Category:Aviation (Wills 1910)

A complete set of 50 cigarette cards, Aviation, published by W.D. and H.O. Wills, Bristol and London, ~1910.

Some of the information on the cards is qualified as being correct as of 1909, and in one case, correct as of December 1909. So while the content can probably be said to date from 1909, the actual publication date is probably 1910, the date normally associated with the set (this assumes that the full set were all issued in a single year).

1: "Flying Ship" of Francesco de Lana.

From the earliest times men have dreamed of flight, and in the Middle Ages ideas of using bladders for suspension in the air were comparatively common. A Jesuit father, de Lana, has left on record the idea illustrated in the picture. Curiously enough a quite recent American patent covers the same idea – a balloon capable of sailing in the sky like a yacht.

2: Montgolfier, 1783.

Montgolfier, a Frenchman, made the first actual flight. He built, after many experiments, a huge balloon, which he suspended over a fire – fire-balloon fashion. The heated air expanding caused the balloon to rise. Later on the fire was carried in the car of the balloon. In 1755 two Frenchmen, Rozier and Romain, were killed trying to cross the British Channel in a Montgolfier. Recent patented inventions cover a modern adoption of Montgolfier's system.

3: First Balloon Flight in England, 1784.

The first balloon flight in England was made by an Italian, a Signor Lunardi, Sept. 15th, 1784. Lunardi was the first to have any conception of a "dirigible balloon"; that is to say, a balloon capable of being propelled in the air instead of drifting with the wind. For this purpose he employed a pair of paddles, which, however, were quite unsuccessful.

4: First Successful Crossing the Channel, 1785.

Undeterred by the fate of Rozier and Romain, two English men (Blanchard and Jeffries) attempted to cross from Dover to Calais immediately afterwards, and succeeded. It is interesting to note that with aeroplanes the first attempt (Latham's) failed, and isi- mediately after, a second attempt (Bleriot's), succeeded.

5: First Parachute Display, 1837.

The balloon presently became associated with public entertainments. In 1819 a Madame Blanchard, the first woman aeronaut, was killed while ascending amid a firework display. People went up mounted on animals. In July, 1837, one Cocking made the first parachute descent from a balloon, but his parachute breaking, he was killed.

6: First "Dirigible", 1852.

The spherical balloon, inflated with hydrogen or coal gas, became extremely common by 1850. About this time the desire for pro3pulsion arose, and the first successful "dirigible", invented by Henry Giffard, ascended from Paris, 24th September, 1852. It had a cigar-shaped bag, 144 feet long by 39 feet wide, a steam motor, and a rudder for steering. Its best speed was close on seven miles an hour.

7: First Successful Dirigible, 1883.

In 1883 Gaston Tissandier, after a series of experiments, produced as electrically driven dirigible on the general model of Giffard's see No. 6). His balloon was 91 feet by 30 feet, of the usual shape. In 1854 he made a speed of eight miles an hour, and he succeeded in performing a circular course. This was the first really successful dirigible.

8: Rounding the Eiffel Tower, Santos Dumont.

Santos Dumont has built innumerable balloons. The most famous was his "No. 6". It was 110 feet by 20 feet, capacity 22,239 cubic feet. A 12 horsepower petrol motor drove the single propeller. In this dirigible Santos Dumont went from St. Cloud, round the Eiffel Tower and back again, thus winning the Deutsch prize Of £4,000.

9: First British War Balloon, "Nulli Secundus", 1905.

The Nulli Secundus, subsequently known as "Dirigible No. 2", was built by the British Army Balloon Factory. In 1907 she made a sensational voyage over London, circling round St. Paul's Cathedral. The fact that she was merely an experiment was forgotten, and she was regarded by the public as a supreme success. Shortly afterwards she was destroyed in a gale at the Crystal Palace.

10: United States Military Dirigible No. 1. (otherwise known as the "Baldwin"), 1906.

The Baldwin, as she is generally called, is a simple dirigible without any peculiar or remarkable features. She has a long girder cradle hung close under the gas bag, with a couple of aeroplanes for lifting purposes forward. She is devoid of any of the tail fins common to most European dirigibles. She is quite a small affair.

11: The Wellman Airship " America", 1907.

She was designed for Polar Exploration, and is completely housed in. The crew live near the motor for warmth. She carries three men, a pack of dogs, two sledges, and a great deal of food, and also drags further supplies on the ice below.

