Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-08
FIRST ATTEMPT TO-DAY
Capt. BaIdWin's OirigibIe Will
Now Make Official Trip.
TWO MILES YESTERDAY
Speed Was Not Up to the Require
ment
BUT MOTOR WAS NOT PUSHED
Capt. Tom Will Have Three Chances
at Speed and Three at En-
durance Record.
TWO MILES YESTERDAY
UT MOTOR WAS NOT PUSHED

Weather permitting. the official trial o.
the Baldwin dirigible balloon will be made
at Fort Myer this afternoon between
and o'clock That was the announce
nent made yesterday after the two-milt
fight of the airship from the drllgrouno
to Clarendon and back.
There was only small crowd at the
fight yesterday. The day had beer
stormy and there was not much induce
ment for the public to go out. But about
the time of the trial the wind on the
ground dropped almost to fiat calm and
the thermometer on top of the balloon
tent was registering less than two miles
an hour. Higher up there was a faint
breeze. but the conditions were about as
good as they will ever be-
The ballOonette was pumped up and al
6:30 the airship was brought out, the gray
bag distended SO scarcely to show
the imprint of the suspension netting. Al
the final balancing test about double
handful of sand made her sit perfectly
level and at 6:22 the cry of Cast OFF,.
sounded from the stern of the craft. The
big balloon rose as gracefully as a bird
and made a circle over the drillground
Capt Tom Baldwin then headed the
ship due west and went as far as Claren-
don. which Is 1-6 miles by rail from the
fort. Circling easily at the end of the
greatly accelerated speed. At the drill
ground the ship was wheeled again and
landed directly in front of the balloon
tent. She was In flight just seventeen
minutes from the time she left the ground
till she returned. Rising and descending G
took about two minutes. and deducting
the time for maneuvering the speed out to
Clarendon and back was at the rate of
ten miles an hour. as nearly as could be
calculated. OF course when the marks
ia ial to L
today the record will be accurate.
Not Up to Requirements.
The fact that she did not come up to
contract speed today is not an indication
that she will fail on the test, as the en-
Eine was only about half open and is
capable of considerably greater speed.
When the dirigible passed over the line
on its return ii was about 800 feet in the
air. Bringing his ship against the wind,
Capt. Baldwin made a landing much the
same as pilots of water craft bring their
vessels to the side of dock. Mr.. Curtis
moved the planes downward and with the
propeller revolving slowly the ship was
brought down to 300 feet. AS it drifted
toward the tent which affords it protec-
tion Capt. Baldwin shouted to Mr. Cur
tiss to increase the speed of the pro-
peler so that the ship would clear the
tent.
This pulled the ship up too far and as
with boat which has been swept past its
pier by current the master brought
his ship around again. coming slowly to
earth The balloon squad of the Signal
Corps caught the frame as il descended.
preventing il from crashing to the ground
by the force of its own momentum
With broad smile. Capt Baldwin an
nounced that the flight was satisfactory
In every respect. Tomorrow" he said.
I'VE will go after the money. Everything
Is just as we thought it was when We
brought X here. The horizontal rudders
worked perfectly. and we made several
maneuvers which showed that every
thing is in perfect condition. We are
ready to make the official test any time. -
Mr.. Curtiss Enthusiastic.
Mr.. Curtiss. usually calm and uncon-
cerned. bubbled over with enthusiasm
She rode on an even keel throughou:
tha trip he said. LAS an example OF
the case with which the ship is controlled
and TO show what can BE- done while oper-
atins ii In the air at a height of 800 feet
] sketched a map of the country over
which we travelled. I did what will be
done in the future with airships"
IieUts- Lahm and Foulois OF the Sigma
Corps were the only representatives OF
the aeronautical division present to wit
ness the flights. After landing from his
second ascension Capt. Baldwin notified
Lieut. I<dnUl iNdt ne WoUlu De Tedoy "
make the first official speed trial at .
o'clock today. Accordingly a final in
spection of the airship will be made ny
the board of Signal Corps officers wh'
have been detailed to conduct the trials
If the requirements of the specification:
have been met In the construction of the
dirisible the first speed trial will be made
today. weather permitting.
Lieut.. Lahm reminded Capt. Baldwin
that his balloon was not entirely com
pieted according to specifications. while
Mr.. Curtiss urged that the maximum
speed of the motor should first be tried
when I made one of my first mot or
cycle races I made a mile in one minute
and thirty-nne seconds. he said by va,
"f Illustration which j thought was tin
highest ! could attain on that part!Cula
machine: but later | made a mile in fifty
MIN seconds on the same cycle. lo'
must work up to the maximum speed.
The centrifugal blower and the tube
which Will connect il to the balionet hav
not yet been placed in position
Will Have Three Chances.