Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-08-06

HENRI FARMAN owes SUCCESS.
FuL Decentralization AT
sRlaHrpN BEACH.
TRAVELLED 7BOYARDs N AIR
Could Haze Gone Farther nut Feared
Striking a Lumber Pile
Few Spectators
Present,

New York, Aug. 1.--Rising from the
ground like Q. giant bird and dartins
through the air at express train speed,
Henri Farman's aeroplane Or heavier
than air flying machine. brought here
from France. made its initial flight In
this country late Friday afternoon at
Brighten Beach. 1t rose from an es-
peCially prepared dock" at the Will
q the inventor and after attaining q
height Of 26 feet few straight ahead
on q direct line. finally alighting with
exquisite grace when the noted air
pilot diminished the motive power.
During the brief space Of time In
which the aeropIane was Swimming
ever the center field Of the race track
the few hundred spectators, most Of
whom were friends Of the inventor Or
rival aviators, watched the flight with
hreathless interest. The landing pro
yoked cheers as vociferous as those
Of race track crowd Farman was
surrounded and literally Rugged BY
the jubilant aeronauts. Members Of
the Aero club Of America, under
whose auspices Farman will conduct
his public flights at Brighton Beach,
wanted to carry the successful in.
sentor OF the field on their shoulders.
There were skeptics In the crowd
who would not believe until they saw
and they watched the tuning up"
u the aeroplane In doubling silence,
ynrman's mechanics rushed about get
ting the Queershaped ship ready for
10 flight and when wires had been
made taut and the motor tested, the |
ahip was carried to the plank run
way near the field stand
Newspaper photographers crowded
around the aeroplane to get pictures
q the machine as It was about to
make It's frst flight in America. Far
man then decided again to test the
motor before flying. 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
ct the rate Of l,4OO revolutions to the
minute and breeze suggestive Of q
small cyclone was created. The pho
sographers were knocked 10 the
ground until the power was turned
%. so great was the violence Of
the breeze that several willow trees
we're bent double. Farman laughingly |
.aid be guessed the machinery was
working all right
Then when the crowd had been
wAved back be gave the order "let
4" "let 60" and away sped the aero
plane over the plank roadway. 1t
ian swiftly along on It's wheels for
10 yards and then Farman turned .
svbr which sent 1t into the air like
magic and away II Jew. The pro
,eller made q whirring noise as It
armed 800 times to the minute. Only
80 yards were covered In the air In
his flight, but 9 few minutes later
Farman made another try and trav-
he'd 100 yards In the air. He could
ave gone much farther, he said, but
cared striking pile Of lumber.
These flights are preliminary to
Iarihan's public flight which win be-
in Saturday He will give IL exhi- !
,ifiona AZ the track and II Is probable |
hat he will appear in other parts Of
Ne country, as many aeronautic cluba ,
re trying to induce him to visit other
ities.
As rival attraction to Farman
rank Hamilton, an American aero
laut sailed his dirigible balloon into
he race course while Farman was ,
to make his flights. Ham
tons balloon scared over the track
and circled the field
Fhen II was coming back blade Of
be propeller broke and the balloon ]
Ias banged up against the erandstand l
Hamilton out Farman was /
be irst person to go to his assist /
NICE and he shook his rival aetonout
Farmly by the hand when he learned ,
bat be had not been injured. Ham.
lion secured a new propeller and !
allied away.
EbsrhaFd indicted.
1