New-York tribune., 1908-08-01
FARMAN MACHINE FLIES
BIG BALLOON "BUTTS IN"
Scoops Ouer Fence and Watches
RiUaPs Successful Trials.

Henry Farman made two successful trial
flights in his aeroplane at Brighton Beach race
track yesterday afternoon One of the most
interested of the big crowd of spectators was
Charles K Hamilton, the dirigible balloonist
who without ticket of admission. created
sensation by swooping over the fence in his
airship and taking his pick of choice positions
in which to watch the experiments of the rival
machine.
No accident marred yesterdays tests, and the
aviator expressed satisfaction after the COM
pletion of the test flights at the manner in
which the apparatus had met the first demands
made on it on and above American soil. 1t
flew.
After the crowd had closed in around the
sunburned. smiling navigator of the strange
looking thing that. before their own eyes, had
risen and flown at the rate of thirty-siX miles
an hour against the wind, three French mech
anicians pushed the pulsing birdlike machine
back to the starting point
Again Farman mounted the small engineers
cab again the propeller was to revolve at
terrific speed, and while the spectators stood
about in excited groups the inner field the
machine suddenly started toward them, first
running on the ground, then rising few inches
only touching the ground again for an instant,
and finally rising to a height of eight or ten
feet IL scared away.
II was just 5:24 o'clock when the aeroplane,
after being gingerly wheeled by experts from
its private tent to the west end Of the inner
field of the racetrack. started on its first flight
in America 1t landed gracefully after trav-
ersing a little more than one-half the length of
the field. The second flight practically a
duplicate Of the first, except that the machine
touched ground once the latter trial
A running start made in each instance.
1t was estimated that the length OF the longest
fight yesterday was between one hundred and
seventy-fve and two hundred yards.
IT am not attempting anything to-day further
than to test my machine-to see whether 1t
feels kindly toward American air, you might
saw" said Mr.. Farman Tomorrow 1 shall
attempt to fly the entire length of the field,
which is $40 yards, and shall hope to do so sew
eraI times my first public appearance here
do not know whether 1 shall find it pos
sible when 1 become more accustomed TO the
air currents and the lay of the ground to make
circular flights in as small field this, but
shall do my best"
It was not expected that many persons would
be present yesterday, besides members Of the
Aero Club of America, but long before the
winged thing Of earth and air was rolled out
of the tent a crowd had gathered at the en-
trance to the racecourse. and when the machine
left the earth its first trip there were hun
dreds of persons running across the field loudly
cheering.
The balloon incident, with its sentimental
turn added to the general acceleration of the
crowds circulation that already speeding
up It occurred a few moments before Mr.
Farman's first flight.
Mr. Hamilton who has been making ascen-
sions in his dirigible balloon at the Brighton
Beach Park did not gather" with the others
at the gate and beg admittance- BY skilful
went over the fence-about four hundred feet
over il Steering Il with remarkable accuracy,
he circled in mdair a time two in front of
the srandstand then landed where he had a
front seat to see the heavier-than-a cha mpion
at aerial gymnastics.
The small boy, who was numerous, was kept
busy yesterday afternoon watching flying ma
chimes After the Farman trials Hamilton
his seat under the cigar-shaped gas
bag and was thrown up and down as by dis !
contented bronco pony oil his way BACK to the
Brighton Beach Park.
Brigadier General James Allen. chief of the
signal corps OF the army. was one OF the most
interested spectators of the Farman trials yes
terdav Among others present were Mrs. Far
man Captain Hugh L. WilloUghhy Alan r.
Hav,ley Augustus Post. L. LIE Rue Jones, AL
bert C. Triaca ]. r. MacMechen, Samuel Bow
man Mr.. and Mrs Paul La Croix and Wilbur
r. Kimball.
The first public fight will be made about 3
o'clock this afternoon.
-rnppTmaU CoITTD FFoVEc