The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-01
DR.. BELLS KITES
FLY LIKE BIRDS
Tests at Columbia, Va, Are
Successful.
500 PERSONS WITNESS THEM
Three Tetrahedrals. Weighing Three
Pounds Each, Support a Man
Weighing 100 Pounds.
500 PERSONS WITNESS THEM

The tetrahedral kites are a success
Yesterday afternoon, just beyond Ar
Iington, DR.. Alexander Graham Bell, the
inventor Of the kites. made a series Of
tests which were eminently satisfactory
DR. Bell concludes that when a motor
and propellers are attached. which can
be done easily, a practicable flying ma
chine Will be produced.
The experiments were conducted at
the Weather Bureau grounds at Column
bia, Va, where there is a wide eNpanse
of turf which has been devoted TO kite
experiments in the past. The great
kites that have been tried at Baddeck,
Nova Scotia, were not in evidence, but
types of them were, and DR.. Bell
showed what the larger kites could ac>
complish.
500 Persons Present.
The National Geographic Society was
the patron of the occasion. 1t was one
of the sOciety's outings. in charge Of
which were DR.. F. V. Covile and Gill
bert II. Grosvenor. About 500 persons
made the trip. There was scarcely a
breath of air stirring, and everybody
realized that the kites would not be able
TO make a very spectacular appearance
but despite this fact the attendance was
not decreased. DR.. Bell deprecated the
idea that ne was going to show a flying
machine. but everybody, nevertheless.
seemed 10 be labOring under something
like this impression.
Among the most interested spectators
were Prof. Langley. inventor OF the
'Buzzard," and Mr. Manley. his chief
assistant. They both watched the ex-
periments carefully, and both seemed
aggrieved when. on one occasion, the
kite failed 10 fly. Memories of certain
incidents on the Potomac had probably
flashed across their mental vision
DR.. Gilbert Speaks.
1t was something after o'clock when
DR.. G. X. Gilbert, vice president Of the
National Geographic Society, mounted
the table that had been arranged as a
rostrum. and began his introduction OF
DR.. Bell. DR.. Gilbert said it was only
a few years ago when the kite was used
universally by children as a toy. and
only within a very short time that ,ts
scientific value had been recognized
With the balloon and the aeroplane
II is making the race for the building OF
the first successful flying machine" said
DIP. Gilbert. 1T is hard 10 hazard
which will be the victor. The balloon
has a way of going up into the air aN
disappearing. while the aeroplane some
times treats its operator TO a bath in thJ
river
Everybody laughed at thiS-thrust a
the -buzzard." Mr.. Manley tried not Il
look conscious. He failed.
Experiments of Dr.. Bell.
DR.. Bell gave brief account Of hi:
efforts TO solve the problem of aeria
flight and his troubles with the tetrahe'
dral cells. Their advantages were eX-
plained in The Times Of Sunday last
They relate for the most part TO levity
and the relatively large wing sur
face. DIT. Bell told the crowd how Il
was done. and the crowd cheered.
THE idea was 70 build very strong
structure from very light materials
said Dr. Bell THAT is what we thinl
we have done. The kites we are go
ing TO fly are two meters wide anC
weigh less than three pounds ina
shows what can be done with tetTahe
dral cells.
Then the kites We're put up into III
air-three Of them. They were dla
mond-shaped affairs. built OF spruce an(
red silk, and not very much heavier
than a feather There was scarcely
breath of wind blowing, but they as
Cended Just the same. Ut BEL scamp
cred across country with the reel o.
cord IN his hands. When the kite reach
cd a reasonable altitude. and maintain
ed a firm position. DIT. Bell. would beam
with satisfaction.
Aluminium Supports.
One Of the kites was buAt of alumi
mum supports, and this mads an espec-
tally good appearance. 1t caught IN,
force OF the slight breeze when only Z
few feet above the earth. and theI
scared above the earth rapidly, int
the air. Ii was one OF the times wheI
Dr. Bell beamed. The kite flew al
steadily as a rock In the air-if thai
can be imagined-and with never
tremOr or a shock.
Ths aluminium ribs Of the kite were
apparently Of the most fragile de-
scription. but their strength was shown
when a l60-pound man hung pendent
from them. There was not even the
indication OF a break. The frame re-
manned securely together and refused u
sag
Had there been a stronger breeze the
purpose was 10 bind three Of the kites
together and fy them as one. This
project was abandoned because Of IN,
light wind.
Power and Weight