The San Francisco call., 1908-08-01
Henri Farman's Aeroplane Gives
Great Exhibition at
Brighton Beach
Makes Successful Flights and
Journeys With Speed of
Express Train
Twice Leaves Dock" and
After Rising Is Feet, Dashes
Straight Ahead
Aeronauts Are Delighted, and
Rival in Dirigible Balloon
Meets With Accident ~

NEW YORK, July 31.-Rising
from the ground like giant bird and
darting through the air at express
train speed. Henri Farman's aero
plane, or heavier than air flying ma
chine, brought here from France.
made its initial fight in this country
late this afternoon at Brighton Beach.
1t rose from an especially prepared
'dock" at the will of the inventor,
and after attaining a height of 25 feet
flew straight ahead on direct line,
finally alighting with exquisite grace
when the air pilot diminished the mo-
tive power.
During the brief space of time in
which the aeroplane was slximming
over the center field of the racetrack
the few hundred spectators. most OF
whom were friends of the inventor or
rival aviators. watched the flight with
breathless interest The landing pro-
voksd cheers as voeiferens as those Of
a race1rack crowd
HUGGED By AERoNAUTs
Farman was surrounded and literally
Ehugged by the Jubilant aeronauts.
Members OF the Aero club of America,
under whose auspices Farman will con-
duct his public flights at Brighton
Beach, wanted to carry the successful
inventor of the field on their shoulders.
There were skeptics in the crowd
who would not believe until they saw.
he ING Of
the aeroplane In doubling silence
Farman,s mechanics rushed about
getting the queer shaped ship ready
for the fight and when wires had been
made taut and the motor tested the
ship was carried to the plank runway
near the field stand
Newspaper photographers crowded
around the aeropIane to get pictures OF
the machine as 1t was about to make
its first flight in America Farman
then decided to again test the motor
before flying. He instructed the French
mechanics in their native tongue to
hold fast to the aeroplane while he
turned on the power. Instantly the
propeller began to revolve at the rate
of 1,400 revolutions to the minute and
breeze suggestive OF small cyclone
was created. The photographers were
knocked to the ground until the power
was turned of. So great was the viO-
trees were bent double. Farman laugh
| ingly said he guessed the machinery
was working all right
AEROPLANE SPEEDS AWAY
Then, when the crowd had been
waved back. he gave the order, Let
go, let gor and away sped the aero
plane over the plank roadway. 1t ran
swiftly along on It's wheels for 240
yards and then Farman turned a lever
4 -f<@H TT h0 or 1r~ff.
and away it flew. The propeller made
| a whirring noise as 1T turned 500 times
| to the minute. Only $50 yards were
covered in the air in this flight, but
few minutes later Farman made an
other try and Travelled $50 yards in the
air. He could have gone much farther
| he said but feared striking a pile OF
/ lumber.
| These flights are preliminary to Far
mans public flights, which will begin
tomorrow. He will give 10 exhibitions
at the track, and it is probable that he
will appear in other parts of the coun-
try, as many aeronauttc clubs are try
| ing to induce him to visit other cities.
RIVAL SCARS OVER TRACK
AS rival attraction to Farman to-
day Frank Hamilton. an American
aeronaut, sailed his dirtgible balloon
into the racecourse while Farman was
preparing to make his flights. Hamil-
tons balloon scared over the track
grandstand and circled the Aeld. When
1t was coming back q blade Of thu
propeller broke and the balloon was
banged up against the grandstard.
throwing Hamilton out.
Farman was the first person to 90 to
his assistance, and he shook his rival
aeronaut warmly by the hand when he
learned that he had not been injured.
Hamilton secured a new propeller and
sailed away.