The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17
AUTO ENGINES AID
CONQUERORS OF AIR
Development of Gasoline Motor
Makes Possible Perfection
in Flying Machine

Lne ueABlODnCNL OL TIC HdoOAlhN vi
gine to a high state OF perfection in
its application TO the automobile prac-
ticalIy has made possible the conquest
OF the air. Until this was accomplished
the question appeared one too intricate
for solution.
While even greater things are ex-
pected from light engine construction.
its present potency serves to overcome
many Of the problems confronting both
motor driven vehicles and heavier than
air machines.
The aim has been the construction of
an engine that, while developing the
maximum power, could be constructed
at a weight that would permit OF its
application 10 that style OF craft IN
which lightness was the cardinal fea-
ture.
THE NEW TYPE
Though California, and San Fran
cisco especially. has long eNperimented
in aeronautics. il was only recently that
departure was taken from the gas bag
10 the heavier than air machine. Sew
ersI Of these machines are now under
construction. embracing various mod
els. including the biplane, helicopter'
aerocycloid and monoplanes-
As yet nothing has been accomplished
further than balloon flights, but the
Pacific Aero club is confident of con-
ducting experiments during the next
few months that viii serve to demon
strate the best type of machine.
MACHINES UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Among the machines now. under con-
struction is a combination of the hell
copter and aeroplane, which Is belng
huilt bv English brothers. In this ma
chine the application of the hehcopter
idea embraces two lifting pTopeIlers,
with the center of gravity placed Wen
below the points of lifting and propul-
sion. As vet this machine has not been
tried 1t carries So horsepower en-
ginc. and $4,000 is being spent IN It's
construction.
Another machine that is being con-
structed by DR. Hinkler combines the
aeropIane. heHcopter and airship 1he
model of this machine was completed
some time ago. and a full sized snip
will be ready for the field trials soon
MACHINE FROM FRANCE
Among the aeroplane enthusiasts is
7 f. Possadis, who is constructing a
machine that follows closely the Wright
idea. A specially constructed aero
r,lane engine embodying high power
with Iightness has been imported from
France. and as soon as the machlhe Is
completed il viii be given test under
the auspices of the Pacific Aero cluo.
Another model after the Wright bl-
nlane is that turned out by CleVe 1.
Shaffer. who is now working on the iuli
size machine.
charles r Bradley has now about
completed an advanced type or the
aerOplane and IN all Likelihood TINS wiz
be the first TO enter the field for prac-
tical tests
Tic = c. Irvine aerocycloid is radi-
cal departure from all accepted loeas'
and is the result Of tests mace Win
lifting planes driven by high power
motor. The idea of this machine Is 10
secure a lifting power that VIII at the
same time propel the machine forward.
with 4 model driven by a three horse
power motor lifting power OF -
mounds was developed. Once the ma
chine is i'm the air it can be held sta
tionarv by slowing down the engine
TO ENCOURAGE AERONAUTICs
The Pacific Aero club was organized
Nav II. 1909. and aeronautics are no"
conducted under its auspices. 1t is the
aim Of the club to encourage eNperl- :
rDents and aid those who are interested
in the development of aerial craft
The first event under the ausplces OF
the club was held last Sunday It was
the race between the balloons CITY OF
Oakland and Queen of the Paciilc-
As soon as one or more of the various
models are ready for field test the
club. proposes TO secure GROUNDS ana
have practical tests made under lts
auspices.
TO GUARD AGAINST FAKES
There has been some 100000 gath
cred in san Francisco from fake aero
nantic schemes, and the club hopes -
Guard against repetition OF these con-
ditions. -,
,pen,bersbip and President Irvine Is
confident Of being able TO secure sum
cient funds to materially advance the
science Of aaeronauties.
The club intends to secure some eA,
merit aeroplane operators, such az
Wright brothers and Glenn H. Curtlss
for exhibition events.
San Francisco might be said TO have
initiated advanced aeronautics. II was
here that the first dirigible balloon was
sailed by Professor Baldwin, who IN
power driven machine circled around
san Francisco in 1887.
DIRIGIBIE IMPRACTICABLE
.The dirigibIe balloon has been sub
iected to every test" said Presiden'
Irvine in discussing aeronauues, an'
81 has been demonstrated that tn
heavier than air machine offers tn
While much has been accomplished TN
whole subject is in its infancy anc
some one must work il out. They have
developed a machine that will fly, but
one must be made that can be KEEP
going What has TO be done is tC
perfect machine that can be raised
lowered and held stationary in the air
when we get this we viii have solved
the problem"
II is now possible 10 indulge in the
most extravagant speculations as tC
the ultimate outcome of aeronautic:
without having the neighbors call il
the children TO see who is coming.
PROBLEMS OF FUTURE
AS TO the future of the dirigible ant
heavier than air machines il is harC
10 even venture a guess, but it is SAFE
70 predict that should much be ac-
complished in the coming decade as
has marked the conquest of the air IL
the last Il is only question of a few
years when the same results will have
been accomplished for the aeroplans
that have marked the development oi
the automobile.
The question first began to engross
the learned men of the world as early
as the eighteenth century. when the
French academy undertook the prepa-
ration of work on wind pressure as
applied 10 a plane offered at different