The Washington times., 1903-09-13
Louis Gathnann, mVentor of
Cans, Has Model That Has
Stood Successfully ell
Tests to Which If Was Put.
INVENTION, HOWEVER,
OF NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
oNecbanical Engineering SCI
eace Applied in Designing
the Machfne-Rotary 6No-
ton the Ropellfng Force.

Flying through the air at the rate Of
ninety miles an hour, against wind or
gale, in a steel machine weighing
1000 pounds, worth Sl3O.OOO, and a
freak in its style of construction. are
the most interesting points of an air
ship planned by Louis Gathmann, the
gun inventor, and proved to be praetica-
bic by frequent tests with a model
Mechanical engineering science, In
stead of theoretical application, is ac-
tive in the designing of the machine.
Rotary motion is the means employed
to propel 1t. with two large gas en-
gines for motive power The machine
viii remain in the air for five hours.
when 1T must descend for oil.
No patent has been obtained by Mr..
Gathmann. He does not intend to con-
struct such a machine as designed. The
expense is too heavy. and he is not suf-
ficiently interested in aerial navigation
TO expend such an amount as $4,000.
He is willing. however. that the world
of science should receive the benefit
OF his ideas. which are based solely on
q mechanical engineering principle.
Will Stay IN the Ar.
More than fifty tests of smaller models
of the machine have been made by Mr.
Gathmann Most OF the experimenting
was done in Washington. The tests have
in every instance demonstrated that
the machine will sustain itself in the
air. It will ascend at a rate of about
three miles an hour. and then sail
downward at two degrees with greater
speed than the fastest express train
The body of the machine is designed
TO be shaped like a round box, fourteen
feet in diameter, and not more than ten
feet in height. over the main portion
of the car is roof which taoers 10 a
point and gives an additional height OF
about five feet.
Nickel steel OF the finest quality,
forged and drawn, and costing from S12
ito SIS for each pound, is required for
practically every inch OF construction.
In this particular alone the machine
differs vastly from other airships- The
mass of steel would make it weigh about
II 600 pounds. as compared 10 300 pounds
OF most devices OF this character.
Two gasolene engines, OF 500 horse
power each, generating a gas 10 propel
the machinery. are installed in the ear.
The force of these engines is concen-
trated in revolving two steel shafts, one
within the other. which extend through
the point Of the roof. and to which the
two sets OF wings are fastened.
The engines are planned 20 weigh
FIVE pounds per horse power. AS each
has 500 horse power. a single engine
weighs $500 pounds, and both, therefore.
5,0t0. The inventor has provided that
each horse power be capable of lifting
thirty-three pounds. Thus the two en-
gines can carry together 80 900 pounds. or
p. 900 pounds more than the actual
weight Of the ship.
Wings of the Machine
The wings are thirty-six feet in
length from tip TO tip. shaped like an
electric ceiling fan, and are attached TO
the shaft at a short distance from each
other. To lift the ponderous car the
wings must revolve 26O times minute,
each rotating in opposite directions.
Most difficult of ali the tasks that Mr..
Gathmann had to solve in planning the
ship was that of perfecting means for
sts safe and accurate guidance. As soon
as the wings revolve fast enough 10 at
tain a pressure OF one-half pound PEI
square inch. the vehicle begins its slow
ascent When the desired height is
reached, the course of the flight Is pro-
vfded for by a steering apparatus be-
meath the car.
This apparatus consists of a steel bar
with a weight az one end. BY the ma
nipuIation of two wheels in the hands Of
an operator. the lever may be thrown
out from the body OF the car in any d.
rection, thus causing the entire ma
chine to tilt at a slight angle.
Propeller Like Steamships.
Now comes the main development IN
Mr. Gathmann's airship, constructed
from mechanical point OF view. With
the wings whIrling round at the rate Of
2e0 revolutions a minute. and the shaft
on a slight slant. propeller similar 10
that OF a steamship is formed.
Naturally the machine is whirled along
IN the direction OF the slant. Strangely
enough. slight fitting of the wings does
not compel the car to take a downward
course. and It merely follows the direc-
tion OF the lever.
Mhen inherent course is desired the
bar is thrown out Ia another direction.
while the vehicle IS stopped by a simple
p drawing back Of the bolt. The descent
is effected by reducing the rotations Of
the wings.
The slow speed reached IN vertical as
cent Is explained by the laws OF gravity.
For example. a locomotive could not
pull train up a hill OF thirty-three de-
grees. Ten engines would be required 10
accomplish such feat. The same rules
hold good with airships.
Mathematical solution has shown Mr..
Gathmann that his machine will travel
a distance Of twenty miles in forty min
utss. To rise 1000 feet In the air would
require about twenty minutes at maxi
mum speed. Then sending the machine
downward at the rate or seyenty-1ve or