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Extracts from the Aeronautical & Miscellaneous Note-Book (ca. 1799–1826)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

George Cayley
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Extract

Until recently it was believed that Sir George Cayley's note-books had been lost. In 1927 Mr. J. E. Hodgson, the Honorary Librarian of the Society, learnt that a quantity of miscellaneous manuscript papers were in existence in the home of the Cayley family, and permission was obtained to sort out from such papers matter bearing on Cayley's aeronautical and other engineering or technical labours. Among them was the Note-book, which will shortly be published in full by the Newcomen Society, by kind permission of Sir Kenelm Cayley.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 37 , Issue 270 , June 1933 , pp. 547 - 568
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1933

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References

1 Mr. J. L. Nayler, of the National Physical Laboratory, has pointed out that Cayley uses “resistance” indiscriminately for what is now termed “lift and drag,” and assumes that the resultant is normal to the wing.—[ED.]

2 In the same time the current moves from I to K.—[G.C.]

3 The symbol for angle as used by Cay ley has been retained.—[ED.]

4 As pointed out by Mr. W. O. Manning, this is the first known reference to the fact that the lift of a plane varies as the square of the relative air speed multiplied by the density. Cf. Bryan, Prof. G. H., “Stability in Aviation,” 1911.—[ED.]

5 On the authority of M. Charles Dollfus the experiments referred to “were conducted by D'Alembert, Condorcet, and Bossut in 1763,” and published by the first-named.—[ED.]

6 Robins, B. Mathematical Tracts, ed. by J. Wilson, 2 vols., 1761, vol. I., p. 200. See also Introduction to this Note-Book.—[ED.]

7 See page 552.

8 Robins used a stop-watch in his whirling-arm experiments of 1742.—[ED.]

9 Doubtless W. Chapman (1749–1832), of Newcastle, but the actual reference cannot be traced. Cayley corresponded with Chapman on an oil-of-tar engine—see Cayley's article on Aerial Navigation, Nicholson's Journal, Vol. 24, 1809, p. 164.—[ED.]

10 The earliest known experiments in aerodynamics made with a whirling-arm for the purpose of obtaining data applicable to mechanical flight, and the first in which different angles of incidence were tried.—[ED.]

11 The following sketch of “Cayley's first model aeroplane, 1804,” has been incorporated in the design of the new British Gold Medal for Aeronautics.—[ED.]

12 The earliest recorded experiment with an aeroplane or gliding machine, having both vertical and horizontal rudders, in free flight. The date is 1804.—[ED.]

13 Mr. Nayler points out that Cayley knew nothing about “aspect ratio.” But cf. p. 555 post. The importance of this factor was first fully realised by F. H. Wenham in his paper on “Aerial Locomotion,” 1866. (Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, First Report, 1866.)—[ED.]

14 Evidently added at a later date than 1805.—[ED.]

15 Mr. J. L. Nayler comments: “Cayley has forgotten the question of h.p. to be expended. A man could just fly under his own power for a few seconds only.” Cf. Lilienthal, O., “Birdflight,” 1911, p. 10, etc.—[ED.]

16 The following paragraph must have been added many years later. Theodore Jones's patent for improvements on wheels of carriages (No. 5415) was taken out in 1826.—[ED.]

17 These experiments are the earliest known attempts to investigate the problem of the “centre of pressure.”—[ED.]

18 The real solid of least resistance is still an unsolved problem. Doubtless the problem interested Cayley in connection with “navigable balloons.” Cf. the aerofoils of airships in the Handbook of Aeronautics, 1931, p. 243.—[ED.]

19 See page 568.—[ED.]