No.6 Koukichi tried to fly again

Koukichi who was hurt in the first trial at Hachihama returned his home in Okayama with support of Yasaku. And Koukichi was carried to his room and laid down on his bedclothes.

Manbei, a master mounting craftsman, was surprised, and did not understand what had happened to Koukichi. Manbei asked Koukichi many times why he was injured. But, Manbei got no answer from him. Then Manbei heard Yasaku that Koukichi tried to fly at Hachihama. Manbei was surprised, again. And, Manbei begged Koukichi earnestly not to challenge to fly again. Moreover, Manbei told Koukichi to improve his skill very hard.

While Manbei advised Koukichi, Koukichi remained silent all the time.
When Manbei gave up to advice, Koukichi bowed. But Koukichi would never give his dream up to the last.

The rumor of Koukichi's trial spread far and wide in an instant.
Many people told each other "Koukichi imitated a bird", "Koukichi could not be a Tengu, a long-nosed goblin", and "Koukichi must be crazy".

After three months, Koukichi had been cured of fracture of a bone.
Koukichi had analyzed calmly in this time.

Koukichi understood how to fly according to his analysis as follows.
He thought it might be fly that the wing has been fixed like a eagle.
And he thought that he would jump to the windward. Koukichi was confident of his own ideas.

Koukichi decided to live alone, and he determined his removal to more secret quarters. Though Yasaku said Koukichi that he wanted to live together, but Koukichi declined the offer.

Koukichi started to study about his wish. First thing, Koukichi asked a birdpeddler that he wanted to get an eagle. He wanted to examine the mechanism of its wing. This was the same case as he had before.

After Koukichi examined an eagle, he tried to make a model of eagle which used bamboo and paper. Every night, as soon as he returned home,
he made some models of eagle, and broke them.

And he brought some improvements again and again. At first, he knew the effect of dihedral angle on main wing according to many tests.
Moreover, he knew that a position of the center of gravity influenced flight. And, he knew that the starting speed would be necessary to fly. So, his idea how to fly was jumping down from more high position to fly.

Then Koukichi began to design the new fixed-wings for his next challenge. His designed wings were very large, and these sizes were about 9 meters by 2 meters. Therefore, these wings Koukichi designed could be separated into two pieces in order to be able to carry by himself.

In addition, he designed a mechanism which could be controlled wings by ropes. Moreover he experienced many times using several models, and he designed details.

It was spring when Koukichi perfected the specification at last.
Secondly, Koukichi started production of wings in fact. But, he spent much time to product his wings. He produced long hours and cut down with little sleep.

Summer had come, wings was completed at last. Koukichi wanted to try as soon as possible. But, his wings were very large, and he wanted to drop down from more high position.

Koukichi selected the test place which was the bridge named Kyobashi over the Asahigawa River. The height of Kyobashi was about 10 meters,
and placed between the Okayama castle and downtown.

On the day after tomorrow, Koukichi would challenge to fly again.