Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
FIRST FLIGHT BY FARMAN
Preliminary Test Of French AerOplane
in New York a Success,
MACHINE FLIES LIKE BIRD
First OF Fifteen Public Exhibitions
VIII he Given TOdsy-Wm
Probably visit other
cities,

u YORK, Aug. L-Rising from the
ground like a giant bird and darling
through the air at express train speed
Henry Farman's aeroplane, or heavier thar
air ffyinR machine, brought here from
France, made It's initial flight in this eoun-
try Yesterday afternoon at Brighton Beach.
II rose from an especially prepared dock
at the will OF the inventor and after attain
ing a height OF twenty-five feet, rev
straight ahead on a direct line, finally
allghting with exquisite grace when the
noted air pilot diminished the motive power
During the brief space of time in which
the aeroplane was skimming over the CEN
ter field Of the race track the few hundred
spectators, most OF whome we're friends OF
the inventor or rival aviators, watched the
flight with breathless interest. The land
ing provoked cheers as vociferous as those
OF a race track crowd. Farman was sur
rounded and literally husged by the jubi-
liant ~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
ventor off the field on their shoulders.
Many skeptics In Crowd.
There were skeptics in the crowd who
would not believe until they saw, and they
watched the tuning up" OF the aeroplane
in doubling silence. Farman's mechanics
rushed about getting the queer-shaped ship
ready for the flight and when wires had
been made taught and the motor tested
the ship was carried to the plank runway
near the field stand.
Newspaper photographer crowded around
the aeropiane to get pictures Of the ma
- - To- NN.aN
flight in America. Farman then decided
to test the motor before flying. He In
strueted his French mechanics in their ma
tive n to hold fast to the aeroplane
while he turned on the power. Instantly
the propeller began to revolve at the rate
Of 1,4O0 revolutions to the minute and a
breeze suggestive Of a small cyclone was
created. The photographers were knocked
to the ground until the power was turned
off. SO great was the violence OF the
breeze that several willow trees were bent
double. Farman, laughing, said he guessed
the machinery was working alright.
Flight f. Successful.
Then when the crowd had been waved
back. he gave the order Let gone,' and
away sped the aeroplane over the plank
roadway. It ran swiftly along on It's wheels
for 20 yards, and then Farman turned a
lever which sent II into the air like magic,
and away 1t flew. The propeller made q
whirrlng noise as It turned 500 times TO the
, minute. Only $50 yards were covered in
the air in this flight, but a few minutes
later Farman made another try and trav-
} eled 760 yards in the air. He could have
gone much farther, he said, but for stfik.
= Ing n pile Of lumber.
$ These flights are preliminary to Farman'i
! public flight, which Will begin tomorrow
! He will give fifteen exhibitions at the
3 track, and 1t is probable that he will ap
pear in other parts of the country, as many
3 aeronautic clubs are trying to induce hin
B to visit other cities.
! AS a rival attraction to Farman today
I Frank Hamilton. American aeronout, sailet
e his dlrigible balloon into the race eours
2 while Farnam was preparing to make hi
q flights. Hamilton's balloon scared over tn,
track and grandstand and circled the field
: When It was coming back a blade OF tn,
r propeller broke and the balloon anged vi
against the grandstand, throwing Hamilton
l out. Farman was the first person to go t
h his assistance. Hamilton secured q new
propeller and sailed away, not being in
: jured.
: sure of Success.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The officers o.
8 the signal corps are awaiting the officia
trials Of Captain Baldwin's dirigible bal
loon on tiptoe of expectation. The frs
preliminary flight is scheduled for Monday
5 The success or failure Of the airship viii
greatly affect the plans of General janet
Allen, chief signal officer and the younger
officers under him. In fact. the signal of
ficers are displaying more anxiety thar
Captain Baldwin himself. who, when ques
- A. Al. -wnhokI, waaasIN - ia
n trials, says:
THAT machine has got to be a success
else 1 don't eat
General Allen. the chief sigma officer o
the army, who is one of the most enthu
d siastlc advocates of aeronsuttcs for tn,
army, has already expressed his belief tina
Captain Baldwin's machine will fulfill al
n the requirements. Last winter Genera
Allen endeavored to get an appropriation
Of $20O,O 900 from congress for airships an,
other aeronautical purposes. He was un
: successful and he realizes that the For
Myer trials will have 10 be successful. a
d least as far as the dirigible balloon is con
cerned, or there will be a very SINAI
! chance of getting anything from congress
at the next session.
signal Corps Helping.
- For this reason Captain Baldwin Is re
c~eiving every assistance from the officer
n Of the signal corps. Lieutenant Frank +
be Lahm and Lieutenant Benjamin D., Fouloi
have not missed a day at the Fort Mye
* balloon house. Captain Baldwin began tn
5. work Of assembling his machine and tn
re entire balloon squad stationed at the for
has been placed at his disposal.
N Contrary to the general belief. CAPITAL
he Baldwin's military dirigible, which is &
yet unnamed, is vastly different from an
airship Of its kind ever built in this coui
e. try. II a success. Il will mean more scieI
m tincally than the twenty-four hour fligl
IN which Count Zeppelin proposes to NAL
within a few days in his monster aerial shi
~ The gas bag OF the Zeppelin airship
d; Just twenty times as large as that OF Il
g Baldwin 'aeronaut' and the eddies ar
X counter currents in the air have practical
no effect on 1t. With Baldwin's dirigibl
BY however, each varying disturbance W
have TO be counteracted. 1t Is the succe