Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
AVIATION IN AMERICA
Experiment of Aerial Associa-
ton at Hammondsport.
WORK OF THE AER0DROME
DR.. Bell and F. N. Baldwin Behind
Present Ventures.
SUCCESS OF TETRAHEDRAL
Progress of Efforts to Navigate the
Air-U. S. Army Deeply Inter
ested in All Developments.
SUCCESS OF TETRAHEDRAL

HAMMoNDSpORT. n Y. May 1s.-A
preliminary trial was made last evening
of the aerodrome White Wing designed
BY F. w Baldwin and constructed by
the Aerial Experiment Association. OF
which DR.. Alexander, Graham Bell is
chairman.
The aviator's seat was occupied by
Lieut. Thomas Selfridge of the United
States Army. The people Of Hammonds-
port turned out IN large numbers to wit
ness the experiment. No attempt was
made to rise into the air The machine
had been provided with wheels. but the
steering gear was attached to the wheels,
as it was thought that the aerial rudder
would control the motion ahe machine
while on the ground. This proved to be
insufficient for the purpose. for the ma
chine could not be kept from running off
the track to one side or the other
It was decided to make slight change
in the attachment OF the front wheel and
provide it with steering gear so as to en-
able the operator to steer the machine on
the race track for distance long enough
to gain sufficient speed to get into the
air. No attempt will be made to fly I'M
til the operators are satisfied that they
have the machine. under full control on
the ground
Experimenters Working Conformity.
The Aerial Experiment Association.
which has its winter headquarters at
HammondEport. is an association Of ex
perinenters who are working conformity to
promote the progress of aviation in
America. At present there are Ave MEM
bers--Alexander Graham Bell F. W. Bald
win. J. A. D. McCurdy, Glen H. Curtiss
and Thomas Selfrdge. Their common
object is the construction of practical
aerodrome or flying machine driven
through the air by It's own motive power
and carrying man.
In pursuance of this aim the association
has already built two aerodromes No. 1,
Selfridge's Red Wing upon plans ap-
proved By Lieut. rh %nss selfrdge and
plans approved by r. w. Baldwin. The
tetrahedral aerodrome of DR.. Bell will
probably be No. 3. and then will follow
No. 4 and No. s. the aerodrornes OF Mr..
Curtis ana Mr. McCurdy.
1t is expected that all these aerodroms
will be built within the present year. The
two that already have been completed
have been wrongfully ascribed at times in
the public press to DR.. Bell the chairman
of the association. His aerodron1e has not
yet been completed. and work will not be
resumed upon 1t until June. Then the
headquarters of the association will be
moved to Baddeck. Nova Scotia. where
DR.. Bell has his summer home.
DR.. Bells 4Cygnet."
The work on DR.. Bells machine pro.
crossed last year at Baddeck to the point
of constructing a large tetrahedral kite
known as the "Cygnet." which December
6. 1907, successfully carried Lieut.. Sell
fridge up into the air to height of les
feet above the waters of the Bras dor
lake.
At the conclusion Of this experiment the
"Cyghet" landed gently on the surface of
the watsr and foated there quite unin
jured BY It's experience in the air 1t was
subsequently wrecked by being towed at
full speed through rough water by pow
erful steamboat BY that time the season
had so far advanced in Baddeck that fur
Their experiments with DR.. Bells structure
had to be postponed until the opening o,
navigation in the present year.
In June the Baddeck experiments will
be resumed by the construction of another
tetrahedral structure upon the model of
the Cygnet and the attempt will then be
made to construct the kite into an aero
drome by providing 1t with motive power.
The First Aerodrome.
The first aerodrome actually completed
by the association was Selfridges Red
Wing" This aerodrome made a success
full flight of $40 feet over the ice on Lake
Keuka near Hammondsport March IL,
1908. in the presence Of many witnesses.
This experiment was somewhat remark
able as being declared the first success
full flight of a flying machine in Amer
lea. the earlier flights Of the Wright
brothers at Dayton, Ohio. having been
conducted in secret.
The machine had been provided with
sledge runners and glided over the ice
n n hnf
into the air. 1t then few very steadily at
an elevation of from 10 to 20 feet above
the ice, carrying F. w. Baldwin as rav-
gator. The newspapers generally report
ed the navigator as Capt: Baldwin. the
balloonist. but this is a different man. f.
W. Baldwin lis young engineer. a grad
uate Of Toronto University.
Aerodrome No. l. Selfridges Red
Wing" came to an untimely end the 18th
of March through an accident which
though fortunately the navigator and the
engineer escaped injury. The association
then Immediately began the construction
of aerodrome No. 2. Baldwin's White
Wing Both aerodromes were construct
ed in the aerodrome shed Of Glen H. Cur
tiss of Hammondsport. who acts as d.
rector OF experiments for the Aerial Ex-
pertinent Association.
Machine Specially Designed.
The machine employed was specially de-
signed for the association by Glenn NJ. NJ
Curtiss. May Is an attempt was made to
fly the new aerodrome. White Wing" at
the race track near Hammondsport The
aerodrome had been provided with light
wheels to enable it to run over the ground
until SUFFICIENT Roadway had been gained
so II would rise into the air
The race track. however. proved to be
too narrow. as the ends of the wing piece
did not clear the raised sides of the track
The attempt was therefore made TO start
the machine from the grass plot within
the race track. but the attachment of the
IL. 11 Ia fE,o o..1. 4