THE AEROPLANE SPEAKS

The fiist machie to fly of which there is anything like authentic record-was the Ader "Avion,"after which the the more notable advances were made as shown above

The Henri Farman was the first widely used Aeroplane. Above are shown the chief steps in its development

THE AVRO.-The aeroplane designed and built by Mr. A.V. Roe was the first successful heavier than air flying machine built by a British subject.   Mr. Roe's progress may be followed in the picture from his early "canard" biplane, through various triplanes, with 35 J.A.P. and 35 h.p. Green engines to his successful tractor biplane with the same 35 h.p. Green, thence through the "totally enclosed" biplane 1912, with 60 hp Gree, to the biplane 1913-14, with 80 hp Gnome.

The SOPWITH LAND GOING BIPLANES.- The earliest was a pair fo Wright planes wiht a fuselage added.  Next was the famous tractor with 80 h.p. Gnome.  Then the "taabloid" of 1913, whic set a completely new fashion in aeroplane design.  From this developed the Gordon-Bennett racer shown over date 1914. The gun-carrier was produced about the same time, and the later tractor biplane in a development fo the famous 80 h.p. but with 100 h.p. monosoupape Gnome.

THE MAURICE FARMAN.-First, 1909, the 50-60 h.p. Renault and coil spring chassis.  1910, the same chassis with beginning of the characteristic bent up skids.  1911 appeared the huge French Military Trials 3-seater; also the round ended planes and tails and "Henry" type wheels.   This developed, 1912 into the square ended planes and upper tail, and long double-acting ailerons fo the British Military Trials.  The 1913 type had two rectangular tail planes and better seating arrangements, known affectionately as the "mechanical cow"; the same year came the first "shorton," with two tail planes and a low nacelle.  This finally developed into the carefully streamlined "shorton" with the raised nacelle and a single tail plane.

THE SHORT "PUSHERS"- In 1909 come the semi-Wright biplane, with 35 hp Green, on which Mr. Moore-Brabazon won the "Daily Mail's" 1000 prize for hte first mile flight on a circuit on a British aeroplane.  Then the first box-kite flown by Mr. Grace at Wolverhampton.  Later the famous "extensions" type on which the first Naval officers learned to fly.   Then the "38" type with elevator on the nacelle, on which dozens of R.N.A.S. pilots were taught.

SHORT TRACTORS, 1911-1912,-They were all co-existent, but the first was the "tractor-pusher" (bottom fo picture).  Then came the "twin tractor plus propeller" (at top).  A development was the "triple-tractor" (on the right) with two 50 h.p. Gnomes, one immediately behind the other under the cowl, one drivivng the two chains, the other coupled direct.  Later came the singel-engined 80 h.p. tractor (on the left), the original of the famous short seaplanes.

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