Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-07-18
Successful Flying Machine.
A STOCKHOLDER.

The Scientific american has full ac-
count of the -open-air exhibition of the
newly invented flying machine of Prof
G. F. Ritchell, at Hartford, Conn.,, on the
18th and 18th inst. On the first trial the
machine, which weighs ia pounds, went
up to height of fully 250 feet, past the
spire of the Colt Memorial Church, and
sailed off until over the Connecticut river,
the operator meanwhile exhibiting his
power to change its altitude and direction
at will. When he ascended there was but
little wind blowing, and the machine APP
peared to be under perfect control, but
gradually breeze sprang up, and it was
deemed safest to make a speedy return, as
there were indications in the sky of
gathering storm. The machine turned
and made its way back in the teeth of the
wind until directly over the ball ground
whence it had ascended, and then alight-
ed within few feet of the point from
which it had started.
On the second trial, some time was
spent in getting the weight and lifting
power so neatly balanced as to show that
the machine could exert a lifting power
of its own. When this had been effected
to Professor Ritchell's satisfaction, the
apparatus rested quietly on the grass, but
could be lifted or set back with the light
pressure of one finger. When the word
was given to 'sGo,'' the operator, Quin-
Ian, weighing SO pounds, began turning
the wheel, the horizontal fan revolved
with a noise like a buzz saw, and the ma
chine darted up almost vertically. to the
height of about 200 feet. There strong,
steady current of wind setting toward
the southwest was encountered, and the
machine was swept away by it, broadside
on to the spectators. Then the operator
was seen throwing his vertical fan into
gear, and by its aid the aerial ship turned
around, pointing it's head in whatever di-
reCtion he chose to give it. All this was
the work of buta few seconds. Although
Quinlan could move the apparatus about
he could not make any headway against
the strong wind. Reversing the motion
of his horizontal fan, he descened appa-
rently about 100 feet, to get out of thu
current, but, finding that impracticable
reascended to u much greater height thar
he had first reached. Still he was swep
off toward New Haven, and after littl
time went out of sight. He had vanished
behind a distant hill, and for while i
was supposed he had alighted. Then h,
r was again sighted, far away and not les
than 1000 feet above the earth. The cyl
inder of the machine looked no large
than an orange. Atlength he disappeare
? altogether. At614 O'Clock p. M, havin
< been up battling with the wind very near
= ly an hour, he descended safely at New
4 ington, and at 10 o'clock was back i
f Hartford. He said that at one time h
a was eight or ten miles away from hi
: starting point, but by tacking and work
O ing between the gusts of wind, won hi
: way back as far as Newington, only fiv
n miles from Hartford. He says that til
# working of the machine is so easy this
l. he could continue it for four consecutiv
g hours, without fatigue, in quiet atmo
r phere. .... .,..