The Colorado statesman., 1909-07-31
PLANS OF NEW
DENVER AIRSH|P
TUBE HELIcoPTER LIFTS
400 POUNDS.
SUCCESSFULLY TESTED
INVENTION OF JOHN M. CAGE, DE-
SlGNER OF PROMISING
SUBMARINE VESSEL.

Denver.-Driven at an amazing
speed by a 30-horsepower electric mo-
tor, two two-blaided propellers, revolv-
ing opposite directions inside a steel
and canvas tube six feet in diameter
and eight feet in length, daily are dem
onstrating at the Mitchell machine
shop, 1925 Eighth street, that Denver
may soon be recognized by the world
OF aviators and aviation.
Daily, says the Denver Republican,
professors of science in Colorado uni
versities, expert mechanics and COM
mon-sensical business men gather in
the little loft of the machine shop, are
shown by John NJ. Cage, the youthful
inventor of the apparatus and the in
ventor of the Cage submarine boat,
which is creating more than passing
interest among the naval authorities of
Washington and of the world, just
what his model can do, and leave the
shop with their cynicism gone, or, if
not entirely dissipated, existing only
doubtfully.
Although only a model designed to
show that the problem Of harnessing
the air and making it lift weight for
man is one which has been solved to
some extent, at least, the apparatus
has satisfied many of the experts in
aviation matters Not an airship, not
even the model of an airship, the hell
copter,-for that is what it is, some
what improved in construction--repre
sents only one-half the lifting power,
for the machine will have two of the
flyers" designed for the airship plan
ned by young Cage.
The method of driving the air
through the tub is unique, also, the
first propellers grasping the air
just inside the tube opening and whirl-
ing 1t backward and to the right. I'm
mediately below the first propellers
are located other propellers working
in the opposite direction, which act
against the counter current of air
with even greater force and effective
ness than do the first propellers. By
this means the 'swirling" of the air, so
fatal to the hopes Of inventors who
have tried the helicopter system in diff
ferent fashions, is done away with.
This scheme also reduces to mini
mum the slip" of the blade in the air,
even though the blade is stationary.
The center of the helicopter is at
tached to a beam thirty-six feet long,
in the center of which is pivot, and
the other end of the beam is set on
scales that record the exact lift, which
amounts to 400 pounds and upward.
Until the airship itself is built, of
course, the actual practicability of the
| invention cannot be known. Theo-
retically, according to disinterested
parties who have viewed the demon
| strations, it should work out at least
| to the extent of raising the machine
into the air, as the machine and driver
will weigh less than 500 pounds, even
with 100 horsepower motor. Steam
will probably be the motive power.
Care has been taken to provide for
the safe descent of machine and oper-
ator should the mechanism give way
| or anything break. Also new cover
| ing, lighter and stronger than any bal.
| loon or flying machine covering ever
! invented, has been conceived by young
| Cage. This is now in the patent ap-
piled for" class, as is the safety float
| ing device for use in the case of &C.
| cidents to mechanism.
The plan of driving the helicopter
machine after 1t rises into the air is
very simple, being merely to turn the
helicopters forward, thus giving a
| backward as well as ar upward thrust,
and at the same time increasing the
power applied to the propellers. Thus
| the power necessary to overcome the
force of gravity will be continuous and
the extra force will be applied in
pushing" or pulling the machine
forward. After a sufficient speed for
ward has been acquired, the under
part of the helicopter tube will act as
a supporting surface against the air.
| thus enabling almost the entire power
OF the helicopter to be used in driving
the machine forward.
Such are the plans and the claims
of those interested, supported by men
interested in such affairs and who
have worked out the problem-on pa.
per. An effort will be made to have
the ship built and in working trim in
time for the big aero contest in the
East in October.
Among the men interested in the
project and officers of the Cage Avia.
tion company are: Frank S. Thayer,
president; Lyman B. Stone, secretary
and treasurer; John NJ. Cage, general
manager; H. NJ. Spicer, Walter l..
Newsom and Watt G. Sheldon, direc.
tors, and Judge Ben B. Lindsey. There
are many others of prominence who
are silent partners and stockholders
in the company.