Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-02-19
W'ashlnaton Standard
ANOTHER FLYING MACHINE.

Charles -. DE Forest. Ut D2' Home
wood avenue" who has made. ii i Salo
machine that l. bound L. Great won
drnnnt among the inhabitants 81
Fitt>h1rg and vicinity, and will prob
ably >tartlc the world 1t i an air.
snip which Will soar through spac,
Ike bird, and whose speed can b,
regulated to suit the person who ha:
tn" temerity to start on 4 cruise III
the strange craft So its maker says
\ test has alrcacy been made OF /:
model Of his machine, and it flies.
The model, which is OF aluminium
hears resemblance to large hawk
or eagle so far rs the shape and dimcn.
sion> are concerned. In the construc
ton of this he was careful to arrange
that the body OF the bird would hold
sufficient gas to make the entire ma
chine buoyant enough to elevate and
sustain itself in the air. After he was
able to do this, he says, the rest was
easy.
Mr.. De Forest has applied for q
patent and promises to have the big
machine ready to sail through the ali
and mystify the gaping crowds below
by July 1.
The bulk and main portions of the
ship will consist of aluminium. The
length over all is thirty feet; the body
or nucleus of the ship, or huge bird
rs some may chose to call it, is
eighteen feet long the perpendicular
diameter is six feet, and the lateral
diameter four feet. In the lower part
of the body compartment is provided
to contain forty-five gallons of gaso-
line. The intention is to use this for
operating the engine stationed in the
cab. The latter is attached to the
lower part of the birds body. Enough
gas can be placed in the body of the
bird to render the machine as buoyant
as a balloon.
Running along the top of this
aluminium vessel is a horizontal shaft
of seamless iron tubing. To this
shaft the wings are attached. They
are eighteen feet long and fourteen
feet wide. By means of a lever in the
cab they are to be operated. They
can be thrown at any angle, and will
have twelve-foot stroke. The wings
are to be built of light steel and silk.
Ventilators are provided so that they
can catch no air on the upward or
downward stroke.
On top of the birds back is worm
shaped propeller. 1t is eighteen feet
long and six feet in diameter. This
arrangement is propelled by two flexi-
BILE shafts and is reversible 1t can be
speeded to gain a momentum of thirty
miles an nOuT.
The tail is almost square. 1t is
constructed to perform the same func-
ton as that of bird or the rudder of
boat. 1t is attached to seamless
tube running through the body of the
bird. 1t can be thrown into any angle
desired by means of levers in the cab.
1t is of aluminium, nine feet long and
eight feet wide.
Next comes the cab. It is also con-
structed of aluminium. Its dimen-
sions are 80 inches wide, feet long
and 6 feet high. All the machinery
necessary for operating the craft is
located in it. 1t consists of q four
horse power aluminium engine and
levers mentioned above. On one side
and in front of the cab are doors for
entrance and the necessary windows
for making observations.
Probably the most unique arrange
ment about this wonderful invention
will be the legs. They are made of
light steel coil wires. In length they
are six feet, and will prevent the ship
from touching the ground.
They can be set SO that by pulling a
lever the machine will suddenly be
thrown into the air Is or 10 feet, thus
clearing all obstacles when starting
on trip and giving the operator an
opportunity to get his machinery
working.
Attached to the head of the bird
will be steel-ribbed parachute. This
is provided for use in case of an &C
cident in midair. The end of it is
provided with stirrup that the oper-
ator keeps his foot in. If it is neces-
sary for him to forsake the ship, all
he has to do is to push open the front
door of the cab. The parachute is SO
arranged that it will be released with
very slight pressure.
In explaining the workings of this
invention Mr.. De Forest said that the
wings and tail could be used in pre-.
venting to rapid asccnts or descents
He says that he can sail his machine
at any altitude he desires. He feels
so confident of the ultimate success oil
his theory that he will shortly orga.
nize company for the manufacture
of airships.
Cooking Meats.