The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-08
Plans to Make First Speed
Trial Before Army
Board Today.
FEELS CONFIDENT
OF HIS SUCCESS
Officers of Signal Corps Share In
Ventor's High Opinion of Big
Dirigible Balloon.

1"SH ana CLOCK this afternoon, aC-
coFding 10 an Official announcement,
made by Brig. Gen. James S. Allan,
chief signal officer.
This announcement followed a con-
ference held in the Signal Office be-
tween the aviator. who is under con-
tract 70 deliver a successful dirigible to
the army. and members OF the Signal
Corps aer0nautiC board. This board.
which Is composed Of Majors Squires
and Russell, Captain Wallace, Lieuten-
ant L,ahm and Lieutenant Foulols. &C
COmpanied Captain Baldwin 10 the aero
nautical course. and this afternoon they
are going over the COuse TO be fol.
lowed by the balloon In It's first trial
flight
This course lies over the military road
from Fort Myer. in the direction OF
Alexandria, Va, and the balloon will be
required to traverse a distance OF from
two to five miles without aIighting al
speed of not less tain sixteen miles an
hour: II atmospheric conditions are IA
NoraDle, General Allen announced, the
balloon will be required 20 make the
full five miles, but fl the conditions are
unravorable, the distance viii be de-
creased. accordingly. 70 the minimum
distance of two miles
May Alter Course.
The. course also may be changed in
accordance with weather conditions pre-
vailing at the time of flight
General Allen, accompanied by two
members of the board will endeavor
10 follow the course Of the balloon by
traversing the military road in an auto
mobile. while other members will be
stationed at each end of the flight, all
watching the operations through field
glasses An expert telephoto photog-
rapher OF the Signal Corps will follow
the balloon for the purpose OF photo
graphing II In each of the various evO-
lutions made.
Captain Baldwin, by provision OF the
specifications, VIII be given three trials,
If necessary, to make the required
speed, after which he will have an equal
number of chances at any time desig-
mated by him within thirty DAYS. 70
make the endurance test Of two hours,
at an average speed Of 20 per cent OF
The rate made on the speed test.
Notice Of the proposed flight this af-
teTnOOn was issued to all the army Of
hcers stationed in Washington, and IL
is expected that most of them viii be
present. together with a large number
OF naval officers. who are interested in
the probability OF the use Of balloons
IN connection with naval operations
General Allen, who already has witness
ed two OF Captain BaldWin's pTelimin-
every reason TO believe that the Of
fcial tests Will be successful.
A GdOd Balloon.
TT is a good little balloon and viii &C
complish all required of it. I believe.
judging from what have seem said
he. AT least, ali of us are hopeful
We have been striving for some time
TO obtain - successful dirigibIe. and, al
is Ia
hope to have later, # proved satisfac-
tory. Will form nucleus to form what
we expect 10 be a formidable aerial
squadron for military use.
The public must not OVerestimate the
value of the balloon we have advertised
for, with our limited appropriation. We
do not expect il 10 accomplish what
Count Zepplin's a1rship has done. We
do not propose to fly directly from
Washington TO New York and return,
although this craft promises 70 be able
20 do so, with one or two stops possibly
en- route each way.
A. NJ Herring. OF New York, who has
contracted with the Signal Corps to
deliver successful aeTOplane for $4,000
appeared at the War Department this
morning to ask that he be given thirty
days extension of time in which to
make the delivery. The contract called
for the presence Of this aerOplane, as
semble-d, and ready for flight at Fort
MyeT, by August IS.
General Allen accordingly, recon-
mended to the Secretary of War that
this date be extended to September IS
Mr.. Harding stated that, in trying his
motor certain parts had been burnt out
and new one would have TO be spe-
Clally constructed. He also finds IL
necessary TO make some important
changes in the plane construction Of his
ship.
Wright on Way.
Bros, OF Dayton. Ohio. who contracted
to deliver an aerOplane for $4,000 al
Fort Myer by August Il, has notified
the department that his machine has
been shipped from his manufacturing
plant at Dayton TO Washington. and he
expects TO have 1t at Fort Myer by /
Monday. Mr.. Wright probably will ar
rive himself tonight OF tomorrow
Major Russell, the chief assistant sig
nal officer viii leave tonight for Fort
IeavenWOTJh, KAN where he VIII as, |
school. where he viii proceed 10 organ /
iZe a special balloon squad to partici-
pate in the flights of the. various types |
OF aerial craft which viii be conducted
from that place, after their acceptance |
al Fort Myer. Major Russell Will re- /
lieve Major Saltzman, who will succeed
10 his position in the main signal office |
Major SaltZman also will relieve Major |
Russell on the Signal Corps aeronaUtic |
board.
Just after the close Of the conference
which Captain Baldwin had with the /
War Department officials, II was learn |
ed that the German government has /
cabled a representative to attend the |
official tests and report the results 4
Immediately. 1t is known that the Ger /
man government is observing the de- /
velopments of diTlgibles and aerOplanes
by Americans with watchful eye de- |
termined to weep pace with every step |
In the advancement OF the science Of |
aeronaUtics.
Baldwin Confident.
Captain Baldwin and Mr. Curtis The /
latter usually calm and unconcerned. !
bubbled with enthusiasm over their bal
loon after yesterdays fight. which last |
ed seventeen minutes, and during which 1
the balloon took long sail and how /
cred over the town of Falls Church /
causing excitement IN the village
II was estimated that the aIrsnip Al
tanned a speed of between eighteen ana /
twenty miles an hour, but Mr.. Curtis !
said that at no time was the motor lar
out beyond 3l5 revolutions q minute
while II is capable Of 800 As on the
two previous flights. she responded
readily to the propeller and steering /
planes