The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-01
Great Interest Manifested in
Baldwin's Airship.
Inventor Declares 1t Has to Be
q Success.
AT FIT. MEYER MONDAY
He Will Make His Initial Pre-
liminary Flight.
Machine Is Different From Any
Ever Built Before.

Washington, Aug. 1.-The officers
of the signal corps are awaiting the
official trials of Captain Baldwin's
dirigible balloon on tiptoe of ex-
pectancy. The first preliminary flight
is scheduled for Monday. The sue
cess or failure of the airship will
greatly affect the plans of General
James Allen, chief signal officer and
the younger officers under him. In
fact, the signal officers are display
ing more anxiety than Captain
Baldwin himself, who when ques-
toned as to the probable result of
the trials said:
THAT machine has got to be sue
cess, else 1 don't eat
General Allen the chief signal Of
ficer of the army, who is one of the
most enthusiastic advocates of
aeronautics for the army has ex-
pressed his belief that Captain Bald
wins machine will fulfill all the re-
Allen endeavored TO get an appro-
priation of 100000 from congress for
airships and other aeronautic pur-
poses. He was unsuccessful and he
realizes that the Fort Myer trials will
have to be successful at least as far
as the dirigible balloon is concerned,
or there will be a very small chance
of getting anything from congress at
the next session. For this reason
Captain Baldwin is receiving every as
sistance from the officers of the signal
CORPS Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm
and Lieutenant Benjamin D. FOULS
have not missed a day at the work of
assembling his machine and the en-
tire balloon squad stationed at the
fort has been placed at his disposal.
Contrary to the general belief, Cap
tain Baldwin's military dirigible which
IL, nd lie
from any airship of its kind ever built
in this country. If a success 1T Will
mean more scientifically than the "a
hour flight which Count Zeppelin pro-
poses to make within a few days in
his monster aerial ship.
Zeppelin's Twenty Times as Big.
The gas bag of the Zeppelin airship
is just 20 times as large as that OF the
Baldwin "Aeronat" and the eddies and
countercurrents in the air have prac-
tically no effect on it. With Baldw1n's
dirigible, however, each varying dis
turbance will have to be counteracted-
1t is the success which Captain Bald
win will meet in this one particular
which will be the determining factor
in the acceptance or rejection of his
machine. That he will succeed in full
filing all of the other requirements OF
the tests Captain Baldwin does not en-
terrain the slightest doubt
In the past captain BALDWIN, mas
used dirigible built especially for ex-
hibition purposes. In these airships
the balance was maintained at all
times through the weight of the OPP
orator being shifted on the same prin-
cipie that a tight rope walker balances
himself in midair. The specifications
under which Captain Baldwin was
awarded a contract to build a dirigible
for the army do not permit this method.
Instead side rudders or planes must
be used in addition to the balonete,
which is balloon within balloon. or
by any other mechanical means. Cap
tain Baldwin will depend principally
on the balonete and the planes or
which he has four, two on each side OF
the frame placed forward and aft.
In the meantime Captain Baldwin is
optimistic. He has made over 3.ooo
balloon ascensions without ever being
scratched and. although he is "a years
old he displays the energy of a much
younger man, to say nothing OF his en-
thusiasm He is very resourceful ana
has already devised a means OF shirt
ing a heavy sandbag to overcome the
difficulty of balancing, which Is the
only stumbling block over which ne
has expressed any concern.