The Washington times., 1908-07-28
Wooden Framework Finish
ed and Machinery Be-
ing Adjusted.
NEW PROPELLER
WILL BE CHOSEN
Official Trials Will Not Be Made
Until Late in August-To
Fly in Week.

The crew Of mechanics which came
from New York TO assemble the huge
dirigible balloon Of Capt Thomas S.
Baldwin practically completed their
work on the long wooden framework to-
day, in the balloon house at Fort Myer,
and turned their attention to the me-
chanical parts Of the flying machine.
The most difficult part of the work Is
now out Of the way and there only re-
mains the adjustment Of machinery,
the selection Of a suitable propeller and
Tudder- It is not expected by Captain
Baldwin that he viii make his official
Government trial trip through the air
until the latter part of August, prob
ably a day or two before August %.
on which date the time limit for de-
livery Of the dirigible expires.
Before that time, however, a number
of experimental flights will be made in
the vicinity Of Fort Myer. but no at
tempt will be made 10 remain in the
air for any length Of time. The selec-
tion of propeller and a cOntrIvance
TO control the upward and downward
NiRhts OF the machine are the two prob
lens which Captain Baldwin must solve
during the next few days
Three Tpes of Propeller.
He has two propellers at the balloon
house now and another Is on the way
from New York, but he has not yet de-
oided what type he Will use, all three
being of radically different corstruc-
ton. OF the two now at Fort Myer
a double paddle shaped piece Of wood
IS looked upon as the most satisfactory
means OF propulsion that has yet been
manufactured for the dirigible balloon.
1t is about ten feet long and made Of
fourteen pieces Of spruce wood. hound
together in SUCH a perfect manner that
II looks Ike one piece OF wood eX-
Quisitely carved. The ends Of the pro-
peller are painted black, as is every
piece Of iron work on the spider-liks
frame Of the machine.
The silk and rubber bag with its ca
pacity Of 5000 cubic feet OF gas has not
yet been unpacked- When IL is inflated
Il will hang directly over the bO1-lke
half Of the machine, which, from tip TO
tip, is eighty-ssX feet long. This part
of the machine IS made Of spruce rods
and interviewer with wire.
Must Garry One Passenger.
Under the conditions imposed by the
Government Captain Baldwin, in his Of
fetal trial Will be compelled TO carry
one passenger and 100 pounds of bal
last. He has not yet determined where
this additional weight can be placed ad-
vantageousIy. The aeronaut will be II
the forward part CT the machine. the
passenger and deaC weight must OF ne
cessity be placed af-, but only expert
InentS can determine how far aft Il will
be necessary 70 place them in order q
counterbalance the weight Of the Oh
orator and the :O-horsepOwer engines.
The mechanics today completed the
big planes with which Captain Baldwin
found necessary = Z
In previous flights he has, like Beechey,
manipulated the upward or downward
course Of his dirigtble by the weight OF
his body The Government specifca-
lions forbid this art Of control and in
siSt upon il being done by mechanical
construction. The planes. which art
built Ike box kites and covered ar
either end, viii be controlled by levers
Viii Ascend Next Week.
It is not expected that Captain Bale.
win viii make any experimental flights
before next week. The speed to be de-
veloped by his machine will mean dol
lars to the inventor, for in addition L
the 5000 70 be paid by the Govern
ment II the balloon proves satisfactory
Captain Baldwin will receive an add
1ional 10 per cent for every mile in ex.
cess Of twenty miles per hour made by
his balloon on the day Of the officia
trial
Captain Baldwin has been conn lee
to decline the invitation of Henri Far
man. the French aeronaut. TO compett
with him at Brighton Beach, New York
next Saturday, at which time the
Frenchman Will attempt 70 navigat,
with his aerOplane- AS soon as hi.
present negotiations with the Govern
ment are out Of the way, however, Cap,
tain Baldwin will undoubtedly accept
the invitation Of the Aero Club Of Amer.
lea 70 tour the country and make nignts
at the principal cities in competition
with FaTman TO arouse popular inter.
est in flying machines