Considerable alterations are made to her from time to time – for instance, her propellers were originally one at each end instead of either side as now. Minor mishaps have so far prevented her from sailing for the Pole.

12: French Dirigibles Lebaudy Type.

The Lebaudy type was first under experiment nearly ten years ago. They average somewhat over 200 feet long.

The French Army possesses three – No. 1, Republique and Liberté. To this class belonged the Patrie, which broke away from her moorings and was never seen or heard of again.

The picture shows the Republique, her sister, which in 1909 met with a terrible disaster.

13: Modern British Army Dirigible "Baby".

The Baby, so named on account of her diminutive size, was built by the British Army Balloon Factory. The Baby is too small to be of much service, but she is very useful for experimental work, and considerably more successful than her predecessor, the ill-fated and unlucky "Nulli Secundus". A larger dirigible is now building on the experiences gained with Baby.

14: "Ville de Paris" (French)

The Ville de Paris was built for the private use of M. Deutsche, and presented by him to the French Government after the loss of the Patric. She is the first Of the Astra type.

Her special feature is the use of enormous inflated shapes in the tail; the object of these is to render the balloon more stable.

15: German Parseval Type.

The Parseval type is easily recognised by the side fins and position of the rudder in front instead of behind; also by the very small swinging car hung low down with the propeller above it. Though fairly large, they are most easily stowed and transported.

The first to be built had a very flat nose; in later ones this has been given up for a sharp nose; otherwise all are alike. Four are built, and two are building (1909).

16: Italian Dirigible Italia.

The Italia was designed by Cont da Schio, and is often known as the "da Schio". She first flew in 1905, but since then has been considerably altered.

Her peculiar feature is a "belly" of Para rubber, which obviates the need for a ballonet.

In 1909 she was partially destroyed, and is at present reconstructing (1909).

17: Spanish Torres Quevedo.

This curious looking craft was designed by Captain Kindelas, and an engineer whose name she bears. The reason of her peculiar shape has not been revealed, but it is the result of a number of experiments. A considerably larger ship of the same pattern is to be built for military purposes.

18: German Military Dirigibles Gross Type.

The Gross type, about which great secrecy is observed, are designed and built by the German Army. Little is known about their internal arrangements, but externally they bear some resemblance to the French Lebaudy type. Four of the Gross type have been built, and a fifth is contemplated. They fly well, and appear to be more useful than Zeppelins for most military purposes.

19: French Zodiac Type.

The Zodiacs are small dirigibles intended for private use, and for dirigibles they are extremely cheap – £700. They are easily transported by rail. They used to be long and narrow; but they are now built more like other dirigibles. The picture shows Zodiac III., the latest type.

20: Italian Military Dirigible No. 1.

(also known as "Ricaldoni.")

The special feature of this airship, which was specially designed for a high speed, is its peculiar shape – the body being in the form of a carrot. Another feature is the neat boat-shaped body, also designed to reduce wind resistance.

A sister ship, No. 2, has just been completed (1909), and a very large number of further copies are reported building in Italy.

21: German Dirigible "Clouth."

The Clouth is one of the latest German dirigibles, having only been completed in the Summer of 1909. In many respects she resembles the Parseval type, having the same large rudder and fin forward, and the low hung car.

Her car is, however, considerably larger. Several more of this type are contemplated, but this is the only one actually in existence. (1909)

22: French Military Dirigible "Colonel Renard."

The Colonel Renard is the latest addition (1909) to the French military air fleet.

She belongs to the Astra class, and is an improvement on the Ville de Paris, the principal difference being that instead of the large cylinders in the tail, fine lined pear-shaped stabilisers are fitted. She is an extremely successful dirigible.

23: German Zeppelin Type.

The Zeppelins are distinguished by their enormous size – over 400 feet long – and a rigid frame of aluminium fitted with gas bags divided from each other by compartments. Three were destroyed. Three now afloat belong to the German Government. Three are building – two of them for passenger service The picture shows the present Zeppellin II, the most famous of the series. A ship something like the Zeppelin is building for the British Navy.

24: French Dirigible "Capazza."

The Capazza is an extraordinary design, on the lines of a flat fish, about 140 feet either way and only 23 feet thick. The idea is to offer as little resistance as possible to the wind, while securing a large supporting surface. Below the body hangs a species of inverted Eiffel Tower. She was designed by a Frenchman, M. Capazza, and is not yet completed.

