Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24
FLIGHTS NEAR FORT MYER
Proposals to Be Received Up to Feb.
ruary l.
SPECIFICATIONS IN DETAIL
Flying Machines Must Be without
Gas Bags and Have a Minimum
Speed Of SO Miles an Hour

The National government has become q
devotee of the gentle art OF aeronautics.
and invitations to inventors all over the
country have been issued from the War
Department to submit proposals. for tho
construction of q heavier than-air' flying
machine. THE Vanishing Fleets" may
mus after all. become more than the
weird dream Of a novelist. and Roy Nor
ton, like Jules Verne. with his Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and
Around the World in Eighty Days"
may nave merely anticipated history
The invitations to inventors are In the
duly prescribed form, and they bristle
with figures and with specifications which
indicate more than anything else that the
proposed construction OF flying machines,
sans gas bags. to support not only their
own weight. but the weight of at least
TWO men. in addition to the propelling APP
paratus and fuel. is regarded as a practi-
cability.
II the desired end is accomplished,
ander Graham Bell with his marvel
ously developed tetrahedral kite, or
some other enthusiast comes forward
with q flying machine which will really
n.y. the United States government will
porarfes. who have been experimenting
for years In aeronautics, but hive not
yet succeeded in passing the stage Of
the dirigible balloon.
Two Ideas in View.
Two central ideas are said to have
animated the War Department in again
taking up the aeroplane idea where II
was dropped Onto the Potomac) by
Prof. Langley. One. the desire to slim
ulate invention by hanging UP an i'm
mediately available prize before tho
eyes OF the successful producers Of real
hying machines. and the other. the pur-
a dirieible machine which may be oper-
ated under almost any conditions In
sections OF the country remote from
civilization. and remote from sources
OF supply OF gas; which is now the
1t 10 said that prospective bidders for the
atrships are practically assured of ma
terial aid In their undertakings from auto
mobile manufacturers. who are willing
and anxious that their engines shall be
tried out above the clouds. and also that
the government will cooperate in the
work preliminary to and during actual
construction.
Specifications Detailed.
According to the formal advertisement
for bids. sealed proposals will be received
In the department up to noon Of Febru-
ary 1. 1908. for furnishing to the Signal
Corps a 'heavier-than-air" flying ma
chine, and It is stated that all proposals
received will be turned over to the board
Of ordnance and Notifications for official
action at its first meeting after that date.
The specifications cover the construction
OF flying machine supported entirely
by the dynamic reaction Of the atnos-
phere, and having no gas bag The gov
eminent reserves the right to inspect any
and all processes of manufacture.
The drawings must show in scale the
general dimensions and shape of the pro-
posed machine, together with statements
of the speed designe~, the total surface
tai weight. 1t Is also required that full
description must be given of the engines
to be used for motive power, and OF the
material OF which the frames. planes and
propellers are to be constructed.
In describing the results which should
be accomplished the department states
that II Is desired that the flying machines
be designed SO that they may be taken
apart for transportation in army wagons.
or assembled within the space OF one hour.
It is required that each machine proposed
shall support not only its own weight but
the weight OF two persons OF an average
OF $50 pounds for the two and the weight
of fuel necessary for a flight of 125 miles
Minimum Speed, 80 Miles.
The general aim Of the department is to
obtain for the Signal Corps an areoplane
which shall have a maximum speed OF
forty miles an hour. but 1t is stated that
bidders must also submit quotations de-
pending on speed attained in the trial
fight on the basis Of the following scale:
Forty miles an hour. 100 per cent: thirty
nine miles, 90 per cent: thirty-eight miles,
90 per cent; thirty-seven miles, 20 per
cent: thirty-six miles. 80 per cent. Any
machine flying at a slower rate OF speed
than thirty-six miles an hour will be re.
jected. If they believe it possible to pro-
duce areoplanes travelling at a greater
rate Of speed than the standard the In
ventors are required to submit quotations
Of cost according to the following ratio:
Forty-one miles an hour 40 per cent;
forty-two miles. 100 per cent: forty-three
miles, 100 per cent: forty-four miles, 40
per cent. It Is desired that each airship
shall be provided for safe decent In case
of accident. Prospective inventors are in
formed that all speed and endurance
trials will be held at Fort Myer, Va. The
speed trial will be held over a course Of
more than Ave miles in length. with fy-
ing start and flying finish. The endurance
test will include a sustained flight Of at
least one hours duration. 1t will be re-
quired that the ship. to be accepted, must
land safely after its flight and without
the aid of special apparatus, and also that
it be in such condition that another flight
NAV he undertaken Immediately.