Planes - Resistance to Flight - Properties of Angles

CHAPTER - III Early Models - Henson's Machine and its Great Conception

CHAPTER IV Engine Problems and Principles of Design - The Size of Engines and Horse-Power Required - Types of Engines: Rotary, Vee - Radiation Facilities - Reliability - Elimination of Aluminium - Stresses in a Crank Chamber - Lubrication, The Necessity for Efficient Systems — Crank Chamber Lubrication - Carburation - The Necessity of a Carburettor and Throttle Control - The Lack of External Heating Arrangements

CHAPTER V Description of Engines - Antoinette: Conditions for the Elimination of Vibration - Gnome: Methods of Manufacture and Construction, Details of all the Working Parts — Esnault-Pelterie: Main Details, Firing Arrangements, Valve Arrangements - Crankshaft Weight and Stresses - Connecting Rods, Cylinder Dimensions, Power and Consumption Test, Lubrication and Carburation - Anzani: Cylinder and Firing Arrangements, Timing, General Details — Lamplough Two-Cycle Rotary Engine: Cylinder Construction, Arrangement of Crank Chamber and Blowing Device, Timing of Port Opening, Connecting Rod Arrangement

CHAPTER VI Engines Continued - Gobron-Brillie: Method of Operating the Valves, Carburettor - Aster - Wright: Arrangement of Cylinders, Carburation - E.N.V.: Details of Lubrication and Consumption of Fuel, Camshaft Details and Valve Mechanism, Cooling Arrangements, Firing Sequence -Green: Official Test, Jacket Arrangements, Valve Mechanism, Crank Chamber, Performance - Simms: Inlet Valves - N.E.C.: Two-Stroke System, Charging Arrangement, Advantage of the System — Empress - Paradox: Principles of Design, Valve Operating Mechanism - J.A.P.: Dimensions of Standard Types - Table of Aeromotors

CHAPTER VII Propellers: Theory of Propulsion, Variables Governing Design, Relations between Pitch, Speed, Diameter, Thrust, and Horse-Power, Elementary Calculations - The Weight of Air Moved - Permissible Number of Blades - Elementary Experiments - The Chauvière Propeller - The Effect of Boss and Arms - Propeller Flutter

CHAPTER VIII Efficiency of Propellers: Examples for Different Propellers - Direction of Air Currents from Propellers - Comparison between Fixed Point and Moving Thrust - Slip - Energy Imparted to the Air - Efficiency by Horse-Power Method and by Thrust Method of Calculation - Tables of Thrust

CHAPTER IX Materials of Construction for Aeroplanes: Wood, Properties of Various Woods - Wire, its Strength and Attachment, Struts — Fabric, Table of Strengths - Table of Permissible and Maximum Stress

CHAPTER X Details of Manufacture - Stresses in the Structure, Principles of Construction - Wire Tighteners, Sockets - Sections of Struts - Necessary Features of Surfacing Material - Landing and Running Gear

CHAPTER XI Successful Monoplanes - Antoinette: Details of Wing Construction, Control, Main Dimensions, Propeller Details, Radiating System — Esnault-Pelterie, 1909 Type - 1911 Type: Wing Area, Control Arrangements - Blériot XI.: Main Planes, Tail Arrangement, Details of Wing Construction, Chassis, Control, Gnome Engine Mounting; Military Type — Blériot Aerobus — Santos Dumont's Demoiselle: Chassis, Main Planes, Tail, Engine and Propeller, Control - The Valkyrie Monoplane: Principles of Design, Control, Main Features, Construction of Main Planes, Arrangement of Engine and Propeller, Weights, Dimensions

CHAPTER XII Biplanes - Wright Machine: General Arrangement, Auxiliary Surfaces, Elevator Action, Propellers, Gliding Properties, Flexibility of Main Planes; Baby Wright-Voisin Machine: Camber of Main Planes, Rudder, Chassis, Propulsion, "Canard" Type

CHAPTER XIII Biplanes Continued - The H. Farman: Camber of Main Planes, Ailerons, Camber of Tail, Control, Skids - The Bristol Biplane - The Curtiss Biplane: Construction of Main Planes - Maurice Farman - Cody Machine: Chassis Arrangement, Main Planes, Supplementary Surfaces — Paulhan Machine: Method of Construction, Special Features, Control, Brake, Tests - Neale Biplane: Vertical Panels and Control - Dimensions of Machines at Belmont Park, 1910

CHAPTER XIV Aviation Records, 1910 - Speed Records - Passenger Carrying Records—Fatalities

CHAPTER XV Some Mechanical Problems Connected with Flying Machines - Radial Engines Fitted with Compound Connecting Rods, Path of Subsidiary Crankpins, Lead Angle of Pistons - Longitudinal Stability, the Effect of a Tail - Stabilising Moment Factors

CHAPTER XVI The Art of Flying - Early Difficulties - Gliding Experiments — Points to be Remembered - Regulation of Centre of Pressure - Gauchissement - Turning - Turning in a Wind

CHAPTER XVII Future Development - Power - Source of Power - Gyroscopic Control - Instruments to be Carried - Aviators — Future Uses - A Glimpse into Future Possibilities - Safety - Uses in Warfare

CHAPTER XVIII Glossary of Terms and Explanation of the Function of each Part of a Flying Machine

APPENDIX OF TABLES AND USEFUL DATA - RELATIONS BETWEEN ANGLES OF INCIDENCE AND WEIGHT LIFTED

COMPARATIVE TABLES OF LOADING PER SQUARE FOOT AND WEIGHT CARRIED PER HORSE-POWER, ASPECT RATIO AND SPEEDS OBTAINED

Index"