Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
ALL LOOK TO DUMONT
His Successful Flight Theme of
Discussion Everywhere.
HE TALKS OF THE FUTURE
Says the Aeroplane Day at Length Has
Dawned.
"THE POOR MANS AUTOMOBILE"
Thinks the Small Flying Machine
Will Be Reasonably Common by
Next Year-Cheap to Maintain.
HE TALKS OF THE FUTURE
aTHE POOR MANS AUTOMOBILE"

PARIS, November A-Santos-Dumont,
since the successful flight Of his aeroplane.
1.-THE Bird Of Prey" talks enthusiastically
Of the early approach Of the day when all
mankind will be navigating the air and
when flying machines will be more COM
mon that automobiles. Indeed, he thinks
that the flying machine will eventually be-
come the poor mans automobile" and be
safer. faster and cheaper. In an inter-
view the other day he said:
"The machine I am experimenting with
Is very large. having surface Of 80 square
meters, but the practical aeroplane. which
will be for the air what the democratic
bicycle is for the earth, will be much
smaller. With ordinary flying machines
1t is necessary to increase the size in
der to Increase the power. With the aero
plane, on the contrary, the speed will be
increased in direct proportion to the
dimfnution Of the resisting surface.
my present aeroplane was Intentionally
built large to overcome the main obstacles
as to principles, but with increased power,
which means speed, the size can be re-
duced At the same time increased speed
adds to the safety as a powerful motor Is
more easily Manipulated: We can, there
fore, look forward to a practical aeroplane
which can be comfortably housed in every
home. From the standpoint of main
tenance, the cost both Of petroleum and
repairs, the aeroplane will be much less ex-
pensive than the auto car. There will be
no expensive tires to burst and no bad
roads to jolt 1t to pieces There will be
no collisions. Next year people will be able
to go to the seashore on their aeroplanes.
1t will become the fad and the commence
ment of a new industry"
Bound to Be Popular.
What Of the danger?'
The only danger would be the risk Of Q
broken rudder. and I cannot see that
rudder could break itself. The aeroplane
Is immobility itself. The swerving which
made me descend on October % can be
easily rectifed by a second rudder to coun-
teract any tendency in that direction. The
practical difficulty. while the matter re-
mains in the experimental stage would OF
course, be how to control the supplement-
airy rudders while the hands are otherwise
engaged. My intention Is to attach the
yoke ropes to my neck and maintain the
equilibrium by the instructive movement of
the head. Later this primitive arrange
curial apparatus. When automobiles were
first introduced the man in the street
treated those who had the temerity to
operate them madmen. never anticipat-
ing the day when the fashionable
thorouoghfares of every big city would be
crowded with automobiles filled with
nurses and infants. Men will drive aero
planes as they now drive automobiles.
There will be a short apprenticeship, but
that can be served on terra firma- In brief.
the day is not far distant when the aero
plane, as means of locomotioD. will re-
place in the air the bicycle on the earth.