New-York tribune., 1908-08-08
TEST LIKELY TO-DAY
Baldzcin Reports Airship Equal to
Tsco Hours Trial.
LFron rhe Trtbune Bureau ]

Washington Aug THE Baldwin dirtg1ote pal
loon after two more trial flights of seventeen ana
four minutes duration late this afternoon was
declared capable of remaining two hours in the
air and its builder, Captain Thomas ; BALDWIN,
informed Lieutenant Lahm- of the slsna1 Coips'
that the airship is ready for the ofhciaI AT my ~
for speed at any time, and that he VIII unoei 'aAo
his first formal fight tomorrow. Wnetner tne
official test will occur tomorrow, however, is De
pendent upon the decision of General Allen. cnleL
the signal corps.
There nusr first be an inspection of the balloon
to ascertain wtsther it fully meets the specthca-
tons Captain Baldwin told Lieutenant bahm tilis
evening that the special signal corps board might
make this official inspection tomorrow anu nc
cordingy, the test will probably be made late 'o
morrow afternoon by the board of tests cohslstihs
of Major George O. Squier Major Edward Russel
Captain Charles s. Wallace. Lieutenant Lahm ana
Lieutenant Benjamin d. Fouois Captain BALDWIN
is ready for the Immediately after Tomorrow
inspection.
The balloon will be accepted only after a trial
fight. during which st must make sixteen miles an
hour The speed will be determined by taking an
average of the time measured course OF
f re miles against and with the wind This course
has been already laid out southwark for five miles
the outskirts of Alexandria and return, a total
of ten miles Three trials will be allowed for
speed the minimum being twenty miles an hour
for which Captain Baldwin would receive
$3.50 Each mile above that adds 10 per cent ana
each mile below subtracts 15 per cent, or $OlZ 90
from the price 10 De PAID captain DdiuNiH SOAi
fdently expects TO make twenty-four miles an
hour. This would give him bonus of $3.50 80. or
a total Of s10,SOO for the machine.
The ship is required to carry sufficient fuel for
the continuous operation Of the engine for two
hours There must also be endurance flight Of
two hours during which time the airshp must travel
continuously at an average speed of at least 20 per
cent of that which she accompshes in the trial
fight for speed If twenty-four miles an hour is
obtained IN the speed flight. the craft must travel
continuously two hours at a speed Of 1853 miles an
hour. a total Of 1876 miles.
Major SQuier president of the board of tests said
this evening:
We ready any time Captain Baldwin is
ready. We will inspect the airship Immediately
after receiving notification from him. If he is
ready. he says he is this evening, the official
speed test be had tomorrow evening, If he
wants to have it then He has three trials each
for speed and endurance and these may be made
any time he is ready for them within thirty days
from July 81
To-days flights showed that the balloon is In
excellent control, IN puffy winds of fifteen
mile velocity. Swimming in Ions ellipses, low down
over the parade ground and making loops over the
trees. We're some of the successful evoIutions.
Rising from the ground, slowly but buoyantly,
the atrship headed into the westerly wind by
Captain Baldwin. A complete circle described.
the balloon rising gradually TO height of two
hundred feet Again pointing to the and at
tanning estimated speed of twelve miles an hour,
miles, when the trip back begun. with the
course lying to 'leeward" The wind blowing
at the of miles q hour, and as the
throttle was thrown open little wider by Mr..
Curtiss. who again operated the engine and the
planes, the ship flew along speed OF eighteen
twenty miles hour. There pitching
tossing, Wednesday, although the weather
was threatening and the sky overcast
When the balloon passed over the starting point
it about five hundred feet in the air Bringing
his ship against the wind, Captain Baldwin made a
landing much the same that of pilots Of water
craft in taking vessels to the side of dock.
According Mr.. Curtiss. he did not speed his en-
gne 375 revolutions of the propeller, although
it is capable of $50 revolutions minute AT no
time" he said, was there evidence of overheating
in the motor
The balloon in the air seventeen minutes. At
7 o'clock It was again taken up for spin Of four
minutes and circled round and round over the
starting point. In both fights the airship IN
perfect control. responding TO the rudder and the
planes beautifully