New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28
FLYING TO TIE NORTH POLE.

A NEW TIYING MACHINE INVENTED BY MIR KII-
CHKLI, Oh BRIDGEPORT, CoNN.-wHAT THE IN
VENTOR EXPECTS TO ACCOMPLISH.
An inventive Yankee, Mr.. Ritchell, of Bridgeport
Conn. has conceived the idea of attempting to
reach the North Pole by means of a flying machine.
He has opened an Office at No. 90 Chambers-st in
this city, with a view of bringing his project directly
before the public A full-rigged "machne.' painted
in CAV coors aud lacking nothing but the imitation
nf IFS balloon portion TO make IT complete rested In
the Professors Office yesterday. AS explained
bv the inventor to TRIBUNE reporter, the lnVeh-
tion lies i'm a combination of fOrces-a balloon ana
n framework machine TO aid IN steering. lhe nIG-
ing power is aft hded by cylinder made OF Scotch
ginRham coated with india rubber ana capaDe Vi
being inflated with 1850 cubic feet OF hydIogeh
gus A rod of mandrel-drawn brass tubing IS hlteq
along the under side of the balloon and is fastened
10 il by woIsted bands. From this rod the machine
is susnended by slender cords. The after portion OF
the framework the base of paraellograIn OF iods
from which rise, lengthwise, curved rodS eleleeh
Inches high in the center and drawn together at the
top single seat for the conductor Is placed M tue
centre. His feet press against treadles, by whicI
he Is supposed to steer. There Is par oil
handles or levers. by means OF when ne reg
ulates a three-bladed fan moving horizontally
beneath the seat. This screw-ike fan. when
feyolvng IGUo ue Would rye an essential
movement of great power. \ similar contrIVance
placed vertically at the extremity OF the machine
Will be called upon TO make 2SOO revolutions a
minute and to thus furnish the driving power
that must be used when air currents thl. ~
4" Do YOU really think OF starting LOT the NORM
Pole ON your machine T. the reporter inquired Oh
the inventor. -, ,
- certainly do. All | want is the backing Of
scienifc men and capitalists III THIS cty-Saicicnt
10 eoulp n large hyng machine and take mo to
the northern limit of navigation, aud VIII cheer
fully start. Ha. ha.' enthusiastically think the
great problem of the age may now be solved:
p" VIII Your machine stand rough weather.
mo; bat then You see, there IS little or no
rough weather in the extreme north 1t is silently,
Intensely cold there. The man difficulty to over
come was that of lOcOmotlOD, and have overcome
that. Nv balloon reduces the actual work OF the
conductor TO a mere tnfe. There IS absolutely no
danger. Wind or no wind, the thing can 60: III
bet 81 900 that can travel five miles on exhibition
without carrying ballast letting out gas. Publish
that challenge to the world and that machine
has demonstrated the successful navigation oil the
air at any altitude yet attained by @r1al SHIPS
" What would yOu do in case OF 4 storm =
Get out OF II, either by going up or down
Meteorologsts have ascertained that the various
LAYERS or strata to speak, of the atmosphere are
virtually SO many different currents. You can
nearly always strike the current you want. Should
this he impossible, the mechanical motive power
comes in handy. l eau travel IN wind OF less
velocity than six miles an hour with perfect safety !;
greater than that is storm, you know. aud must
be treated accordingly"
" How long do yOu anticipate IL VII! rake you 10
reach the polar extremity OF the earth !"
" About ten days. or 500 mi les travel. from the
poiut of discriminating. But | can alight at any
convenient time and place. Provisions and cloth
ing can DO easily carried on the body of the ma
chine. If the balloon he destroyed or exhausted III
ony way ain lost man. but that IS only one con-
tingency; the rlsk is loss than 10 any "'"eI AIcVc
vOyageT.' -.
Mr. RItchell will exhibit his apparatus within
Two weeks to party of scient men and citizens
of this city.