The Washington times., 1906-06-17
Says Aerial NavigationHaS
Only Reached RoWboat
Stage---Would Like
Government Aid.

Lincoln Beachy, boy aeronaut, who
has astonished Washington in the last
few days with his series Of successful
and sensational flights over and around
the city. cherishes serious ambitions.
he is not content to be regarded as n
mere performer. but has devoted hfs
life 70 the study of aerial navigation.
and hopes 10 make Il productive OF
actual and valuable results
The balloon airship. in his opinion
goes but d step upon the way. II is q
long step. but far short Of the goal.
He hopes to invent and perfect an
aeroplane. or some other form Of air
ship. that VIII depend for its floating
abilities upon some other agency than
bag filled with gas. He believes that
such an airship is among the possfbili-
ties Of the future and holds the modest
hope that he viii be the fortunate one
TO give 1t bodily form and permanence.
Talks Frankly of Ideas.
There is little OF the spectacular
about the lad, anyhow. He talks
frankly OF his ideas and his ideaIs-of
what he hopes to accomplish. And If
the adulatiOn which is poured upon
him does not swell his head into the
will do things that are worth while
y have done something. I think, al
ready" said young Beachy, yesterday.
This ship I am using now was built
for myself and il embodies some of my
owp ideas. Of course. all Of the Amer
ican ships now in existence are modelled
in their general principles after that OF
Santos-Dumont. This was true of the
California. Arrow built by Captain
Baldwin. and Of the Knabenshue ships.
which were its immediate successors.
But have changed the construction in
important particulars. The rudder has
been altered, and the propeller entirely
transformed In the Knabenshue ships
the propeller is OF metal-steel bicycle
tubing and aluminium plates. 1 have
made the propeller 1 use of wood and
linen cloth. and its advantages are so
obvious, 10 me, at any rate. that 1 shall
never be willing TO go back to aluminium.
With this propeller I made without
mishap, what I regard as the most sue
cessful flight anyone. has ever made
through the air-that from Luna Park
to the Washington Monument. the White
House. and the Capitol.
Have Reached Rowboat Stage.
II am going to keep on. I am going
to dc what I can to improve the air
ship in its present balloon form, before
I try for anything else. There is much
that can be done, I think. with the
steering gear and the engine. 1 have
some ideas on the subject 1 want TO
put into operation. When I manage to
raise the necessary money, am going
Ia see what these ideas are worth
Comparing the navigation of the air
with that of the water, we are just
now at the rowboat stage of the science.
An airship of the type I use would com
pare with the airship of the future.
about as a rowboat would compare with
an ocean liner. The larger types will
be the more valuable. Increasing the
size of the balloon three times, it would
be possible to increase twenty times the
power OF the engine. With such a ship
currents Of air and winds vastly
stronger than those which now make
navigation impossible. could be with
stood and overcome easily.
AN airship of this larger size might
become of some commercial value It
would cost. however. six times as much
as the one 1 am now using, would be
very much more expensive to operate
AMI would have no more value for ex-
hiIition purposes. Perhaps. II would
ha 5e less. Somebody interested in the
subject, with plenty of money. would
have to supply the funds for it's con-
struction. ] hope il will be built, for
think it would be a great advance from
present day results.
''Of course, there are possibilities for
the airship in war, even of the balloon
type. and of the size made and sailed
today. When 1 sailed over Washington
the other day I could have dropped
Continued on Fourth Pagel