Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-30
Miseellaaeoas 8eadins.
MAN REALLY ABOUT TO FLY.
Graham Bell Tells What
Has Been Done.

Has Been Done.
Since the beginning Of May the eyes
of the aeronauts Of this country have
been directed to the little village Of
Hammondsport, n. Y, which has Of
late been the scene, Of much activity
in the construction Of both dirigible
balloons and Of heavier than air"
machines. A notable example Of the
latter type Is the White Wing, con-
structed by DR.. Alexander Graham
Rell. chairman of the Aerial Expert
mcnt association, from the designs of
f. w. Baldwin, the designer Of the
Red Wing, which made an excellent
record on the Ice Of Lake Keuka last
winter.
The association was formed about
a year ago for the purpose Of trying
out the ideas Of several men interest
ed in the art Of flying and has already
given earnest Of good work. The Red
Wing was the first machine Of its type
to make a public flight in this coun-
try. On March IL last 1t flew 319 feet
at a distance of ten feet from the
ground.
The machine was 43 feet long, 6
feet inches deep at the centre and
feet deep at the extremities. The
upper and lower planes were covered
with silk, and they had combined
area of 385 sollare feet
The seat Of the operator was ar
ranged just above the lower plane in
the centre of the machine and was fit
ted with a silken protecting guard. On
the end Of this protection was the
rudder, eight feet across and two feet
deep. This was under the control of
the aviator.
A tail was attached ten feet in the
rear of the machine. 1t was IA feet
10 inches across and feet deep, CIV
ing a surface Of A square feet. To
this tail was attached a vertical rud-
der, feet square.
The propelling power was derived
from q 40-horse power, eight cylin-
der engine Weighing 14S pounds.
When the motor was started the rud-
ders slid along the Ice for $50 feet and
then the machine rose gracefully into
the air.
This test showed Dr. Bell and his
associates that they were working in
the right direction and that 1t was
possible to build flying machine that
would combine all the advantages OF
such European types as the Farman.
and the Delagrange with the reputed
simplicity Of the Wright Brothers
machine. In a subsequent experiment
the Red Wing was wrecked, although
the operator and the motor were un-
injured.
The construction of another ma
chine was at once begun, and early In
May the White Wing was completed.
This machine was built Of heavier
material and with slightly larger plane
surfaces, but it had one radical i'm
| provement.
The Red Wing had shown a lack
of means Of insuring lateral stability
and it would at times tilt over side
ways in a fashion to try the nerve OF
the pluckiest operator. This funda-
mental fault was remedied effectively
in the new machine.
The tips at the extremities Of the
wings, which are used by the opera
tor for correcting the fitting Of the
machine. were fitted with hinges
about their fore edges, and thus by a
system of steering gears it became
possible for the operator to change
the angle of incidence at will. If the
machine inclines to one side, the man
by leaning on the high side operates
tiller which is connected by steering
ropes. increasing the angle Of Incl
dence of the tips at the lower side,
and decreasing this angle on the high
side. This is how the machine is kept
on an even keel, the operator leaning
instinctively to the high side.
The steering wheel Is so arranged
that the machine can be instantly
steered right or left, as in an automo-
bile, while an up and down movement
can be secured by pushing the wheel
in or out. The tail is composed of two
superposed surfaces very similar to
those of the Red Wing. This machine
weighs 4OS pounds.
The association staff, consisting OF
DR.. A. G. Bell, G. H. Curtiss, director
of experiments; F. w. Baldwin, chief
engineer: j. A. D. McCurdy, treasurer
and Lieut. T. Selfridge, secretary, as
sisted by August Post, secretary Of the
Aero club, of America, has recently
been engaged in putting the finishing
touches to the machine and in max
ing experiments in actual flight. 1r
the first test running start Of a lit
tie more than 100 feet was made or
the level, and when a speed of TWEEN
ty miles an hour had been reached
the operator inclined the front rud'
der to the ascending position and the
aeroplane rose quickly to height oi
twenty feet and sailed away.
There seemed no reason why the
fight should not have been continued
for many miles, but at a distance OF
eighty yards the operator, having
momentary hesitation as to the effec'
tiveness Of his controls, turned the
| front rudder to the descending posi-
ton and the machine gradually came
down and landed in a ploughed fielo
alongside the track. There was grea
cheering from the large crowd assem-
bed and the records were officially
attested for the Aero club.
DR.. Bell expressed himself as mucf
pleased with the showing made by
the new aeroplane, which was exceed
ingly good for a maiden flight. HI
insisted that the flight might have
been continued for a long time hat
not the pressure of the air on the un
der surfaces Of the wind base caused
the base to buckle up and get in th'
way of the propeller, and the conse
quent fouling impaired the action o
the machine temporarily.
when that is repaired" he said
I'VE will go at it again and in al