Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-01
First Trial Monday.

man, the aeroplanist
First Trial Monday.
There is every reason to hope that the
first trial flight will be made Monday.
Airships are yet to be perfected to the
point where they can make ascensions in
any kind of weather There doubtless will
be many days when flights will have to
he postponed at Fort Myer on account Of
wind and rain.
The tent on the cavalry drill ground
which will house Capt. Baldwin's airship
during the official trials is being got ready
Capt. Baldwin does not like the idea of
keeping his airshfp in tent, Great diff
Guilty would be experienced, however, In
taking the balloon back to the hangar, or
tent will have to suffice.
The fight which Capt. Baldwin will
make Monday, If weather conditions are
favorable, will be the first in his improved
machine.
The motor was tried out at Hammonds-
port, N. Y. Before the dirigfble can be
sent aloft proper balance Of the sus-
pended frame must be secured. This will
be done tomorrow after the imitation of
the bag is completed.
Capt. Baldwin is also trying out his
planes. with which he will control the up
ward and downward movements of the
| ship.
Signal Corps Confident.
| The oficers of the Signal Corps are
| awaiting the Official trials of the dirigible
on the tiptoe of expectation. The success
| or failure of the airship will greatly af-
| feet the plans Of Gen. James Allen. CHIEF
signal officer. and the younger officers
under him.
In fact, the Signal Corps officers are
displaying more anxiety than Capt. Bald
win himself. who, when questioned as to
| the probable result of the trials. said:
THAT machine has got to be success,
else l don't eat.'
Gen. Allen. chief signal officer of the
army. who is one of the most enthusias-
tic advocates of aeronautics for the army,
has already expressed his belief that
Capt Baldwins machine will fulfill all
the requirements.
Last winter Cen Allen endeavored to
get an appropriation of 100000 from
Congress for airships and other aeronau-
tical purposes. He was unsuccessful. He
realizes that the Fort Myer trials will
have to be successful or there will be
| small chance of getting anything from
Congress at the next session.
For this reason Capt. Baldwin is re-
ceivng every assistance from the Of
ficers of the Signal Corps. Lieut.. Frank
p. Lahm and Lieut. Benjamin d. Foulois
have not missed day at the Fort Myer
| balloon house. The entire balloon squad
stationed at the fort has been placed at
his disposal.
contrary TO SeneTdl DeIel. Sdpl DdlO-
wins military dirigible, which is as yet
unnamed. is vastly different from any air
ship of it's kind ever built in this coun-
try. If a success it will mean more.
scientifically, than the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
flight which Count Zeppelin proposes to
make within few days in his monster
aerial ship.
Balance Is Problem.
The gas bag of the Zeppelin airship is
just twenty times as large as that of the
Baldwin ''aeronat." Eddes and counter
currents in the air have practically no eff
feet upon the former. With Baldwin s
dirigible, however. each varying disturb
ance will have to be counteracted
1t is the success which Capt. Baldwin
will meet in this one particular which will
be the determining factor in the accept
ance or rejection of his machine. That he
will succeed in fulfilling all of the other
requirements of the tests Capt. Baldwin
does not entertain the slightest doubt.
In the past Capt. Baldwin has used a
dirigible built especially for exhibition
purposes. In these airships the balance
was maintaine at all times through the
weight of the operator being shifted
much on the same principle that q tight
rope walker balances himself IN midair
BY the specifications under which Capt
Baldwin was awarded contract TO build
a dirieible for the army this method will
not be permitted. Instead. side vudders
or planes must De uSeO. IN aOQlt1On TO the
ballonet, which is a balloon within bal
loon, or by any other mechanical means.
Capt. Baldwin will depend principally on
the ballonet and the planes, of which he
has four. two on each side of the frame.
placed forward and aft.
In the meantime Capt. Baldwin Is optl-
mistic He has made over 5000 balloon
ascensions without ever being scratched.
Although he is fiftyfour years old he
DISPLAYS the energy of much younger
man. to say nothing of his enthusiasm.
He is resourceful and has already de-
vised a means of shifting a heavy sand
bag to overcome the difficulty of baanc-
ing the only stumbling block over which
he has expressed concern.
The signal service is hoping it will be
possible to send wireless messages from
the balloon to the land station at the
point of departure.
This was tried out in q way during the
flight of the spherical balloon of the Sig
nal Corps from Washington over Balti-
more Messages were received in the
balloon at a distance of thirty miles.
None was sent owing to the danger of the
gas and the spark necessary in The send
ing apparatus
There is less danger with the dirgible.
the bag of which is closed. 1t is possi-
BILE that wireless telephones may be in
stalled later in big dirigibles. contem-
plated. 1t is much more essential to be
able to send messages from an observa-
ticn balloon than to receive them.