The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-12
AFTER SPEED RECORD.
Baldwin Is Not Yet Ready for His
Final Test.

washington, Aug. 12.-Speed, that
requirement which has meant so much
In the development Of the automobile,
has already become one of the prin-
cipal factors of aerial navigation.
Captain Baldwin may ask the war de-
partment for an extension Of 80 days
In the time in which he has to make
his official speed trials in order that
he may replace his four cyclinder 25
horsepower motor by an eight
cyclinder motor capable of producing
SO horsepower.
Captain Baldwin will make another
preliminary speed test with his
dfrigfble at sundown today Mr.. Cur
tbs. who built the engine and who is
operating it for Captain Baldwin in
his flight, will endeavor to get the full
speed of the motor in tonight's test.
Over 18 miles an hour was made in
yesterdays trial with the propeller
making 400 revolutions a minute. The
propeller is believed to be capable of
making $50 revolutions with the pres
ent motor and should make a speed
OF 22 miles an hour for the airship.
Captain Baldwin will receive $3.50
the official speed trial. But the big
dirigible has already cost the builder
nearly $1,000 and he has figured on
getting a bonus for speed. Fifteen
per cent over and above the contract
price will be paid by the government
miles an hour, made by Captain
Baldwin, up to "a miles an hour.
There is a possibility that General
Allen. the chief signal officer and the
board of ordinance and Notifications
would be disposed to make a contract
with Captain Baldwin to equip his
dirigible with the so horsepower
motor before the machine has been
accepted in the present trials. This
would give Captain Baldwin an oppor-
fv,n ia
laying the present trials.
One on Sporting Lines.
While making every effort to IN
crease the speed of Captain Baldwin IS
airship Glenn H. Curtiss, who won the
first contest for the Scientific Ameri-
can cup in the June Bug. the aero
plane Of the Aerial Experiment asso-
build the first aeroplane for purely
sporting purposes. This heavier than
air machine will be built for speed and
will cost the purchaser $4,000. show
ing that flying as a sport is four times
as expensive automobiling was in
its first stages.
The millionaire who wants Mr..
Curtiss to build for him an aeroplane
which will give him an opportunity to
| enjoy the sensation of flying through
the air like a bird has served new
ideas which will be incorporated in
than 500 pounds and will be driven
by so horsepower, eight cyclinder,
air cooled Curtiss motor. Among its
startling features and in which 1T will
differ from other aeroplanes are light
ness combined with stability, its
| unique design, having no tail and an
entirely new system of launching. No
track will be used as is done by the
Wright Brothers, nor will the launch
ing depend entirely upon wheels. A
steerable wheel and two skids are ex-
pected to make the launching and
landing Of the aeroplane more perfect
than any method tried heretofore.
While Mr.. Curtiss is building six
aeronautical engines for various ex-
periments, he is also building one for
a company in Oakland, which is the
first 100 horsepower aeronautical
motor ever built in this country. This
| motor is to be used to drive a
dirigible balloon having a gas
capacity of 100000 square feet and a
| length of probably 800 feet. nearly as
| large as the ill-fated Zeppelin airship.