The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-22
Mechanic Thinks He Can S0lva
the ProbIsm Of Air Navigation.
WORKED ON IT TWENTY YEARS
Now Trying 10 Perfect Light and Power
full Motor-Present Machine Propelled
by Man Power.

BRIDGEPORT. June 22.-This city has
A representative in the effort to solve the
OF practical aerial navigation.
Gustave whithead is Bridgeports Fly
ing machine man" He is not advertis-
ing his experiments, and is loath TO talX
upon the subject, which has grown to be
a part of his very existence, but he con-
sented to give practical test of his APP
paratus.
Mr. Whitehead has spent twenty years
i'm the study OF aerial Navigation ana
this machine is not the first one ne mas
constructed A motor is the thing that
has been lacking. but now the persistent
experimenter believes he has solved tne
problem To the west OF Bridgeport
about two miles. to a semi-conlcai NH
called Holland Heights, Mr.. Whitehead'
his two assistants and the newspaper
men repaired. The flying machine was
taken from the barn, where 1t is stored
and Mr.. Whitehead placed II on MS
shoulders and carried 1t out TO the h'ii
ONLY as POUNDS.
mounds and this can be reduced ten 10
fifteen mounds by the use OF dinerent ma
terials For the tests on this occasion
the power of propulsion, instead or mo.
tor was n man who held rope attached
to the front OF the machine ana ran oowh
the hill Mr.. Whitehead took his posi-
ton in the machine, balancing IL on MS
shoulders nv a harness. When he gave
the word his assistant, who held rope
attached to the machine. ran down the
hill Mr. Whitehead also running untli
a sufficient speed had been attaineo'
| when he elevated the front OF the ma
| chine a ,trifie from the horizontal so that
the wind struck the under side OF the
planes. Folding his legs under him as ne
! ief, the ground. and supporting his
| weight on two cross bars that ran under
| each arm. he had no difficulty In flying
| az long as the man with the rope Kept
! going.
To ascend the front OF the machine was
| elevated and TO descend the front OF the
machine was lowered, this latter man
oeuvre driving the wind against the top
! of the planes and consequently forcing II
| TO the ground The height TO which MT.
whitehead flew was from four TO ten feet
! above the ground and he lowered In the
| air for distance of five or six hundred
yards. which was the limit of the run OIL
the man who was propelling the ma
chine.
THE FLYING MACHINE.
The dimensions OF the machine are;
Height six feet; distance between the
aeroplanes. one yard length. l6 feet
width FIVE feet With the tall attached
the distance from head to tail tip Is Il
feet. There are 240 square feet OF mus
lin used In the present machine. Th'
frame work IL of white pine and ash. anc
In telling the story OF his machine
Mr.. Whitehead said:
'"The day will come when man vii
step into his flying machine at his doc
the same as he does into his automopii
today. But we have yet to find moto
thatt is light enough and will furnisl
sufficient power. l feel certain that
will solve the problem In my new kero
sene motor. do not get the time TO wor
on the motor that would like. for m
regular duties as a machinist In the sho
of the American Tube and Stamping %
makes my own time short.
.But I work to IL and IL o'clock nights
and | expect TO have my motor CON
pleted In two months and Installed In u
aeroplane. The motor will be two-cy
Inder. two-cycle type, and will weig
but rs pounds 1t will be of IL horse-pov
4 or with a speed OF $500 revolutions
minute. This will furnish the power fC
the two propellers that will be placed
the machine later
"The motor will be stationed in froi
of the operator. The propellers Will r.
volve I'm opposite directions. ana the
will have a ffting force of 800 pound
AS tho entire head resistance measu
Of the machine and operator amour
TO but 2s pounds. as figured by caref
3 study. YOU can see there will be a gre
r margin OF power.
n "one gallon OF kerosene can be carrie
y. with the machine, which Will run IL I
. three hours The kerosene ignites by
l own heat and compression.
!, WILL MAKE A NEW ONE.
| "of course this present machine
" clumsy, but II answers the purpose
l., demonstration. In my next machine
will use steel tubing II Is hard 10 u
:, n good place for these tests one OF
things | have 10 he very careful abe
= when flying is the ground currents In
III roll like the waves on river confor
< ing to the contour OF the land. In
a are dangerous. II they strike the II
~ chine on top they have tendency
40 knock 4, to the ground and that is III
AZ Iv 10 break the machine and injure
onerator In later machines for perm
al nent use 7 intend to have boat-shaI
n box for the operator | am confident
gu can Nv to New York In an hour and
rn half when I get my motor Installed.
&c IL will never give M trying 10 ms
ir. a flying machine that will be practi
Pr. bic and OF commercial value. IL Is
ne easy matter 20 make machines that '
y, fy. but they are merely toys
.es Gustave Whitehead Is an earnest n
of and modest 20 n degree He Is MARI
and has family Of four bright cl
raj dren. lie Is ambidexterous
ri "
I'm Group instantly relieved DR. Thon
his Electric oil Perfectly safe. Ne