New-York tribune., 1908-12-28
FOR MOTORLESS FLIGHT
p. Y. ALerander Predicts AerOpldHc
Triumph of Future.

LTEUHtpH " Il utufC-
Patrick z Alexander an Englishman Of
wealth, who keeps himself constantly employed
in following from one country 10 another his
hobby. the making OF aeronautical experiments
has again just glided into the quietness Of the
Albermarle Hotel He sent word 70 few areo-
nautical friends in this city that he had arrived.
after which he instructed the hotel clerk to show
danger signals to any reporters who appeared
hungry for news OF the aeroplane or dirigible.
and asked that his telephone be taken out Then
a reporter being sighted the horizon. Mr. Alex
ander at once made 8 successful flight TO his
room. He broke all duration records for remain
ing above ground. and was, 50 far as could be
learned, under perfect control the entire time
nine hours.
The English aeronaut crossed the Atlantic in
bad storm to chat for three days with close
friends engaged In experimenting in aeronautics.
which he referred to yesterday the biggest
thing IN the Christian era He will return to
London Wednesday the Lucania, which
brought him He was here last spring for
seventy-two hours He says he may be here
again next month It depends on whether he
then wants to ask question about aeronautics
OF one in this country.
His contention Is that man must learn to fly
without motor He is able, he has found out
by numerous experiments abroad, to lift him
self OFF the ground for instant. He says that
in the experiments mede with gliders by Lilien-
thai and others in the early days they were able
with 80 square feet of surface to lift them
selves against a 2O-miIe wind with 80 TO so
pounds pull
why should we have such powerful motors
as we now use to move US at that speed -
asked Mr.. Alexander yesterday He suggests
that out OF the air itself means will be found
before long to utilize the latent electrical
ergy to produce artificial currents of sufficient
strength to support man in flying machine
the same energy TO be used to drive the ap-
paratus.
There hundred aeroplanes in
England, he said. and S1.OOO,oOO invested IN
the flying machine industry. Before the close
of another year he predicts there will be at
least fifty practical flying machines capable Of
sailing over Europe with stops not more fire.
quent than each thirty forty miles He add
ed that there would be invested IN the aeronau-
teal industry in Europe in another year S1O.-
100000. The Russian government alone will
spend S5,OOO.OOO next year In aeronautical ex-
periments. he declared.
Speaking of the Wright brothers, hs said it
was difficult to express the degree Of sensation
throughout Europe which was the result Of their
splendid work and added that he knew OF
twenty-five sports.nen who had ordered Wright
aeroplanes.
''The automobile clubs have been the back
bone Of all clubs said Mr. Alexander
when asked about a probable International !
coalition OF automobile clubs having aviation
sections, "and as long gasolene motors are
used In flying machines so long will the auto
mobile control aviation They realize that
the motor Industry is closely allied with the fly
ing machine, and they going to control avta-
ton as long they can. The result is that au-
tomobile clubs abroad have taken up the sub
ject officially, and the outcome will be that the
aero clubs will lose their identity"
He surprised members Of the Aero Club OF
America by informing them that the Aero CLUB
Of France had short time ago been taken
under the wing Of the Automobile Club