The Aeronautic World, May 1903
This improved machine, which somewhat resembles in appearance the Herring Chanute multiple glide, is clearly shown, minus the screw propellers in the illustration below. It is equipped with three superposed concavo-convex aeroplanes, arranged 10 inches apart, measuring 18 feet long by 6 feet wide, which afford a total aero-surface of 300 square feet, while the tail or rudder offers horizontally and vertically 80 square feet of surface.
The motive power is a marvelous 12 horsepower gasoline motor of the two cycle, two cylinder type, specially designed by Whitehead for the purpose. It is built entirely of steel for strength and lightness, and is designed for high speed and high compression, and complete, weighs with propellers, only 45 pounds. This air-cooled motor occupies a floor space of only 6 inches, with a height of 16 inches, and consumes only 2 1/2 gallons of oil for a run of 12 hours.
...The two propellers, which are arranged in front, one on each side of the body and six feet apart. They measure 4 feet 6 inches in diameter and when revolving in opposite directions exert a pulling or drawing effect on the machine and not the pushing effect as utilized by steamships. This method of drawing into the air by means of propellers placed near the front of machine has been found to act much more effectively in aerial craft than like propellers placed near the stern and exerting a pushing effect.
The machine, which is securely stayed from every point with steel wires, will be first tested without the body and as a simple glide, but it is not quite clear as to what such a demonstration will lead, as the weight will be about 79 pounds, and this for a man to run with at top speed so as to launch himself on the air may prove a somewhat difficult undertaking. The aero-surface is so great that light puffs of wind may cause it to tilt and flutter about considerably and thereby shift its center of gravity and otherwise still further increase the difficulty.
Those who, like Mr. Whitehead, have tested similar ideas experimentally, know how difficult it is to handle such a craft during a breeze...
The construction of a practical flying machine is simply a mechanical difficulty, which should and will be shortly overcome, but it will require the skill and ability of a mechanical and scientist, and a man of sound general knowledge and good judgment. Amond the chief points for consideration are lightness, strength , great self-contained power and perfect stability. Of course, there are many other points, but they can undoubtedly be surmounted.