Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

is building his own aeroplane Charles
w. Travers of Evansville. Ind. has an
aeroplane. so has G. +. Connover of Red
Bank, n. j. Franklin Fl. Warner of
White Plains, \. Y. is another one. Har-
ry J. Hardness of New York has an
Antoinette aeroplane with a 1C0-horse-
power motor.
This is a most remarkable list. and
one that shows how rapidly the new lad
has made its way in the United States.
Nearly all OF these wealthy owners
plan TO enter their flying machines IN
every event that is held. and they are
intensely ambitious to win the many
prizes that are to be offered at meets
soon to be held all over the country.
The most important of the engineers
who have been brought from the other
side to look after the air navigation IN
terasts Of prominent Americans IS LOUIS
Robson. Frenchman. He will take care
of Mr.. Wanamaker's monopiane.
Robson is soon to commence his prac-
tice. for he will fly the BlerIot at the
international contests that are planned
for Long Island next year
Robson Is very gifted engineer ASIDE
from his knowledge of the construction
anu operation of a motor, ne knows all
about the material that goes into air
crafts, for he has done important work
with some of the most noted aeronauts OF
France.
He has made many important ascents,
nation that is now possible even In
France, where the science has been car
ried further than any place II the world
Getting up into tie air 10 the last step
in French method of developing aero
nauts.
First is taken a man who has a knoWl-
edge of engineering and mechanics. lie
Is the raw material. He must first master
the fundamental laws OF aerial naviga-
ton. Then he works in establishments
40 al made
His next step is to associate himself with
some pilot who has made asccnts and
knows all about them. Then when lie has
served MI this apprenticeship. he is
thought fit to be intrusted not only with
his own life. which must of necessity be
endangered in every flight. but with the
airship itself. which is q very expensive
piece Of construction, and which can
readily be wrecked II left TO the hands OF
novice or fool.
A man must have native qualifications
Of GOODNESS and good health to be an air
pilot. That goes without saying, for ne
is destined to be constantly exposed to
perils that mean death for he who falters.
Young Paulhan Is pilot who is almost
certain to be brought to the United
States by some of the enthusiasts. IIe
has broken record after record.
L~febre is another remarkable pilot OF
the air. one who is especially noted for
his daring.
Guffroy. Laurens, Schreck. Gobron, Bu-
nauVari!la, Rougier. F'ou nier. who was
also famous automobile driver, San
chez Baza, LegagneauX, Breguet and
Fernandez are others who are likely to
be heavily bid for. When the American
rich man wants anything he is most likely
to get it.
There is at present no chance to get
the right kind Of drivers In the United
States. In this country there is as yet
no adequate library on the subject, there
is no fund Of knowledge, there are no
teachers.
1t is really the story of automobils
over again, and it will probably be con-
siderable time before Uncle Sam catches
up.
This is not hard to understand In the
United States nearly the entire system