Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-07-19
AERIAL NAVIGATION.
THE EXPERIENCE OF A PRESS
REPORTER.
Ride on Myers Flying Bicycle
A balloon That is Dirigent, to
$Ome Extent-Uses TO which II
May be Put.

the United States by means of scien.
titically conducted balloon ascensions
both with passengers and without, and
has made it possible to obtain import
ant data AS to atmospheric densities
and dryness, wind currents, and other
elements over valleys and plains, says
the New York Sun. Mr.. Myers met
the reporter at the station, drove him
up to the house, and speedily intro.
duced him to the air bicycle.
The machine is like the toy bal
looms one buys at the dry goods stores
for children, which will not rise by
themselves, but blow under them and
up they go. The entire weight of this
machine is about fifteen pounds. The
hydrogen is made from water by a
patent process of Mr.. Myers, and its
purpose is simply to counteract the
weight of the rider. There is no rud-
der. TO rise it is only necessary to
lean backward and work the pedals; /;
to descend one leans slightly forward; ;
to turn to the right or left one leans
in the direction desired. In short, it
is like riding a bicycle, except that
there is no front wheel to turn.
Two of the machines were on the
lawn, and, after fully explaining them,
Mr.. Myers jumped on one-or, rather,
he stepped across the frame as it lay
balanced on two trestles-and drew
the saddle tight up to his body by
means of the handles. Then he gave
a spring in the air, and, as the bicycle
rose six or eight feet, he leaned back
slightly, worked the pedals, and steadi-
ly rose to about forty feet. Then he
circled round the lawn and house,
finally returning to where the reporter
stood and descended at his side.
do you understand the working?"
he asked. "Then get astride and try
it yourself. Don't jerk when you
spring upward; 60 very slowly, and
don't be in q hurry about your feet.
There is plenty of time, and if not
quick enough you will simply land on
your feet and be ready to try again.
I'll follow you as soon as you are
up?"
1t looked easy enough, and the re-
porter did as he was told. He gave
the required spring and went up, light
as feather.
"Take your time," came from be-
low. "Quietly now; lean back
little! Hero 1 come," and in another
minute Mr.. Myers was alongside,
about twenty feet away. Rising to .
height of about fifty feet the two
circled around awhile, until the re-
porter was as much at home as if on a
wheel on the road, the only curious
sensation being that of a very power
full wind blowing right past his face
without touching it. This was caused
by the helix blowing into the inverted
boat above.
"Now, come along" said Myers,
"snd I'll show you the country"
Up the two went nearly hundred
feet, with feeling OF perfect security.
The ground from which they rose is
on high ground and is covered with
timber, standing in the center of the
beautiful Mohawk valley. Down the
hill twisted the gray, snake-like road,
in and out, round clumps of trees,
open fields and berry patches, until it
was lost in the thicker timber . mile or
go away. Six or seven hundred yards
off ran the broad river, its banks
washed away by the swift spring
freshets, clean cut as q cameo, and
further on were the smoky chimneys
of the great West Shore railroad shops,
the stroke and changing Of whose ham,
mers could be heard up above the
trees, although on the ground they
had been inaudible. The trees were
clothed in the dazzling green of the
first days of the spring, and the tops
spread out like a vast green carpet
dotted here and there with the dog
wood or other blooms. The pattern
constantly changed, like q kaleido-
scope, as the light wind swayed the
branches to and fro. A most curious
thing was the foreshortening of the
trunks, which were scarcely percepti-
BILE, and formed light groundwork to
the upper green like the lower stratum
of a Wilton carpet.
The machines were under perfect
control, and even the slight head wind
had no effect. Mr.. Myers said head
wind up to ten or twelve miles an
hour was an advantage as far as labor
or speed was concerned. Owing to the
backward tilt of the spindle the head
wind rushed underneath, forcing it
upward instead of backward only
This is easily understood when in the
saddle, but perhaps is rather mystify'
ing to any but an aerial expert.
Finding that the reporter was con-
tent with his achievements, and would
not 20 higher, Mr.. Myers cried " Good
by" and ascended to about 1'OOO feet
it seemed, in . few minutes, circline
round and round the valley, eventual
ly descending and rejoining the repor'
Ter at the lower elevation.
"a year ago." he said, az had
man here to try one OF these ma