Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04
ed through the air. and gain buoyancy

ed through the air, and gain buoyancy
on the kite principle.
OF the balloon experiments made most
have been with the sailing or balloons
provided with trail ropes Desiring TO
experiment with the variety of balloon
that Andree selected on his trip pole
wards, Lieutenant Nance, OF England
made an ascent in a balloon on when
rough sail was rugged. The trial was
! made in Essex, where the course was
necessarily limited owing TO the lack or
space where a rope can be allowed to
trail across country. During a seven
mile run aross the Essex marshes ii was
found possible to deviate about 10 degrees
on either side OF the direction OF the
wind This was deemed sufficiently en-
couraging to justify an attempt TO cross
the Channel, which was, accordingly,
made Twice over during the journey
the sail was brought into play, but only
for a short time. and, though the stretch
of some sixty miles of sea was success
fully crossed, the direction of the jour-
ney scarcely devlated from tsat of the
wind This was, however, due to the faet
that. having only two and One-half hours
Of daylight in which to get across TO tne
French coast, II was deemed undesirable
to retard the speed of the balloon WIN
the trail rope. and no time could be
wasted in experimenting.
The story of aerial navigation also re-
fers TO trials of aluminium balloons In
Germany For the first time an aeriai
vessel built entirely of metal was sent
skyward, propelled by an oil-engihe,
working a screw. During last summer
a series of experiments were made by DIT.
Danilewsky, in Russia, with an elong-
ated balloon propelled by a pair Of huge
wings by the aeronaut. A number OF
Short trips were successfully made,
though no great speed could. of course,
be expected from such contrivance. On
Nav LIST NJ Gaudron assembled from the
Alexandra Palace, London, In a new fisn-
shaped balloon, provided with 2-horse
power petroleum-engine, working an anu
minum screw-propeller and though the
rate obtained was quite inconsiderable'
the apparatus will. doubtless, be again
tried, under improved conditions. In
this city M. de Santos Dumont has peeh
experimenting with balloon or very
promising shape, being over eighty fes'
long, yet with midship diameter OF only
twelve feet. A 3-horse power Dion-Bout-
on engine, working small screw was at
tached to the car, and some lairly-suo-
cessful trips have been MADE
AS regards America the officials mere
call attention to the fact that the Uniteu
States Board OF Ordnance ana Fortihca-
tons has lust voted a sum or sZoVo. 10
be devoted to investigating the posslpii-
~ of constructing flying machines loI
war purposes, and, also, that professor
, Langley. one Of the greatest authorities
on the subject. has been asked TO assis.
the Military Commission. IL Is noted
that Mr.. Maxim has designed new ma
chine on quite different principles from
his old one. Passing mention Is made OF
balloon ascensions by Dr. Person, VINO at
tained the great height of 1850 feet al
the crystal Palace. and those OF the Kew.
7 NJ Bacon, who has made number OF
ascents for scientific research. captain
Raden-Powell. OF the British army. mas
contributed TO aerial literature papers
which endeavor to prove that the san
and trail rope methods OF keeping ball
loon in the air, and directing It's line OF
travel away from that OF the wind. are
the most likely to lead to complete sue
cess.
IL Is dIscouraging 10 have to note that.
with all this variety of aerial machinery.
and the constant efforts OF inventive
minds In Europe and the States. the trials
made at Mendon, about thirteen years
ago. when a balloon was frequently pro-
PEELED at a rate of fourteen miles an hour,
and steered In various directions. have
nor been surpassed.