Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-01

Professor Ri;chell made a h,ipg msc1ine
shout Two ycars ago that would really flg, Il
! went up Or cano down al the wish OF the opera
| tor, vert forward and backward, turned around
remained IN ono place or vent to any desired
polnt-in shcrt, it proved that flying machine
was possible, although it fell far shot of realz-
iOg what its protector hoped for, and that while
navigation 10 the air was possible under c,rtsiu
conditions, thera Wero circumstances when it
was not practicable. The mucSiae was exhibit
ed at Pbiladelphia, ct the Permanent Exposi
ton, at Hartford and subsequently at Boston.
Its performances excited wouder and surprise.
aud indicated the correoInsss of the principle
upon which IFS construction was based even if it
did net 60 further. But even hying machines
lose their Dovcl!y ss 3 showpiec,, and Professor
HIche is now 10 tho field with q now proi
ecs, suggested, perhaps, by Commander
Cheyno's grand scheme of rcrching tho North
Pole by neropauiic voyages. Professor Ritobell
says: Il will 80 the North Pole in nv ajrshin,
aud tho very reasons that keep Captain Cheyne
from reaching tbsro will be tho ones by which
Till be able to succeed" 10 c,rrsinr ont this
idea no has built working mode oftbe airsblp
no proposes to seGd to the Arctic regions. It
does not materially differ from tho one exbib.
lted few months ago. The lifting power is
10 horz ,ntal'y PLACID cylinder of gossamer
clo'h-hoe linen coated with Iudia rubber. 1t
ls charged with hydrogen gas. made by the
usua! pEoooss from iron urnnss and suphurc
aclu' Broad bands extend over tho cylinder.
WHICH IS about twenty five feet long and thir.
teen tcet ID diameter, narrowing toward etcA
ena. Tho baDds arc fastened to light, strong
RCD, from Wa!c1 tho Car is suspended. The
machine is shaped something like the skeleton
OF cutter Sleigh, on the top cf which is the
operator seat.
In front oil the scat is cog edged steel wheel
about len lnohes 10 diameter, with double
handles. geared to four-bladed fan. moving
norzon'aIy beneath the operator. 1t Gao be
turbcd 2.500 times q minute. The blades of
the tan are OF strong wood, and each hes a 80.
perheiaI area ct about fifty square inches. The
blades are set like those OF propeller-that is,
at small anglo With the screw which turns
tnem. ihis constitutes part of the lifting and
drawing down power. The gas riasaa niusiy
nine pounds of every hundred to be lifted; the
ian tnkes care OF the other pound. The opera.
Ior, "ishleg to descend, reverses the wheel.
rfStn tne 'front.' OF the frame reaches out two
rOus, carrilog at their extremity a verlica ly
A>''to 'oos 'CfolfiES I,OUU ttUeS m!CU e
1t Is exactly hks the propeller of a steamship,
cZcsnt that it cin be turned by the opcra,or's
fUot ON right to left and vice versa. &C thus it
becomes rujdtr as we'll. 1t will send the ms
cllne forward or take it backward, and aIso
ehaOeelts Question. The Two faus can be- worked
together or separately, the mac5ioery beinr
slnp;e and qli,o wittin the control of tho
operator. such is the plan 10 the diuinutive
by which Professor Rilchell hopes to resca the
North Pole. The machine hs now has viii
carry one men. 1t has oeea tried, apd although
mucn hks the ons exhibited before it has many
improvements, is mere easily controlled and
nereat ? baaaced. Instead of worsted bands
Arouni the gas cylinder the professor proposss
to have steel sdius able bands on the biz shin,
which will compri S, the gas 10 the bag or allow
1t to expaad at will. This s1rsugement will he
says, cluuteract he iulasuco of the Did wealth
or 10 Tho hlgh atltudes. He believes he can
nske headVay against wiud b;o8ing at the rate
OF 'eo Il lies sn hour. The machine has already
travelled sgalosr SIX nils wind at fair sDeed
Further details of bis proposed pleasure trim to
;he Pole the Professor has not yet formulated
~ y Herald.