The wings are both double surfaced, and are of the swept back type. The span of the main wing is 28¹⁄₂″, with a chord of 6¹⁄₂″. The elevator has a span of 15″ with a chord of 4³⁄₄″. The main wing has eleven double ribs, these ribs being built up on mean beams of spruce ¹⁄₁₆″ × ³⁄₁₆″, the front beam being placed 1¹⁄₄″ from the entering edge, and the second beam being 2″ back from the front beam. The entering and trailing edges are formed from a single strip of thin split bamboo, all the joints being made by binding with thin silk and gluing.
The elevator is constructed in like manner, except that it only has seven ribs, and the measurements are as above set forth. Both planes are covered with goldbeater’s skin, sometimes known as “Zephyr” skin, which is first glued in place and then steamed, which tightens the same on the plane, and given a coat of preparation used for this purpose.