Ayres New Flying Machine, 1885

Aerial Machine invented by Dr. W. O. Ayres of New Haven (1885) got its power from air compressed to 3.000 pounds per square inch in two drums. Air was supposed to feed through tubes to motors, last for several hours. The four horizontal propellers serve to give the craft sufficient lifting-power. They are driven not only by the compressed air but also by the legs of the rider thrusting on pedals similar to those used on bicycles. Attached to each cylinder of compressed air is a driving machine in which a paddle-wheel is brought into rotating motion by the flow of air. With his left hand the rider regulates the valve for air supply, while with his right arm he drives the vertically revolving propeller which thrusts the machine foreword. Appeared in Scientific American published May 9, 1885

Picture No

12698041

Media ID

47677395

Size

3900px x 3591px (8.2MB)

Credit

Science Source/Mary Evans