New-York tribune., 1908-08-16
MAKES GREAT RECORD
BALDWIN AIRSHIP WINS.
army Signal Corps Eldted OUer
Wonderfm Endurance TEST.

washington Aug 15-Like demon from the
SKIES its motor splitting fire and its long gray
gasbag outlined against the dusky SKY '
Baldwin airship landed in Fort Myer Io-iIsN
after making flight which broke aii recoiuS
for dirigfble aerial navigation in this country
For two hours and five minutes the Dag ihih-
tary dirigibIe built for the United states army
flew back and forth over course nearly nve
miles in length in the official endurance trial
The airship is the property OF the slsnai
corps of the United States army, few for
n,alities only remaining 10 be gone through
with before Captain Baldwin turns his aerial
craft over to General Allen chief signal oi11cer
The members of the board of signal officers
yrbo have conducted the tests were eiateo over
+o-dav's showing as the airship mas success
fully withstood every test required Oh Il ~
the terms of the contract between the govern
rnent and Captain Thomas s. Baldwin
II is believed that the board Of signal on1cei~
which will meet on Monday, will figure the
average speed attained by Captain Baldwin on
his speed trial yesterday at twenty miles an
hour. thus emitting the aeronaut to the 1uh
contract price. $3.50 The signal corps de-
sires also to buy Captain Baldwin's gas making
plant which is now at Fort Myer- It also Is
nossfbIe that ii will purchase the nineteen
thousand cubic feet Of gas remaining In the
gas envelope.
It was 6ss O'Clock this evening when the
Aeronat rose gradually from the ground 10
make the test for the final endurance specln-
cations Four minutes later II crossed 'he
starting line where it was timed by LleuIeh-
ants Selfridge and Creecy- Flying over the
same course as the speed trial yesterday
two and sixteenth miles in the direction OF
Cherrydale Va, the first trip was made IN SIX
teen minutes This was average speed for
hpi q
hour.
The rate attained in the speed trial Yesterday
vras surpassed on the third trip the course
to-day when an average of nearly twenty-one
miles an hour was attained On the outward
half Of this trip the ship sailed at a rate OF
nearly forty five miles an hour. TINS prooapV
was due TO the aeronaut's striking current OF
air travelling at about twenty five miles cap
tain Baldwin kept his ship at a slight angle 10
the direction Of the wind. thus getting the full
benefit of the air current when travelling with
It, The total distance covered in to-day's trial
was between tventy-eight and thirty miles.
Trroughout the trip the airship kept
under almost perfect control. and at no time.
said Mr. Curtiss did the engine miss spark
Riding on an even keel. passing the same
course seven times and then making manou-
vres in the rapidly approaching darkness.
the great arships performance left the impress
sion of dream
In to-day's test it was required that Captain
Baldwin remain in continuous flight for two
hours at an average speed equalling 20 per cent
of that attained in the speed trial yesterday,
/ 06 miles an hour This would be "a miles
an hour. 1t is estimated that the average main
tanned in to-day's flight was about seventeen
miles an hour
Another condition imposed that sufficient
al he cd TO he
and that excessive heating of the engine should
not occur. Both of these conditions were cas-
lily fulfilled. there being two gallons of gasOlene
of the five taken the trip remaining unused
when the landing was made.
After the forrnalities OF accepting the airship
have been gone through with. Captain Baldwin
will instruct two of the Signal Corps officers in
handling it These probably will be Lieuten-
ants Lahm and Selfridge- Lieutenant Foulos.
together with Lieutenant Lahm, will later con-
duct the experiments with the dirigbe.