A Mechanical Tail-Rudder for a Flying Machine
Head n widens, narrows and tilts the tail; level flight needs equal up- and down-strokes
The page treats the tail as a rudder ('timone') for flying creatures and machines. A lettered diagram (b, m, n, f, c) explains that the head n is the mover of the rudder: when n moves toward b the tail widens, and contrariwise it narrows; when f is lowered the tail dips on that side, and lowering the opposite part does the same. A further figure of a mechanical bird carries the rule that, to fly at an even height, the wings must be lowered as much as they are raised. Sketches of the rudder and of a mechanical bird are drawn at the lower left.
On this page
Tail-rudder worked from the head n
The head n is the mover of the rudder: when n goes toward b the rudder widens, and when it goes the contrary way the tail narrows. When f is lowered the tail lowers on that side, and lowering the opposite part does the same.
Equal strokes for level flight
Of necessity, in flying at an even height, the lowering of the wings must be as much as their raising. This rule accompanies a figure of a mechanical bird.