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174 ILLUSTRATED WORLD
or prow, which streams into the body. power function, this is a mechanical pos­
On either side of this prow will be hinged sibility about the feasibility of which
pressure rudders, designed to swing out­ there scarcely can be any discussion.
ward. If the one on the right is pushed It is possible that the front wheels may
forward, even a little, air resistance be mounted upon the familiar steering
will be increased and the craft will swing knuckles, at least on those aeroautocraft
to that side. Elevation and depression in which are to be used in city traffic, in
the air will be managed by tilting the order to provide for easy steering at very
monoplane wings, exactly as in the aero­ low speeds. Ordinarily, mechanical
planes of today.
steering will be unnecessary. All that
In the water, the planes will be tilted will be necessary to turn a corner will be
just enough to make the aeroautocraft the slight elevation of the monoplane
ride high in the waves. Steering, edge, the touch of the button which
whether in the water, on the land, or in pushes forward the right resistance vane,
the air, will be controlled always by the and the consequent swinging of the
vane rudders forward. For land travel whole vehicle, the front wheels an inch
the aeroautocraft will have four wheels or so in the air, about any corner or turn
also, to be used for alighting from the in the road.
air, or for crawling out of the water on Propulsion for all three modes of
to a difficult beach. These will be in­ travel will be effected by an aerial profinitely
lighter and probably smaller than peller in front. More effective design of
familiar automobile wheels. They will propeller blades, the possibility of super-
be subject to comparatively little stress. speed and all the power needed, will in­
because at speed on land, the wings will crease the efficiency of the aerial pro­
take most of the weight from them. peller's pull and at the same time de­
Moreover, the wheels will be mounted on crease its noise. Moreover, by the elim­
elevating arms, so that the touch of a butination of all differentials, gear-boxes,
ton in the driver's reach will swing them heavy gasoline motor and the heavy rigid
up and out of the way when a water ex­ steel chassis of the present cars, a degree
pedition is in prospect.
of lightness will be attained which will
As the wheels are for support and make aerial propulsion more efficient than
rolling only, and have no steering or present rear wheel traction. The aero-
THE HYDROAEROPLANE OF TODAY
This versatile machine flics or skims the waves with equal ease.