Gentlemen, you must decide amongst yourselves who is the winner. The identity of the machine in my image is the Bouffort et Lantrès BL.10, which employed the Elytroplan design of the Vicomte Charles de Rougé. For those who read French, you'll find more about it at
Charles de Rougé et les Elytroplans, where there is also an article which describes the flight principles of the Elytroplan. For my part, I doubt that I'll have any further involvement with this thread. Sadly the moderation is too heavy handed for my taste. But I wish you good sport in the future. Au revoir.