Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-25
SHIPS FOR THE AIR
W. c. Dewey Still Hopeful Of
Success
IN PRODUCING FLYING CRAFT
That WIN Soar Above the CloUds-Hi
Former Partner, Pennington, Has
New Machine.

Grand Rapids capital is interested IA
flying machines. Every few days
somebody constructs al ar ship. but II
doesn't annoy any OF the celestial denl-
zens by rs WIG flights, and the ques-
ton OF aerial navigation ranks as
my slery along with transmutauon OF
metals and wnO struck Billy Patterson.
". c. Dewey was seen by Il reporter Tor
IIE Herald Yesterday and asked II
he was Interested Ia the Pennington
company, now operating IN Chicago.
lie SAID: "No, am not interested IN
this company, although l DO believe
that successful aerlal navigation Is but
4 matter II time.
1 am still interested 10 an air ship
company, when Is working on the quiet
IN Chicago. We are ETm ia the belief
that the problem viii be solved. We
are working at present 10 build ships
for the transfer or passengers. after
tha. we Will get 10 freight. Once the
ar ship is perfected the freight ques-
viii be easily solved.
Pennington on Deck again.
EAA4AA tWAAt LLt a4NNkA4A VI aAA
ships and aerial navigation, has again
come 10 the front and center and sa-
luted. He has been up before with
more or less absurd conceptions OF
mechanical lmprobablllties, but this
time ne has picked what, IN MS estima-
ton, is a winner, and IN about three
weeks, from Chicago heights. will be
launched the first and only successful
a, fThar1a Mr. c,,ba
opinion. Just what the cold, conserv-
alive public, which has hindered mven-
tive genuses ever since Tubal Cain
made hair pms and meat axes out of
brass, will thlnk of it remains to be
seen, but II IS not PROBABLE That they
will receive 1t with open arms.
acres of land near Chicago
from which the ariel motor will be
boosted INTO space, through which 1t is
supposed 10 be able to travel at a rate
of seventy-hve miles an hour and not
have to stop at jerkwater towns for
fuel either. This spacs is necessary to
prevent damage should the ship "dive"
about like a kite with too much or too
little tail.
MIR. Peunington's company is decid-
success, and it is said that the Van
derbilts are getting nervous for fear
That they will be Obliged TO cut freight
rates between New York and Chicago.
The Pennington company has lust
finished It's nrst building. 1t is a queer,
tall structure, painted red, and IS the
only building on earth devoted exclus-
lively TO the manufacture of air-ships.
IL covers $1,000 feet OF floor surface
and has the most wonderful, stipend
Gus doors ever constructed. These
doors are fifty-eight feet high and
thirty-eight feet wide.
Made of Aluminium.
The main portion of the air-ship,
which is constructed of aluminium, is
the Gargantuan berth of the great
buOyaucy chamber, or inflated cylin-
der, which is l25 feet long with a mean
diameter of thirty-elght feet. In an
other shop Is the car, which Is alumi-
mum metal, with cushion seats filed
with hydrogen gas and weighing alto
gether 235 pounds. The same sized car
constructed of ordinary material would
weigh $50 pounds. Everything is re-
latlvely light. The great fin on the
back is hollow aluminium filled with
hydrogen gas, ana those 10 eltner SIDE
are similarly made. The horizontal
rudder, which raises or lowers the ship
In the manner of Il BIRDS tail, and the
perpendicular rudder which steers it,
are also of aluminium and very lig mt.
The motor power consists of two
beautiful little engines Of ailoyed
aluminium. These engines each con-
sists Of four cylinders with four piston
rods attached 10 single center and
acting with reciprocal power. Hydro
gen gas Is exploded by an electric spark.
One engine weighs a minimum of for
ty-five pounds and has q maximum of
fifteen horse power. These engines
drive the great wheel of four spoons
that bores through the AR augur-like
and draws the ship after il, while the
little fans to the sides elevate the ship
or lower IL.