The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-28
NAVIGATION IN THE AIR.
A Flying chino In Which tho Hon. r. T.
Barnunl Is Interested.

Mr.. c. F. Ritchel, of Cory, has been
perfecting fying-nachine on a new
plan in the Riverside Hotel, East Bridge
port; the machine stands in the hall
nearly completed 1t consists of black
silk cylinder twenty-four feet long and
twelve feet in diameter, holding 5000
feet of gas, and car suspended from the
silk cylinder by cords and rods. This
car is of slender brass rods, and extends
the whole length of the cylinder, taper
ing to point at each end. In the center
is o platform, upon which the occupant
sits. In front of the seat are two cranks
attached to wheel, which in turn is con-
nected with an upright shaft, at the lower
end of which is a fan similar to the screw
of propeller. This fan is about level
with the bottom of the platform, and is
made of thin brass plates. At the front
end of the long car is another brass fan,
which is so constructed that it can be
turned in any direction by the feet of the
occupant of the car, while the center fan
is at the same time worked by his hands.
A man of ordinary strength can re-
volve the handles ct the rate of 100
minute, which gives the fan $500 revo-
lutions. The silk cylinder, filled with
hydrogen gas, which is the lightest that
can be used, is to sustain all but a frac-
ton of the weight to be carried, and the
central fan is expected to lift the rest by
a pressure upor the air similar to that
which a propeller wheel has upon the
water. The air being much less dense,
the fan or erial screw is given rapidity
of motion sufficient to partially overcome
this difference. By reversing the motion
of the fan the power is so exerted as to
raise or lower the machine at will. The
fan at the end of the framework is also
revolved with great rapidity by foot
power, and can be turned straight ahead
or on either side, working on plan sim
liar to that of the Fowler steering pro-
peller. By the use of this fan the ma
chine can be steered like ship, and. the
inventor expects that erial navigation
will be accomplished in the same man
ner that the ocean is traversed by ships,
the gas-fllcd cylinder serving the pur-
pose of sail, and the fans guiding the
machine through the air.
Mr.. P. T.. Barnum, who is interested
in the Invention, was present at yester-
days test. There was q flaw in the steer
age apparatus, by which the fan was
caught and broken; nevertheless the
machine raised as high as the ceiling,
and was lowered at the will of the opera
tor. We are informed chat the machine
was tested day or two ago in the pres.
ence of an expert from New York, and
that it worked perfectly, sailing about the
room, and all the time under the perfect
control of the operator. Mr.. Ritchel has
been working upon the invention since
1871, and is confident he has found the
much-sought-for principle to be safely
applied in erial navigation. He has ap-
piled for a patent in the United States,
Canada, Great Britain and France. He
expects that larger machine, capable
of carrying several men, would work even
more successfully than the small one now
being tested, as more power could be en-
ployed, and he even has hopes of still
larger one, in which the motive power
will be furnished by q small engine.
He informs US that the model of his in,
vention has been shown to the editor of
the Scientific Anserictua, who said he be-
lieved it might be made so successful that
trip could be taken to the North Pole
in it. Mr.. Ritchel is q very intelligent.
looking gentleman, apparently about
thirty-fve years of age. He claims that
all other inventors have failed with their
flying g-machines because they have trust
ed entirely to the Lifting capacity of the
balloon appendage, rising by throwing out
ballast and falling by letting out gas.
Another defect has been the placing of
the steering apparatus in the center,
where only comparatively small amount
of power could De ekercised.-Bridgport
Standard