The San Francisco call., 1909-08-09
LOCAL WOMAN
AN ENTHUSIAST
OVER AVIATION
Miss NJ. Shaffer, Sister of Sec
retary of Pacific Aero Club,
Will Make Ascent
Takes Up Study of AerOnautics
and Renders Invaluable Aid
to Her Brother
Eighteen Year Old Youth Builds
Glider and Promises to
Enter Competition

a SPRING to be the first woman
"A on this planet 10 fly in q
= heavier than afr machine. Miss
NJ Shaver. SO2 Holyoke street
sister OF Cleve T shaner secre-
tary OF the Pacific aero club has un-
dertalSen with determination the study
OF ssronsutics. Already has Miss
Shafter, from the aid she has rendered
her brother in his perfection OF the
glider, become known as the Katherine
Wright OF the Pacific coast and yes
terday It was announced that on Sun
day, August % Miss Shaffer will make
a balloon ascension from Berkeley with
Captain P. A. Van Tassell, the aeronaut,
and Van der Niellan.
While the Shsffers. brother and sis
ter. have been studying the most mod
ern ways OF overruling the laws OF
gravitation. two young inventors have
been quietly working in this city on
aeroplanes Of the biplane type, and
both expect soon TO fly.
The elder OF the two is Herman c.
Bulask Of SO Grove street, who has
nearly finished his aeropIane. and who
hopes TO hy across the Golden gate
from the Presidio hills to the Sausalito
shore within two weeks. A significant
aspect OF Pulask's work is that it is
reported that a Central American re-
public is aiding him in perfecting his
invention. The young inventor refused
yesterday 10 discuss that phase of his
prospects.
LAD BUILDS AIR GLIDER
The other young inventor, J. zenon
Posadss Jr-. OF 1916 Sacramento street.
Is but IS years OF age and Of Guate-
rnslsn psrentage. He mas not vet de-
cided where ne win fly. but he is de-
termined 10 ny and in the basement Of
his Sacramento street home he has all
completed, save the gasoline engine.
an efficient looking aeropIane Of
markedly original lines. Not only will
il be the nghtest aeroplane construct
ed. but it viii have several other novel
features which the youthful emulator
or the Wrights. Curtiss, Bleriot and
Henri Fsrman has kept secrets. Po-
sadas' aeroplsne measures 35 feet from
up to tip. and 1s feet from front TO
rear rudder. The wing tips are located
IN front and Al the extreme ends Of the
planes, an innovation. With the en-
gine and aeronaut the machine will
weigh 300 pounds. q net weight for the
machine OF about 1sO pounds. The
gasoline engine. which the inventor
hss imported from France. viii de-
velop seven horsepower It has two
cylinders. The horsepower is lower
than on other heavier than air ma
chimes, condition made possible by
the greater efficiency which Posadss
has developed in the propeller. The
estimated speed viii be 90 miles an
hour
Possdas exhibited his machine for
the first time last evening TO Can
reporter ! have been in the air on
c. T. shaffer's glider said the vouna
inventor. and 7 feel sure that I can
handle my machine have studied
aeronautics. and when / was in Paris
saw Farmsn and ssntos-Dumont nv. T
ttrhfC -teN sen NiAF ldLfE wright
chimes. nor Bleriot's. but I am familiar
with their principles"
WILL ENTER COMPETITION
Posadas viii exhibit his machine AT
the Pacific aero club exhibition AT
Dresmlsnd rink on August Is. He
wants TO compete at the Portola fes-
rival If the committee will put up
nothing more than a cup / shall enter
their competition" he said enthusi-
asticslIy. i intend to fly shortly
either az InEleside or in the Kentheld
stadium
The Pacific aero club is negotiating
with curtiss, the New York aviator
foa exhibitions to be held here during
Ponola week ~Curtiss will come west
for 5000" said J. NJ. Masten. treas
urer Of the club. yesterday we viii
try tt have it arranged for him. But
what want to see during Portola week
are balloon races"