Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-25
Progress in Airships.

The Baltimore American has an in
teresting discussion of the progress in
airship construction. The scientists
who are interested in the navigation of
the air are asking the question, SIS the
airship Of the future to be a dirigible
balloon or is it to be motor-driven
acceptance" The American answers
that it can scarcely be claimed that
this question has vet been determined
with definiteness. Mechanical aero
plane flight is an accomplished fact
so much can no longer be disputed.
But the aeroplane does not as yet
seem to have been brought under as
satisfactory steering control as has
the gas-bag fioated car. Interest at
present attaches to the aeroplane chief
ly because of what is expected from
that method Of air navigation, though
an actual flight of twenty-five miles
has been made, and at an average
speed Of twenty-five miles an hour. The
Wright brothers. who are destined to
hold in the realm of aeronautics the
same position that Stephenson holds in
regard to the locomotive, Fulton to the
steamboat and Edison to the electric
light, are engaged in the construction
Of new and larger aeroplane than
any with which they have so far ex-
perimented, and with which they are
confident of driving for a distance of
800 rifles and at an average speed of
not less than 50 miles an hour.
Though great expectations are d.
rected to the possible future accom-
plishments in aeroplane flight, there is
by no means lessening of interest in
dirigible balloon construction, and no
cessation OF effort to improve details in
this form Of air navigation. The de-
gree of control of ballon ships already
achieved is wonderful. The art OF
steering the gas-bag airship with the
wind or against the wind has been 50
nearly perfected that, as was recently
commented upon in The American, the
French government has ordered three
Of these airships for military use, two
of which have been completed and de-
livered. The second of these French
military airships was delivered by the
makers to the military aeronautic
corps on the 18th of last December. At
10 o'clock on the day of delivery it rose
in the air TO a height of 656 feet. and
then made a straight-line flight to its
place Of destination, Chalais- Mendon,
which was thirty-one and four-tenths
miles away. The distance vas COW
cred in one hour and twelve minutes.
hour. Count Won Zeppelin, 1t is
known, is experimenting with and per-
fecting in various particulars a
monster airship, which is credited with
being able to lift three tons in addi-
ton to its own weight. The Zeppelin
ship has made several flights, though
the inventor does not as yet regard it
as finished contrivance.
The American predicts that the year
1907 will be nota BILE for airship achieve
ments. both on the part of the dirigible
balloon type of crafts and the aero
plane machine designs. Numerous
prizes have been offered for specified
accomplishments in air navigation.
The largest Of these is the $50. 900 prize
which the London Daily Mail recently
offered to anyone who will travel by
aeroplane from London to Manchester
within one day On a straight line
this is distance of about $50 miles,
and, as the present aeroplane record
flight is only something over twenty
five miles, there is considerable mar
gin OF difference to be overcome. If
the Wright brothers achieve their ex-
pectations, however, this prize will be
captured The Aero Club Of America
has offered a $500 prize for a balloon
race at jamestown, and it is highly
probable that additional stimulus will
he given to this air contest event by
the putting up of other prizes.