Evening star., 1903-07-28
TEST EXPECTED SOON
~
MarkN Activity on Prof
Langey's Houseboat.
AIRSHIP Is ALL READY
LIFE PRESERVERS HANGING OUT
ON RAIL.
Keen Interest in the Coming Expert
ment Manifested by People
of the Locality.


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
UNDERWATER. Va, July 2s.-Two life
preservers were hanging from the rail
around Prof. Langleys house boat this
morning. They are Of the ordinary variety.
with nothing significant III appearance. but
their presence out on deck at this time is
suggestive 1t has been stated that he
man who makes the trip in the big ayiug
machine will be as lightly clad as possible,
Prof. Langley has not given out the infor-
nation that he will wear Il bathing suit or
that he will be equipped with a life pre-
server. but 1t is said that the latter case ls
not at all improbable. Any of a thousand
and one accidents to the oerodromo in its
flight may precipitate the navigator into
the Potomac. Provision must be made for
his safety. The ship Is expected to fly so
fast that the swiftest steam launch will
have difficulty In keeping near. Then
should the navigator be thrown into the
water life preserver would be the very
thing to have at hand.
Chief Assistant Manley, in charge of the
party of Smithsonian scientists and work
men. reached the ark early this morning
from Quantico Island. where the night was
spent.
Air of Activity About the Ark.
There was an air Of getting busy. Doors
and window blinds We're opened. The
mechanics entered with a quick step. but
there seemed to be little to do in the shop
beyond ventilatng, cleaning and arranging
things In order The impression deepens
that all IS In readiness for an experiment.
1t is expected at any time. but such is the
secrecy maintained that the date can only
be conJectured. The present inactivity may
be. for reasons best known to the scien-
lists, considerably prolonged.
Residents Of this section are impatient for
test. From Fredericksburg, fifteen miles
away, come anxious inquiries for the date.
Some wish to know approximately SO that
they may come out and board in the neigh
borhoOd in time to witness the flight. This
morning Il lady and gentleman came down
from Washington, hired II boat and went
out to inspect the ark The curious looking
superstructure is taken by many strangers
to be the oerodro'ne. Opinion as to tho
probable success is divided. Many scout
the whole scheme. but the more cultured
have extreme admiration for the inventor
and confidence in his ultimate success.
Visit to the Stakes on Shore.
There was a departure last evening from
the custom of remaining at the club house
after the evening trip. The tug ID. NJ. Key
returned to the ark and then brought Il
party to the Virginia shore, where stakes
have been driven by engineers to mark OF
the beach These We're found to be in
proper condition. 1t is remarked that the
Potomac is now the scene of two mighty
classes Of experiments in which the gov
ernment Is Intensely Interested. Fife IN
niles above this point, where aerial naviGa-
ton Is being studied, Is situated tho Indian
Head testing grounds for the nations big
guns. So close are the two that the high
columns OF water from the impact OF A
cannon ball rom Indian Head are plainly
visible from Prof Langlcys ark.
Expected to Make Fast Time.
The arship under full flight, when 1t is
finally launched, is expected to travel at a
velocity somewhere between twenty-five
and forty miles an hour. 1t IS estimated
that the aerodrome Will go much faster
when IN horizontal course than descrih-
ing curves up and down. Experiments
some years ago with small aerodromes
showed that velocity Of from twenty to
twenty-five miles an hour could be at
tanned with the machine going upward on
an inclined plane The model which was
tested in 1886 went at this rate and covered
an actual length OF something over 800 feet.
The real distance covered, however, in its
curved course exceeded one-half mile.
This machine WAS a mere model in com
parison with the big aerodrone which Pro
fessor Langley has now perfected for the
purpose OF continued fight with directing
passenger. While the engine of the ma
chine OF the present date generates some
.
tho engine which propelled the model re-
ferred to did not give much more than one
horse power.
Description of Former Machine.
Its total weight was thirty pounds, while
the engine and boiler together furnished
seven pounds of this weight. Its sustained
motion was accomplished by two screws
thirty-nine inches from tip to tip, revolv-
ing in opposite directions. The pitch was
one and one-quarter. and the apparatus
was connected with the engine by care
fully made bevel bars. The boiler con-
sisted of coled copper tubing, made as
light as was consistent with durability. The
pressure of steam with the aerodrome in
flight varied from 10 10 100 pounds to the
square inch The flame was produced by
the aclopiie, which was something the
order of the naphtha blow torch used by
plumbers. The apparatus carried four
pounds Of water at the start and tea
ounces of uaphtha.
IN HANDS OF MR.. BEACH.