The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-12
Will Drive Balloon for High
Speed Before Official
Army Board.
is HIGHLYPLEASED
WITH LAST FLIGHT
Makes Best Record Against Ad-
verse Winds Secretary Wright
Declines Ride in Air.

Thomas Baldwin today viii send his
dirigible balloon on its first official trial
trip over the course mapped out by the
officers Of the Signal Corps.
The flight probably Will be made be-
tween and O'Clock. and if the speed
and control maintained yesterday are
continued today. the only matter re-
naming unsettled viii be the price the
Government viii pay Baldwin for his
machine.
The wonderful little motor which
drives the propeller has been tuned up
TO the entire satisfaction OF its build
er. In the official trial today it is eX-
pected that the propeller will revolve be-
tween 500 and $50 times each minute.
To Follow Same Course.
The course viii be almost Identical
with that which has been followed by
Baldwin in his preliminary trips. The
officers Of the army board who have
been detailed to observe the operations
of the diriglble will be on hand this
afternoon TO direct the details in con-
nection with estimating the distance
flown and the elapsed time.
At the conclusion Of the flight yester-
day Captain Baldwin and Mr.. Curtiss
agreed that it was the most successful
that they had made In fact, Mr.. Curtiss
was so enthusiastic over the perform
ance of the machine that he desired 10
start out Immediately on an official test.
Captain Baldwin would not consent TO
this, however, stating that he preferred
10 wait until today.
After almost the entire afternoon had
been spent III overhauling the engine
OF the diTigible, the flying machine was
taken out of the tent on the parade
grounds, Mr.. Curtiss occupying his seat
in the cage in the forward part Of the
frame work and Captain Baldwin hold
ing the rudder ropes aft.
As soon as Captain Baldwin gave the
word 10 let go. the engine was started
and the Signal Corps men gave the ma
chine a final shove skyWard. Without
hesitating for a second the dlrigible
picked up Roadway, mounted higher and
higher. CiTCleu once and then sped for
the flag at the official turning point
Two and one quarter miles away,
Has Contrary Winds.
The start was made at 6.lS O'Clock.
As the balloon mounted higher 1t caught
some strong air currents and Captain
Baldwin was compelled 10 tack once or
twice, and once he turned almost COM
pleteIy around. AT the turning point
ne turned gracefully and pointed the
big gray nose OF tho dirgible toward
home
As soon as the machine was straight
ened cut she gathered speed. on both
the outward and inward journeys Cap
tain Baldwin was without the aid of a
favoring wind, what little breeze there
was meeting the gas bag broadsIde on.
D. -s-a4FF. rrrE.F
his airship directly over the parade
ground from which lac had started, he
began a series Of maneuvers. partly for
the benefit Of the immense throEs which
had gathered to witness his fight and
psrtlv 20 assist him TO make an easy
descent
The elapsed time from start to finish
was about twenty-five minutes. The
distance covered. however, was Consid-
erabIy In excess of the stipulated four
and a half miles 1t was estimated that
The average speed maintained on the
trib was sixteen and seven-eighths
miles per hour.
An interesting feature Of the balloon
test was the accompanying autouoole
race. Captain Baldwin had promised
that he would follow as nearly as pos
siblo the Virginia roads over which
the newspaper men would travel In their
soon as the balloon engine began its
loud explosions.
Auto Leads Balloon.
one Of them. a 30-uorsepower Column
Lila. from the Dupont garage, driven by
Abe Cohen, carried The Times repre-
sentatiyes. ana Otto q. jacob, manager
of the Dupont garage. The other car.
also containing newspaper men, was
EO-horsepower machine. The smooth
running Columbia started in the lead
ana never was passed. The roads In
some spots were in had condition, long
street ches of mud nearly "a foot deep
frequently hindering progress.
The airship overhead had nothing 10
impede its progress, no sharp turns or
bumps, ana with one or two eXceptiiHs
maintained a direct line. Despite his
handicap. Cohen kept his car ahead or
the airsuip. The same conditions pre-
vailed on the homebOund trip.
Secretary of War Luke Z Wright
was one of the most interested specta-
tors in the balloon tent yesterday after
noon. He was close observer of the
experiments being made on the engine
by Mr.. Curtiss. He walked slowly from
bow 10 stern of the ship, asking many
questions as he reached different parts
OF the structure,
Wright Much Interested.
When he reached the starCh-uauted
cloth rudder. General Wright entered
into a conversation with Lieutenant
Iahm and General Allen as to the merits
OF the flying machine.
The Secretary was particularly
anxious 10 know the possibility of send
ing an airship over the battieship of an
enemy and dropping dynamite on board.
lie expressed doubt as L. the ability of
a man i'm an aiTship TO accurately judge
distance, wind resistance, the speed or
his own machine and that of the battle
ship, and then drop the high explosive
so that il Would do serious damage
General Wright seemed 10 be of the
opinion that work of that character
would he almost entirely chance work
but General Allen maintained, as did
Lieutenant l-ahm. that to become eX-
pert in such work the men Of the Signal
Corps would need only practice
The unusual interest displayed by the
War Secretary i'm aerial navigation led
General Allen 90 believe that Mr..
Wright might like TO make a fight.
Il am sure that Lieutenant Lahm
would be very glad TO take YOU ovek 10
Baltimore III his balloon any time YOU
are ready said General Allen.
II appreciate your kindness very
much" replied Secretary Wright smil-
insly. but the railroad is good enough
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