Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-28
MAY GO UP SATURDAY
Famous Aeronaut Considering Com.
petition With Farman.
Difficulties in the Way-Aeroplane
Is Toy for Millionaires. Says
Baldwin.

SOCldtlOn In the nights Ol tIe Juho Do6
at Hammondsport. n. Y. arrived at
Fort Myer this morning. He will accom-
pany Capt. Baldwin in his dirigfble bal
loon during the trial flights before the
army board.
The nty-five-hOrsepower, four-cyl1n-
der gasoline engine which will send Bal
OWNS airship through the air was buiit
by Mr.. Curtiss at his Hammondsport
factory. While having a speed of 1.SOO
revolutions. by means of a chain-gearing
this has been reduced to about 500 revo-
lutions
Capt. Baldwin's theory is that within
certain limit a low number Of revolutions
gives better results. The motor Is water
cooled and an air-cooled motor Is at the
factory as a reserve. The motor weighs
but 125 pounds without the radiator, and
placed In the forward end of the seventy
foot frame which is suspended from the
gas envelope.
Curtiss to Be Engineer.
Mr.. Curtiss will operate the motor
while Capt. Baldwin will pilot the Aeronat
while standing on platform at the rear
of the frame To secure the proper bal
ance for the airship it will be suspended
from the roof of the hangar, or balloon
hOuSS. dt VII Inc gas envelope
was laid out today and the valves placed
in position:
Mr.. Curtiss will leave for New York
tomorrow to attend the reception in honor
Of Henri Farman Thursday night and the
Farman flight Saturday. 1t is hardly like
ly that an ascension will be made by Capt
Baldwin before Mr.. Curtiss leaves. His
afrshfp Is, however, in such shape that a
flight could be made by Thursday. Mr..
Curtiss may return to make a flight with
Can't. Baldwin SATURDAY.
The tent which Is to house the big o.
foot aerial craft has not arrived at Fort
Myer. Should Capt. Baldwin desire to
make flight he would probably take his
airshfp up to the parade ground from the
gulley In which the balloon house Is stu
ated by means Of a guide rope. The ma
chine could then be brought back to the
balloon house In the same manner. There
is limited open space about the hangar.
Baldwin May Race Farman.
1.-The toys Of millionaires!'
That's what Capt. Baldwin says about
airships. His remark was called forth by
the visit to Washington today Of August
Post. representing the Aero Club of Amer
lea. who Is here In an effort to arrange
competitive flight between Capt Baldwin
in his dirigible balloon and Henri Far
man, the daring Frenchman, in his aero
plane.
Archdeacon prize is scheduled to make
his first flight in this country Saturday
Capt. Baldwin expects to make the first
flight In his new military dirigible balloon
proposed that the two aeronauts make a
competitive flight at Brighton Beach at
the earliest possible date.
1t was the desire of the Aero Club
OF America, which has q contract with
Farman for flights in various cities
throughout the country. to have Baldwin
bring his machine to New York imme-
diately for the joint flight and return
later to Fort Myer to make the tests
before the army board for the final &C.
ceptance of his airship. This has been
found impracticable. however. on ac-
count of the time limit within which
Baldwin must make the tests.
Difficulties in the Way.
In the event that Capt Baldwin full
fills all the requirements of his contract
with the government the machine will
become the property Of the United States
Army. 1t would then become necessary
to secure permission Of Gen. James AL
len. chief signal officer. to take the
dirigible to New York for the competi-
tive flight. This would probably be
difficult to obtain.
bring Henri Farman to Washington to
compete with Baldwin before his ma
chine is finally accepted by the army.
Mr.. Post Of the Aero Club today discussed
the various phases OF the proposition
Lieut.. Lahm No decision was reached
"Aeronautics is for the most part in the
experimental stage" said Capt. Baldwin
last night, land man who Is deeply In
terested in its problems is apt to get WIS.,
ionary in his ideas. But think that a
contest such as the Aero Club of America
is endeavoring to arrange will be of ines
Unable value in aiding the advancement
of the science.
and a dirigible has never been witnessed
and the idea is one that offers many pos
sibilities.
Value Of Competition.
THE automobile was developed through
the various competitions Of endurance and
speed, for which valuable prizes were Of
fered by wealthy men. The same rapid
DEVELOPMENT would result If these con-
tests are held with airships.
"It is hard to tell which will be the
fully developed machine. the dirigible bal
loon or the heavier-than-air machine, or
combination of the principles of the
two Greater progress has, of course,
been made with the aeronaut, or lighter
the aeroplane will be fully as successful
when finally deveoped.
1T Is now in the experimental stage.
The idea of such a machine has only been
worked upon by dreamers whose inven-
lions so far are but the toys Of million
aires. When the practical mechanic gets
to work upon the development Of the aero
plane then you can look for results that
will be startling.
To-day man-carrying aeroplane
weighs from 600 to 900 pounds. When the
mechanic starts to refine the crude ma
chimes that are used today. I think. there
will be built an aeroplane that will weigh
but twenty pounds for each man car
RED
1.-The Aero Club Of America" said Mr..
Post, in discussing his mission to Wash
ington. lis going to have Henri Farman
make exhibitions in the largest cities
throughout the country. These exhibit
lions are for the purpose Of educating the
people in the progress that has been made
in aerial navigation. For the same pur-
pose we have decided to have joint COM
petitive fight between the Farman and
Baldwin machines"
Capt. Baldwin already has expressed
himself to the effect that he has not en-
deavored to get unusual speed in the d.
rigible he has built for the army, and his
machine would be at a great disadvantage
in a competitive flight for speed with
Henri Farman's machine. On the other
hand, in a competition for endurance.
there would be but a slight chance for
Henri Farman to remain in the air as
long as Capt. Baldwin.
While this proposed competitive flight
between Farman and Baldwin would be
the first aerial competition in America in
which a heavier-than-air machine took
part, there have been several competitions