The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-05-08
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I seemed to have got the idea that he
had altogether abandoned steerable
balloons.
Nothing could be more Incorrect"
| said the famous Brazilian. 'If l am
not able to compete with an aero
plane in the contest from Paris to
London / shall very probably build a
steerable balloon for the purpose. OF
course, would rather employ an
aeroplane, because l believe the fut-
| ure Of aerial navigation lies with
| these instruments. But If the rules
| are against me l shall certainly go
back to the dirigible, not without
some feeling of satisfaction"
One former believer in the Wright
brothers has just confessed his faith
in them badly shaken. This is Cap
tain Ferber, French officer and
specialist in aeronautics, who has
just published an article about the
Wrights, which appears to indicate
certain scepticism. He SCOTS at the
price demanded by the brothers from
foreign governments for a machine,
which, after the flight made by M.
Santos-Dumont in public without Sc
crecy or mystery, is not worth more
than twentieth part of what they
demand.
Furthermore, he points out that
the success of the Wrights' machine
is nowhere unimpeachably registered.
Thus they may possibly derive neith-
er profit nor glory from their ma
chine, as the prolonged flight of one
of the many aeroplanes now being
constructed in Europe would cast the
brothers in the shade forever.
r An Aeronautical Institute.
Significant of the attention being
paid to the subject of aerial naviga-
tion is the fact that the French Aero
Club has founded technical branch.
called the Aero Club Institute. It's
objects are to encourage study by
aeronauts, to arrange lectures and
demonstrations, to enable members
to compete for prizes arranged by
the parent institution, to examine re-
ports on proposals for practical avia-
tion and to form an aeronautical IL
brary.
Prizes offered for model flying ma
chimes are attracting the members
attention. Certain conditions are
also put down, among them being
the weight of the model, which must
not be heavier than fifty pounds nor
less than twenty pounds when in
flight, and the length of the journey,
which must not be less than fifty
feet. No entrance fee will be
charged. The judges reserve the
right to experiment with the model,
both under cover and in fight.
If a practicable flying machine is
not evolved in the present encourag-
ing conditions the problem may we'll
be given up as unsolvable.
Legislation Under Way.
The Dutch Government, however,
is so convinced that the day of aerial
navigation is dawning that it is be-
ginning to legislate on the subject.
A new law under consideration in the
Dutch Parliament prohibits the de-
scent of aeroplanes and flying ma
chimes of any kind on Dutch terri
tory under penalty of 5000 or three
months Imprisonment.
The Aerophile, official organ of the
French Aero Club, pokes fun at the
proposed law. particularly at clause
which stipulates that balloons cross
ing above Holland must obey the sig
mails of local authorities to descend.
What is the penalty If they refuse to
come down is not stated.
Perhaps the Dutch police will be
provided with aeroplanes with which
to pursue recalcitrant balloonists.
The education of policemen is getting
very complicated, for they are ex-
pected to be experts in jiu jitsu, good
shots, good bicyclists, good automo-
bilits and, if the Dutch project be-
comes law, they may have to learn
how to arrest balloon in midair.