Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02

for a sixteen-cell kite. The frame was so
light that it was easily handled. although
passed around among those in the crowd.
The experimental then showed his first
kite The first was covered with red SILK
and its frame work was of wood. 1t weigh.
ed 1,291 grams and had a surface OF 34o4
square meters. The flying weight was 313
grams to the square meter. Prof. Bell
handled the reel on which was wound the
cord attached to the kite. and when the
time came to run with the cord the pro-
fessor was as spryi and got over ground as
quickly as though he didn't weight more
than boy. ~,
The Wind Not Favorable.
The wind was not very brisk and the
kites did not go as well as they would have
on a windier day The kite did go up In
the air, however, and remained at an ele-
walton of about 1900 feet as long as the
professor desired
The second kite sent UP was made or
aluminium and its weight was 3 pounds y
ounces, or 1,61T grams, with surface OF
2,4S4 square meters, the same as the othel,
square meter. Some addition to the weight
was also made by the steel wire with winch
this was flown, used in place OF the hnen
cord attached to the, lighter KITE. Inc
aluminium kite was-seRt into the air twice
and attained good -height both times. II
was managed By Mr.. Potter from wind
lass on which the wire with which 1t was
flown was wound.
The last kite flown was of an entirely
different shape from those previously
shown The tettahedral unit was used IN
this kite but instead Of combining the
units in the form of a tetrahedron, II was
made of tetrahedral cells fastened togeth-
er to form a horizontal plane The cells
were placed inI two fseries and formed
kite about six feet long and fifteen inches
wide, somewhat like 1.-THE Hargreye kite in
IA 1nf IT, -
struction Thfs kite was the only one
flown which has a distinctive name. 1t IS
called Baby O'Niel," In honor of one Of
the workmen lit Prof: Bells laboratory at
Eel said he did not know much about
flying Baby O'Niel." but he would do the
best he could. The~kite mounted in the
afr in good style. but the wind died down
we na 1t w as sa the a pr,fessor
to show his Victor kite. which is 4. COM
bination of several of the first style shown.
but there was not enough wind. t2'
Test Of Supporting Ability
After the exhibition Of flying -est OF
the supporting ability of the tetrahedral
principle was given: An aluminium Kite
frame was placed across two poles and
boy was placed on top of It, This Wis
frame of the size that had been flown.
The weight fof the boy had no ef.e:t on
the frame whatever. Then man. weigh
ing 100 pounds. was permitted to swing
on the frame by his hands. y careful
examination Of the frame failed to show
the slightest change of position Of any
of the units Of the structure.
At the conclusion of the test Prof. Bell
announced that he has a motor which he
proposes to test with his kites this sum-
mer, If possible. in order to arrive at somo
definite conclusions as to his ability to
construct a flying machine which will be
completely under control on the principle
Of the tetrahedral kite.
There were about 500 members of the
National Geographic Society and their
guests present: Among those who watched
the experiments closely were PROF. Samuel
P. Langley of the Smithsonian InstItu-
ton, Prof Charles M. Marley, Prof. lang
ley's chief assistant in the tests of the
aerodrome last summer and fall and the
entire force of scientific men and met nam
les from the Smithsonian Inssitution-s
hOuseboat