The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-01
TRICK OF THE AIR
PARTICIPANTS AERoPLANE GRACE
 FULLY FLOWS AIR.
Aerial Navigator Creates Boundlesn Enthusfasm With Heavier Than Air Maehine at Brfghton Beach
 Yesterday Affexnoon.

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 New York. July si.--Arising from the ground like giant bird and dart Ing through the air at express train speed, Henri Farman's aeropiane. the interesting heavier r-than-air flying machine, brought here from France to demonstrate fis ability to fly, made It's initial flight in this country late this afterpoon at Brighton Beach. It rose rom an especially prepared runway at the will of the inventor. and after att taining a height of 25 feet. flew straight ahead on . direct line, finally alighting with exquisite grace, when the noted air pilot diminished the mo- tive power.
 During the brief space of time in which the aeroplane was skimmfng over the center neld of the race track, the few hundred spectators, most of whom were friends of the inventor or rival navigators, watched the night with brethless interest. The instant the trim-iooking machine landed, cheers rent the atr--cheers far more enthusi- astic and voctferous than those of a race track crowd. Farman was sur rounded and literally hugged by the Jubiiant aeronauts. Memb bers of tho Aero Club of America, under whose auspices Farman will conduct his pub lie flights at Brighton Beach, wanted 1eAO~098A the aeld on their sf oulders.
 There were skeptlcs In the crowd. who did not believe. until they saw. and they watched the arranging of the machinery of the aeroplane in doubt ing silence.
 Newspaper photographers crowded around the aeroplane to get pictures of the machine as 1t was about to make It's nrt flight in America. and it was thta uo to make another test of the motor be- fore flying. He instructed his French mechantcs in their native tongue to hold fast to the aeroplane while he turned on the power Instantly the propeller began to reyolve at the rate of l.400. revolutions to the minute, and a breeze equal to small cyclone was created. The photographers were knocked fiat and plastered to the ground until the power was turned off. So great was the violence of the breeze that several willow trees were bent double. Farman laughingIy said he guessed the machinery was working all right.
 Then. when the crowd had been wav- ed back. he gave the order, Let so" and away sped the aeroplane over the plank roadway. It ran swiftly along on its wheels for 240 yards and then rAtuan tuTuoo q tSVor WnlGn sent At Into the air like magic and away 1t flew The propeller made a whirring noise as 1t turned 500 times to the min ute. Only $50 yards was covered in the air in this flight. but a few min utes later Farman made another try and travelled 7so yards in the air. He could have gone further, he said, but feared striking . pile of lumber.
 These flights are preliminary to Far. mans public nights which will begin tomorrow. He will give fifteen exhibi- tIons at the track. and 1t is probak le that he win appear in other parts of the country.
 As a rival attraction to Farman today. Frank Hamilton, an American aero naut. sailed his dirigible balloon into the race course while Farman was pre- pairing to make his flights. Hamilton s balloon scared over the track grounds and circied the field. When it was coming back, blade of the propeller broke, and the balloon was banged up against the grandstand. throwing Ham iIton out Farman was the first per son to Ko to his assiAtanee. and he shook his rival warmly by the hand when he learned he had not been in- jured. Hamilton secured new pro peller and sailed away.