The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-05-02
HELICOPTER 10 FLY SOON
Johns Hopkins University Professors
Experiments Progressing.
First Trial Ascension TO Be Made at
SDRrrOws Point, Md, be-
fore summer

Special to The Washington Herald.
Baltimore, Nd, May 1.-The work is
progressing very favorably at present on
the new style flying machine that is now
in the course Of construction by Prof.
Robert W. Wood, Of the Johns Hopkins
University, and Otto Luyties. a we'll
known engineer of this city.
The preliminary experiments that Prof.
Wood has been carrying on in the physi-
cal laboratory of the university during
the past winter have recently been com
pleted, and in a short time the actual
work Of constructing the large model will
begin at Sparrows Point. Tie first trial
ascensions Of the flying machine win be
made at Sparrows Point before July. but
just when Prof. Wood is unable TO say. as
the date depends considerably upon the
progress of the work on the machine and
the weather conditions. The trials viii
probably be private
The machine will be of the ''helicopter"
type-that is. the class OF flying machines
that are heavier than air and differ from
the usual type of air ships in that they
do not depend on the aid OF a gas bag for
their ascension into the air and their
support there. but are raised up by the
series OF screw propellers. variously ar
ranged, that furnish the lighting power.
and then the propulsion power is afforded
by other screws. The great advantage OF
this type Of machine Is that 1t possesses
fully as much stability in the air as the
other kinds of machines. and can descend
TO the earth slowly and safely. while the
aeroplanes and such other contrivanees
must go at such a rate in the air to sus-
tain themselves there as to make landing
a very dangerous feat
The idea of the helicopter type Of the
dying machine took hold of Prof. Wood
some time ago, and, in connection with
Mr.. Luyties he has devoted much time
TO the solution of the many problems that
arose when the question was first at
tackled. Experiments have been carried
on on a large scale, larger indeed, than
ever attempted before in this country.
and not only have apparently satisfactory
results been obtained as TO the difficult
questions raised, but certain points have
been discovered, which, If the completed
model proves a success. viii be a yalu-
able addition 10 aerial science.
Prof. Woods machine win be consid-
| erably larger than mis- laboratory models,
for the screws will range from forty 20
sixty feet in diameter, and the motive
power viii be furnished by a 100-hOTse-
power steam engine, Weighing about 800
pounds Prof. Wood is to equip the
flying machine with a special steering
gear of his own invention. The gearing
of the machine in general is now being
made IN the machine shops and it IS ex-
pected that it viii be finished in very
short time after which the work viii
Immediately be started on the large
model It IS not known who will make
the first ascent. but it is thought that
one of the two inventors VIII attempt to
steer the airship TO victory over the OBJ
durate atmosphere, and so give Balti-
more the credit for one more first
things7-the first really successful flying
machine.