25: British Dirigible Clement Bayard.

This is the latest Astra type design, and the dirigible about which so much has appeared in British newspapers. Most foreign Governments have dirigibles of this type on order, and a French Company proposes to run an aerial passenger service with some of the type in 1910. This is the type selected by the British Parliamentary Committee as a possible model for the future British Military air fleet.

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26: An Early Idea of Aviation.

One of the earliest conceptions of "heavier than air". This is the quaint conception of an old-time Persian King, whose idea was to lash a throne to the top of four large eagles, then to manoeuvre the eagles by holding a piece of meat just in front of their beaks.

During the year 1908 some Frenchman actually contemplated training eagles for a vehicle something after this fashion.

27: Besnier.

In the year 1678. one Besnier attempted flight somewhat in the manner indicated. For some time onward similar attempts were made, and one of the French Kings used to encourage experimenters for the fun of seeing them fall and break their necks or limbs.

28: Henson's Idea

In the year 1843 an Englishman of the name of Henson designed a flying machine. It was intended to be about 100 ft. wide by about 30ft. long, with a large tail behind that again. There was to be a steam engine of only 20 horsepower. This machine, of course, never came to anything, but it is extremely interesting to note that its main details bear a very marked resemblance to the successful monoplanes of the present day.

29: Lillienthal Gliding Machine

Lilienthal, who was a German, was father of modern flying in Europe. He was regarded by most people as a lunatic, but persevered and made innumerable attempts to fly with various kinds of "Gliders". In the end he was killed during one of his experiments.

30: Maxim, 1890.

Sir Hiram Maxim is best known to the world as the inventor of the Maxim gun.

It is already forgotten that he was one of the first pioneers of aviation. He commenced his experiments in 1899, and eventually evolved a huge steam-driven flying machine.

This machine was tethered down in such a fashion that it could not rise any distance into the air, but would yet indicate whether mechanical flight was possible or not.

31: The "Ader" Flying Machine.

It is claimed that M. Ader was the first man to fly in Europe. He began work as early as 1882 with a steam driven aeroplane of considerable size, and nearly £30,000 was provided by the French Government for experiments with them.

M. Ader claimed to have flown considerable distances in 1890, but the military authorities grew tired of experiments, and Ader discontinued his efforts.

32: Chanute, 1895.

The name of Chanute, an American, must always stand among the pioneers of mechanical flight. Like Pilcher, he followed in the footsteps of Lilienthal. In his earlier experiments he evolved what is known as the multiplane; that is to say, a device with a very large number of surfaces.

Eventually, however, he evolved a species of biplane, with which, by running down a hill, he achieved flights.

33: Santos Dumont's First Monoplane.

This machine, which flew is the autumn of 1906, was one of the earliest "heavier than air" flying machines to leave the ground. It was conceived on the principle of a "box kite." The machine ran for about 150 yards along the ground, then made a hop up into the air, and came down 20 feet further on. In October, the same year, it flew a distance of over 60 yards, and won the Archdeacon cup.

34: "Gastamabide and Mengin" Monoplane, 1908.

The "Gastamabide and Mengin" is of particular interest, because it was the original machine from which famous Antoinettes were developed. It was practically a creation of M. Levesseur, and the machines made so famous by Latham are little more than a series of improvements upon the original "Gastamabide and Mengin".

Its special features were tapering wings.

35: Wright Bros.' Biplane.

The Americans, Wilbur and Orville Wright, are probably the first men who ever made really practical flights with "heavier than a air" machines. Instead of of starting on wheels, as practically all other machines, the "Wright" machine is launched from a special rail. Its notable features are those warping wing tips in connection with which a great deal of aerial litigation is pending.

36: Professor Langley's Aerodrome.

Professor Langley was one of the principal pioneers of flying in America. He made innumerable experients, and eventually produced a series of large models, generally steam driven, that actually flew.

It was the publication of photographs of these which first induced Europe to take flying seriously.

37: "Voisin" Type Biplane.

The Voisin Bros. rank amongst the earliest designers and experimenters with. aeroplanes. The general design which they followed was evolved by M. Chanute. The type of machine is a biplane, and its special feature consists in the side surfaces, which secure additional stability and safety In flight. In essence the machine may be described as a series of box-kites, joined together: with a box-kite tail, and a single rudder in front for rising or falling.

