down at an angle of 1 in 6; but his best flights have been at an
angle of about 1 in 10.

'If it is calm, one must run a few steps down the hill, holding
the machine as far back on oneself as possible, when the air
will gradually support one, and one slides off the hill into the
air. If there is any wind, one should face it at starting; to
try to start with a side wind is most unpleasant. It is
possible after a great deal of practice to turn in the air, and
fairly quickly. This is accomplished by throwing one's weight
to one side, and thus lowering the machine on that side towards
which one wants to turn. Birds do the same thing-- crows and
gulls show it very clearly. Last year Lilienthal chiefly
experimented with double-surfaced machines. These were very
much like the old machines with awnings spread above them.

'The object of making these double-surfaced machines was to get
more surface without increasing the length and width of the
machine. This, of course, it does, but I personally object to
any machine in which the wing surface is high above the weight.
I consider that it makes the machine very difficult to handle in
bad weather, as a puff of wind striking the surface, high above
one, has a great tendency to heel the machine over.

'Herr Lilienthal kindly allowed me to sail down his hill in one
of these double-surfaced machines last June. With the great
facility afforded by his conical hill the machine was handy
enough; but I am afraid I should not be able to manage one at
all in the squally districts I have had to practice in over
here.