Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-01
FIRST FLIGHT
Of FARMAN
A|RSH|P
FRENCH MAN CONVINCES
SKEPTICS AT NEW YORK
Heavier Than-Air Machine
Makes Good in Initial Trial.
Successful Inventor Wins
Ovation From Spectators,

lily Morning Journal Special Leaned WIre.l
New York, July 3l.--Rislng from
the ground like giant bird and dart
ing through the air at express train
speed, Henri Farman's aeroplane or
heeyier-than-the- flying machine.
brought here from France, made it's
initial flight in this country late this
afternoon at Brighton Beach. II rose
from an especially prepared dock"
at the will of the inventor and after
attaining height of twenty-five feet.
flew straight ahead on a direct line,
finally alighting with exquisite grace
when the air pilot diminished the mo-
tive power.
During the brief space of time in
which the aeroplane was skimming
over the center field of the race track
the few hundred spectators, most of
whom were friends of the inventor or
rival navigators, watched the flight
with breadthess interest. The landing
provocated cheers as vociferous as
| those of a race track crowd Farman
was surrounded and literally hugged
| by the iubilant aeronauts Members
| of the Aero Club of America, under
whose auspices he will conduct his
public flights at Brighton Beach.
wanted to carry the successful in
ventor off the field on their shoulders
There We're skeptics In the crowd
who did not believe until they saw and
they watched the turning up" of the
| aeroplane in doubting silence.
Farman's mechanics rushed about
getting the queer shaped ship ready
for the flight and when wires had
been made taut and the motor tested
the ship was carried to the plank run
way near the field stand.
| Newspaper photographers crowded
around the aeroplane TO get pictures
| OF the machine as it was about to
make its first flight in America. Far
maa then decided 10 again test the
motor before sailing, He instructed
his French mechanics in their native
tongue TO hold fast to the aeroplane
| while he turned on the power. In
stantly the propeller began to revolve
at rate of 500 revolutions to the
minute and breeze which suggested
of small cycloe was created. The
photographers were knocked to the
ground until the power was turned
off SO great was the violence of the
breeze that several willow trees were
bent double. Farman laughingly said
he guessed the machinery was work
ing all right. Then, when the crowd
had been waved back, he gave the
| Lot I'D
the aeroplane over the plank road
way. It rams swiftly along on its
| wheels for forty yards and then Far
man turned a lever which sent 1t In
the air like magic and away it flew.
The propeller made a whirllng noise
as IL turned 500 times to the minute.
only $50 yards were covered in the
air in this flight but q few minutes
later Farman made another try and
travelled $50 yards in the air. He could
have gone much farther. he said, but
feared striking a pile of lumber.
The flights are preliminary to Far
mans public flight which will begin
tomorrow. He will give fifteen exhibi.
tions at the track and 1t is probable
that ne will appear in other parts Of
the country, as many aeronautic clubs
are trying to induce him to visit Other
cities.
AS a rival attraction to Farman to-
day. Frank HimiIton, an American
aeronaut, sailed his dirigible balloon
into the race course while FarmaT
was preparing to make his flights
Hamilton's balloon scared over the
track grand stand and clrcled th'
neId When 1t was coming back :
blade of the propeller broke and th'
balloon was banged up against thu
grand stand. throwing Hamilton out
Farman was the first person to go &
his assistance and he shook his rva
aeronaut warmly by the hand whei
he learned that he had not been In
ured. Hamilton secured a new pro
peIler and sailed away.