The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-01-01
CALI. FOR
AIR SHIPS.
If You Can Evolve the
Right X
ernmen
GIVES SPECIFICATIONS
War Department Tells What il has
Need of and now Stands at AT.
tention Awaiting Response.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The aer-
oplane has been formally recognized
rs a probable instrument of warfare
Brigadier General James Allen chief
signal officer of the army. whose bu-
reau has been giving much attention
recently to the subject of aero-nayiga-
tion. today issued an advertisement
and specifications asking for sealed
proposals to be submitted 10 the war
department on or before February |
next for furnishing the signal corps
with a flying machine Of the heavier
than-air" kind
The advertisement provides that
the machine shall be delivered at
Fort Meyer, where 1t will be subject
ed TO trial tests. such as may be pre-
scribed by the chief signal officer
The specifications cover the cOnstruc-
tion of a flying machine which shall
he supported entirely by the dynamic
reaction of the atmosphere and which
shall have no gas bag. The competi-
tion is open to all bidders. but the
department reserves the right to re-
iect any or all proposals, and agrees
to make no payment until after the
trial flight and acceptance.
The department desires a machine
which shall be designed so that it
may be quickly and easily assembled
and taken apart and packed for trans
portation In army wagons, also that
it shall be capable of being put to-
gether in an operating condition In an
hour. The flying machine must be
so constructed as to carry two per-
sons having combined weight of
about $50 pounds, aside from suffi-
eient fuel for flight of 125 miles
A speed OF not less than 40 miles per
hour in still air will be required and
bidders are asked to submit quota
tions for cost depending upon the
speed attained during the trial flight,
according to the. following scale:
40 miles per hour, 100 per cent.
39 miles per hour. 80 per cent.
3S miles per hour, so per cent.
81 miles per hour, 20 per cent.
3 miles per hour. so per cent.
Machines with ? speed of less than
SO miles per holE will be rejected.
II miles rer hour. 10 per cent.
32 miles per hour, l20 per cent
43 miles per hour, 130 per cent.
"A miles per hour. lao per cent
The speed accomplished during the
trial fight will he determined by TAX
ing an average of the time over a
measured course of more than five
miles, against and with the wind
The time will be taken by a flying
start. passing the starting point at
full speed at both ends of the course.
Before the department accepts a ma
chine II will require a trial endur-
ance fight of at least one hour dur
ing which time the flying machine
must remain constantly in the air
without landing. Ii must he able
to return TO the starting point and
land without any damage that would
prevent it Immediately starting upon
another fight During this trial
fight of one hour 1t must be steered
in all directions without difficulty and
at all times under perfect control and
equilibrium.
The specifications require that the
machine shall be so designed as to
ascend in any country which may be
encountered in field service. The
starting device must be simple and
transportable. The machine should
also land In field without requiring
a specially prepared spot and without
damage to its structure, II should
also be provided with some device to
permit a safe descent in case of ac-
cident to the propelling machinery.
still further requirement is that
the apparatus shall be sufficiently
simple in construction and operation
ito permit an intelligent man to be-
come proficient in its use within a
reasonable length of time.
The government reserves the right
TO inspect the processes of manufac-
ture and requires that the proposals
shall contain drawings and full de-
scriptive statement of the machine.
It's weight. motive power and general
design In short the government
wants to buy a flying machine which
will fly.
PROPERTIES TRANSFERRED.