The Washington herald., 1908-08-09
HERRING'S BAD LUCK
AerOplane Machine Breaks
and Injuries His Hand.
ASKS FOR ONE MORE MONTH
Makes Request of Gen Allen, Chief
signal Officer, Informing Him
quirements of Hts Contract on
August I5-MaHy improvements.

A NJ Herring. OF New York. the aero
plane inventor. yesterday notified Brig
Gen James Allen. Chief Signal Ofcer
that he viii be unable TO comply with the
/ requirements Of his contract with the
War Department for the delivery OF his
aeroplane 10 the government on August
/ Is. because Of an accident which occurred
several days ago in the trial Of his motor
at his shop in New York.
A counter-weight fen on. and the en-
| gine. which was driving the propeller
shaft at the rate Of about $50 revolutions
minute. shook itself into pieces. Mr.
{ Herring got the index finger OF his LEFT
i hand caught in the machinery in his
shop and painfully injured T. he re-
quested that Gen. Allen allow him an ad-
diuouaI month in which 20 build a new
: engine. Gen Allen has recommended 10
I the Secretary Of War that this postpone
/ ment be granted
Army Officers Interested.
The Herring aeroDlane and motor has
/ been the source OF much interest among
army officers, because OF the important
and unique principles involved IN its con
struction. While the details Of his aero
. plane have been kept secret. Il Is said he
! has been able 20 build an unusually small
I engine. which, ia spite Of its compact
shape and size. can develop a large horse
power u IS said among aeronaurs that
I the motor weighs about one pourd-a
/ horsepower. The motor. IL is said. can
attain a horsepower Of forty al top speed.
and al the same time is much smaller
I and lighter than the engines used in
l either the aeroplaues OF the Wright broth
ers.or of Henri Farmaa. the French avia-
. tor. who recently gave exhibitions at
. Brighton Beach
AIr- Herring believes EiS engine can Ge-
+ velop greater horsepower than any
other engine ever used Tor ai-slips-
AIr- Herring IS also exponent = the
I theory that an aeroElaue should main
I tain its equilibrium automatically. lie
. claims be has invented an a5rsHip so sen
. s.tive il automatically responds % every
changing air current IL may meet Eis
method q attaining this result Is by con
. trolling Instruments. which measure the
{ nErl Cf wind gusts, and automatically
change positions 90 meet these currents
. so The airsElp remains on an even keel
'Tr- atmosphere" said 1Tr Herring
'.z never az rest It's changes are cor
staur and raurslizirE, and the rigid frame
L NL an aefoIIrl- must meet uIlll D-itafluE
A.r currents usually some in circles.
sometimes large and again small. some
times they are rotating i1 one direction
and next in another Hence it is r-css-
sa-v 90 procure some kind Of automatic
balance % maintain progress
4 have aimed NJ Herring continued
TO develop an instrument tlat wiz gauge.
or bring together. all Inequalities OF the
air. ascertain their strength. and auto
uiaticaliy adjust the planes so as % meet
i-he air currents.
weight sf the Airsaip-
The Herrilg asr0plane IS said 20 weigh
less than Cd pounds. 20 have four small
t7-oQeTers located ia front His alrship IS
said 20 be similar 20 that OF Henri Far
man. which has TWO main planes with q
box kite arrangement IN the rear.
1T viii take ne az least thirty DAYS II
(which 10 replace the damaged engine %
continued Nr- Herring. and I don't be-
|lieve I VIII De able 20 deliver my ma
chine before September -2. when The ex-
tension expires While 7 have another
Iuo-or building. il Viii not be completed