38: Bleriot XI.

Bleriot XI was the first machine to cross the English Channel. A special feature of Bleriot monoplanes is that the tips of all surfaces are rounded off, and that the wings are fixed. M. Bleriot was one of the pioneers of aviation, and holds the record of the most intrepid experimenter in existence. Unlike most aviators, he invents his own machines as well as flies them.

39: The "Antoinette" Monoplane, 1909.

Owing to the sensational flight made by Mr. Latham, the Antoinette monoplane is probably the most famous in existence. The special features of the Antoinette type are – fixed tapering wings, and a peculiar series of triangular fins in the tail. The picture shows an Antoinette VII., in which Latham made the world's record as the first aviator to fly against a gale.

40: The "Wyndham" Monoplane

This machine is the invention of Captain Wyndham, founder of the British Aeroplane Club. Up to the time of its publication, its performances have been marked with bad luck. But it has the distinction of being the only really original machine yet built in England; and yet, with modifications, promises to be a considerable success.

41: Farman Biplane.

M. Henri Farman was one of the pioneers of the flight in Europe. He first flew on the Voisin machines, but subsequently took to the construction of machines of his own design, which have been very successful. It was on a Farman that M. Sommer made so sensational a flight in the summer of 1909. M. Farman, though a Frenchman, is of British descent.

42: The R.E.P. Monoplane.

Owing to circumstances which must certainly come in the chapter of accidents, the R.E.P. has not come into the prominence that it deserves. It is the invention of Robert Esnault Pelterie, from whose initials it derives its name.

Its main characteristics are an unusually large boat-shaped body with a boat-shaped rudder and huge vertical steadying fin. To fly, the machine runs along the ground on the left wheel.

43: "Silver Dart".

The Silver Dart was built by an association of Canadian and United States experimenters. It was a development of a somewhat famous machine, the June Bug. It is the subject of considerable litigation with the Brothers Wright on a question of patents. It was designed by a Dr. Graham Bell, and holds the world's record for having flown further, at one time and another, than any other aeroplane in existence (1909)

44: "Cody" Biplane.

The Cody biplane was the first machine built in England to make any appreciable practical flight. It was built by Colonel Cody in conjunction with the British Military Authorities, and for a long time refused to leave the ground for more than brief intervals. Colonel Cody persisted in his experiments, and eventually success rewarded his efforts. The Cody biplane now flies very well.

45: Santos Dumont's Monoplane, No. XIX.

This machine is one of the smallest in existence, if not the smallest, and it has frequently been transported about in a motor car. It has been in existence for some considerable time, and subjected to a number of alterations.

It was not thought to be a success at all, when suddenly, in September, 1909, Santos Dumont electrified the aerial world by making a speed record of 56 miles an hour.

46: "Herring-Curtiss."

Next to the Wright Bros. the Curtiss is the lIloot successful American machine. It is of a special interest, because it was evolved by an Experimental Association, consisting of an equal number of Canadians and Americans, who, between them, produced a successful machine known as the June Bug. The Association subsequently split up, the Canadian section of it producing the Silver Dart, and the United States section the Curtiss.

47: "Jerme" Biplane.

The Jerme biplane which has excited a good deal of interest in France, is a species of combination between the Wright Bros. and Herring-Curtiss machines. Its special features are the three triangular fins in the elevator or horizontal rudder. Some satisfactory flights have been made by this machine.

48: "Kimball."

The Kimball is one of the earliest American machines, and created interest on account of its being driven by no less than eight propellers. Before its first flight it was formally christened New York, in May, 1909, by the famous American actress, Miss Aera Held. The propellers, however, failed to work satisfactorily, and it was not until some time later that the inventor succeeded in getting all eight to work together.

49: "Rickman" Helicopter.

One of the strangest even of American flying machines ever built is the Rickman helicopter, which, in essence, consists of a tandem tricycle supporting a vast umbrella-like structure made up of a series of planes. To date (December, 1909), no great results have yet been achieved, but the principle involved is of considerably more promise than would at first sight appear; and the small flying machine of the future is possibly likely to resemble this.

50: The First Lady Aviator.

Madame the Baronesse Delaroche was the first lady aviator. She is a well-known French sportswoman, and purchased for herself a Voisin biplane. On the 3rd November, 1909, she, unaided, flew this machine for a distance of about 1,000 yards, which incidentally is also the record for the first flight of any amateur.