The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-31

Machine eteady-His Route to Colorado
Springs.
Colorado Springs. Col. July 3O.-Will-
lam B. Felts is certainly sincere in his
! intention to try an aeroplane flight from
the summit OF Pixies Peak to Colorado
Springs. He is working at his appa-
ra.us, which will be ready for a trial
before many days. Felts is man Of
| middle age. and is now in the commits
sion business. He came mere from
| western Nebraska, where he had studied
| law. He has been in the United States
army, and has given some time and at
tention to the subject that IS now alb
| scrbing the entire interest or the COM
| munity. His apparatus is comoina-
| ton OF Lilenthals aeroplane, is made
Of canvas with wooden ribs and has
| a spread of 112 square feet. He says
Il cos him about s12 10 construct He
declares that he has made several sue
cesful flights, starting al the top OF one
OF the many gravelly eminences in this
vicinity, running down the slope little
way and then sliding off on the air like
a soraing bird. He has been working in
secret. and his plans only leaked out
by an accident.
The greatest attempt of his life will
be made some time between August
AMI September g. The machine TO De
employed Is described as pair OF rigid
aeroplanes modelled in measure after
the wings of the condor Each vane
dips low az its junction with its mate,
and at this point the body Of the voy-
ager hangs suspended in easy harness.
From the tips. however, there is an up
ward trend of the pinions. presenting me
convex downward, to avoid danger
from extreme lateral sweeps and osc.l-
lations Directly over the body or the
voyager. firmly connected and drawn
taut between the body frames and wing
braces, there is an immovable rectopiane
which is designed to still further pro-
tect the right line of flight.
A hinged extension Of the aeroplane.
operated by pair OF opposing guys,
within reach Of the voyager as he hangs
in the harness. admits Of lateral changes
OF direction on the wing.
The perils of forward dips and rear
low position Of the center Of gravity,
which falls easily under The horizontal
parts of the aeroplane and much be-
low the convex extremities. The wings
being, however, rigid and rather wide
in extension, the tendency would be, in
case Of a sudden lunge up or down. 10
continue the accelerating motion in that
direction until the terrific velocity would
grow menacing or runous to the
mechanism or its proper man'puIation
To guard against such happenings. as
we'll as 10 regulate the incline of the
planes, there is tail wave attachment
to the body frames which is under the
control OF the yoyager.
The inventor has seemed TO appreciate
the possibility Of the experimenter los
ing self possession. n which case he
would hurl himself TO destruction. so the
inven tor has hazarded much on the abil-
ity of the voyager to see and overcome
danger in time for the upward and
downward play Of the tail wave is con-
fined TO what would seem 10 the mex
perienced very narrow compass. bu.
the controlling devices are under the
involuntary as well as the mental ac-
tons Of the voyager. and consequently
everything is operated safely and prop
erly. even in moments OF awful peril
AMI loss of nerve. For example. II the
machine should suddenly Wilt forward
the ma tural movement would be to throw
ones self backward. and this action.
Mr.. Felt says. would in two ways restore
the equipoise OF the machine-first by
altering the location OF the center Of
gravity; second. by changing the nell
nation Of the tail wave
When all is in readiness the voyager
will take short run across the plat
form Of the Pixies Peak cogway TO ac-
quire momentum. and leap on the brink |
OF the crater OF Vulcan. Thenceeorth
his flight will be across the great abyss
NAL valley OF the Storms or the Canon |
OF the Clouds. In The tremendous |
depths OF this mighty gulch the SHOWS lie
to eternity. From the start the traveller |
will steer for Cameron's Cone. Long
experience has taught him to guide the |
machine with sort Of intuitive instinct |
He will. therefore. keep his eyes fixed |
anxiously 10 the front, constantly mark |
ing where the line OF vision over Cam |
eron's Cone intringes on the slope OF |
the great plains. IF that line Of vision |
rises doubts also arise as TO his ability |
to clear the cone. When the line OF |
vision cuts the horizon hope vanishes |
He will then swerve to the LEFT and /
strike gu, for the gapway where Cog |
and Magog those stupendous sentinels, |
keep their stolii viglls.
r. owing 70 the contrary air currents |
or the rare atmosphere Of those al-i- !
tuies. ne loses elevation 50 fast tina. he /
cannot pass even above the portal that |
Cog and Msgog watch over. he viii |
once more steer n the left and sweep /
into the canon leading into Manit0u !
Even should he be forced as dernier 1
resort to take this avenue. he will not |
yet finally relinQuish hope ~ reaching |
Colorado Springs. for the loss % eie-
walton viii be counter5alsnced by the /
increasing density - the air.
NJ. Felts has tor ten years made
aerial navigation his special iine of in
vestigation He has travelled in many
quarters - the world. Lying OF his
"a - -a IA !