The Washington times., 1908-09-06
Embryo Inventors Are Dis
covered by an Enterpris-
ing Reporter.
ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER THEIR MODELS
Both Washingtonians Have Been
Working on Heayier-Than-
Air Theory.

No one knows in how many Wash
ington heads the desire TO solve sue
cessfully the mystery Of air navigation,
is at present the most prominent of all
thoughts. but in addition TO those who
have already been mentioned in the
newspapers, two others We're discovered
yesterday by a Times reporter
Both Of these inventors for they seem
10 be inventors-one OF them holding
patents to most Of the parts of his ma
chine and the other being almost ready
10 secure these rights-have been deIv-
Ing for many years into the spring Of
aerOnautics.
The first. S T. BOmaT. OF The Civil
Service Commission. has been working
on sky navigation for almost twenty
years, and admits that he get his in
spiration from reading the wonderful
adventures OF Frank Reade. Jr.. whose
bright and shining countenance was
wont TO deck the front of many "a 5-cent
novel in days NOT SO far back in his
tory.
The second, <. II. Young, of 1907 Ninth
street northwest. has been trying to
solve this pretty secret of the air for
nve years. Neither AIr Bomar nor Nj
Young has been able to devote his en-
tire time to the perfection of a flying
machine nor have either been possessed
OF much wealth TO aid them.
Heavier -Than-Air Machines.
Both men have worked .ou heavier
than-air machines. but have to some ex-
tent taken almost opposite views upon
the question OF flying. Both think that
they have the best machine vet invent
ed, which is a natural view for inventors
10 take, and both have received words
Of encouragement from experts in sky
pilotage.
Mr.. BOmar's machlne-it has moi vet
passed beyond the model stage-is a
sort Of combination of an aeropiane and
a heliocopter, such as Emile BerIiner
Is perfecting, as was told IN The Times
Friday The operation of the machine
is different. so far as is known. from
that used upon any other heavier-than-
air machine
The model, just al present, through the
carelessuess Of mechanic TO whom it
was intrusted for repairs, is i'm a bad
way, looking more like a poor coIlec-
tion of junk than a small imitation of
q machine that may startle the world.
II the world isn't TOO calIOus by the
time the invention reaches The flying
stage
But when the inventor put it together
as best he could, after he had rescued
it from a bicycle repair shop. it some
what resembIed an aIrship. The body of
the machine is made in the form of
cube. a skeleton cube, however, which
made out Of aluminium would weigh but
little and which. presenting only the
surfaces oS the cars and braces which
possible amount of friction when in
= flight.
It's Construction.
The bottom Of this box of metal would
be a sort of orderly criss-cross of beams
on which the engine and perha 4 other
portions of the operating ma Ainery
would rest. At each of he four aers,
there would project upward SOM s.
tance beyond the. sides Of this box. a
straight rod 10 the top of which would
be attached a fan or propeller. These
propellers, the inventor believes, will lift
his metal box into the air, and couse-
quently. no starting apparatus would be
required. Two of these fans would op-
crate like the hands Of a clock, while
the other two would operate in the op-
posite direction.
The propulsion of the machine would
be obtained by two other fans or pro-
peners, one in front of the metal box
or frame work and. the other at the
rear. The forward fan would pull the
machine and the one in the rear would
push. Through the forward fan the in
ventor expects 10 guide his flights This
fan would not only pull forward. but is
&c be placed upon a pivot SO that it
can be directed a an angle 10 the ma
chine, revolving in a short arc of a
circle, much as do the more modern
Office fans. which are designed TO dis
tribute their air to all parts OF a room.
Through this variation OF the direC-
ton of this pulling force. the inventor
hopes to direct his fight wherever he
wills. There is no rudder attached TO
the machine, Mr.. Bomar depending en-
tlrely upon this fan
Serves as PrecautiOn.
The aeroplane attachment would De
used merely as a little precautionary
measure. and would have nothing TO
do with either the raising or the pro-
pulslon of the machine The planes.
which would extend from the side OF
the metal box, resting probably across
the top Of the framework. would help
air and would act as do paTachutes in
case of an accident. IN fact the four
fans Of noticeable diameter. would also
act as parachutes, so that the danger
OF an abrupt fall in this machine is
somewhat a negligible quantity.
In addition 10 the arrangements for
flying. Mr.. Bomar has also intended to
attach to the bottom of the framework,
four wheels. probably similar in most
respects to bicycle wheels His idea
in attaching these is that the machine
should be able 10 travel anywhere al
most on its own power and not he de-
pendent upon other means of. transpor-
tation.
The engine of the machine which, as
has been stated. would be placed on the
bottom Of the metal box, would be near
the center of gravity and would furnish
the power for the raising fans, for The
propulsion of the machine and when II
was on the ground for the driving OF
fhe wheels