Arizona republican., 1908-10-05

form. being low and narrow, shaped ] like an arrow, and with it's center 1 of gravity extremely low. This low
 center of gravity it is expected will give the machine great steadness and
 eliminate the danger of capsizing
 which has always been a difficulty in the use of air planes The most
 remarkable thing about this new ma chine, however, is it's shape, or rather the significance of the shape. Other air planes are broad, so broad indeed that they could never light in city street The new machine, however, is designated to do just this success fully. and therefore marks the first
 commercial application of the naviga- tion of air.
 These of course are all expensive
 machines. as the term is generally
 understood. and while they are re
 markable they do not in one way typify the purpose Of the Aeronautc
 club so well as many others. The
 purpose of the society is to encour-
 age and aid the experimentation by
 persons who. without such assist
 ance, could never afford Co develop and test their ideas. It is as signifi-
 cant, therefore. as it is little real
 ized that the greater part of the construction now under way at this first air course" in the Country is actually being carried on by men of small means There are sliders and wind wagons. in fact nearly every kind of construction known and un- known and as a result it may yet happen. as the Acronautic society hopes, that from some now obscure source will come the realization Of practical flying machine. Naturally the man of small means realizes best the need of an expensive machine which will not be merely a million
 aires toy. And while public interest has been centered in the experiments of the Wrights it is an extremely significant fact for the future of flyin-
 that nearly two dozen ideas are all
 working for a practical solution of the problem of aerial navigation.
 To most persons of course this problem is sealed one. Somehow it seems hard to realize that the fly
 ing machine is coming. But to see the practical work now going on at Morris park is to understand the mat
 ter III a ALAAtl tl4L Way III AAlf Nlt' 'Afn which equine kings formerly occupied are now various macIines. tools and
 models. and falmost daily tests are
 being made Although the course
 which has been leased for a year is
 open at all times. Sundays especially
 are open days when the public is
 invited to come and inspect. In the
 same spirit, too, any one with any
 sort of an idea for air navigation
 or any sort Of a vehicle driven by
 an air Sropeller is welcomed by the society," Every Wednesday night at
 the weekly meetings all such persons
 are invited to be present. To them is given all the aid of the society
 in testing out their ideas. Morris
 park is now really a public flying course and the sheds, shops and tools and advice of the society are freely given to all who are interested.
 l A catapult, or launching apparatus, 1 has been erected which will give the i necessary impetus to gliders and sim | liar machines The glider. indeed, while it has no engine and is really : only sort of huge kite. is interest : ing because it represents what may | be called the first step in flying. ! With the operator sitting or lying l below the kite wings it is projected l from the catapult by releasing a i heavy weight and shot into the air
 with a large initial impulse. Once i launched it is up to the operator to keep his balance by twisting his body about As this problem Of balance is ! most difficult one in motor driven air planes like the Wrights', for in ! stance. the glider or kite may be l regarded as the first step in flying. ! In theory it is similar to the sailing flight of birds which having at i tained an initial velocity may glide
 for miles through the air without moving a piniOn.
 1 Of course not even the most en-