The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-19
BALDWIN TEACHES
DIRIGIBLE SCHOOL
Aeronaut Says Army Officers
Will Soon Be More Prof.
Gent Than Himself.

Wnlle under the guidance OF LleuteA-
ants Lahm and Selfridge last night, the
aTship that IS still known as the Bald
win dirigible. almost came to grief, only
the strenuous efforts of a number of
enlisted men saving it from dashing TO
the hard surface of the parade ground
at Fort AIyeT
This near-accident was the only IN
toward incident OF the whole day and
evening. the Signal Corps officers MAX
/ ing eight successful flights under the
direction Of Captain Baldwin, and in
all OF them. manifesting a thorough IA
miliarity with the workings OF the ma
chine.
Lieutenant Foulois was the first officer
| to take charge of the engine OF the dirI-
gible, but Lieutenant Lahm, who has
had more experience in air flights. was
/ the first TO try the steering gear.
All the officers were pleased with the
way in which they have been aDle 10
| pick up air navigation Brlgadler Cen
eraI Allen chief signal officer who Wiz
messed the flights, was also much pleased
with them.
Baldwin Sole Professor
The school Of dirigible instruction. Of
which Captain Baldwin is the nrst and
at present the sole professor, started
/ out TO do real business in the morning.
when the captain began teaching the
Signal Corps officers and men some or
the fine points of navigating the air.
The captain hasn't let down IN his
method of working ma each day. just
/ because he has virtually completed MS
contract with the United States apd
now really no longer owns the big gray
dirigible which rests easily in the bal
| loon tent on the parade ground al Fort
/ Myer.
| II anything. the captain. works harder
] than ever. Yesterday, from morning
until night, he was busy. Busy with
minor details of the machine. tinkering
here and there and everywhere ana
J iustructing the officers III the details OF
4 the machines operations
! OF course. he wants the Signal Corps
men TO run his airship, and naturally
! he wants them 10 run II wei. lie does
/ not care 10 have anyone try 70 iiy VIII
/ IL who doesn't know what IL is meI-Ilt
/ TO do and what II cannot do.
Tunes Up Engine.
/ So during the afternoon he tuned up
/ the strong little engine that sends the
nine-foot propeller whizzing about the
shaft at a rate Of so revolutions min
ute
( After making a change in the 'tilier'
: ropes. so that they may be pullei more
/ easily, and with less danger 70 the
]
/ frame. he ordered the sand bsgs re-
moved from the frame, the ropes at
| tached to il were united, and the air
/ ship allowed TO soar up till II almost
| touched the top Of the tent
| High trestles were then placed under
/ It. and the new engineer, Lieutenant
/ Foulois, took his seat forward. and tried
/ ms hand u Operating the engine.
Apparently there was no dinlculty
! experienced by the army officer ia
| starting this machine, although neither
! he nor any Of the other officers now
! attending the school" have performed
/ in a genuine diTigiDle before.
/ They'll know more about it than /
/ do in a week. said the captain, as he
/ watched LieutGnants FOulOis and Sell
] fridge start the engine, speed her up 70
4 the highest notch. and slow her down
| again without missing FIRE once.
Wright Not Missed.
/ Although OrviIe Wright was expected
/ at Fort AIyer yesterday. nobody seemed
4 to be much interested when he failed 10
! show up.
/ Wright's aeroplane at present must
give way TO the tangible thing, Bald
/ wins ship, already on the ground, and
/ waiting TO be conquered.
! August Post. secretary Of the Aero
| Club Of America, is Stiu sticking by
! Captain Baldwin, and is still on hand
/ each day, lending his assistance at
! every opportunity.
/ When a reporter mentioned the fact
! that the Wright brothers would have TO
spend some time In laying the track
! necessary for their aeTOplane, Mr.. Post
said they would not lose any time at
''They intend to use the electric road
I tracks" said he.