The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-19
Springfield Man Is Building One Which
is Almost Ready to be Tested
and is Expected to
FOOT POWER FIRST
viii Try Running the AeropIane With
Bicycle Attachment Before Put
ting Motor on

A Made in Springfield" flying ma
chine is nearing completion, says the
State Journal.
Within short time its inventor,
designer, builder and first navigator,
7. Pritchett, expects to put the ma
chine to actual test and demonstrate
the practicability of his theories OF
aerial navigation.
The first fight will be made in
Springfield but when and where are
matters Pritchett is keeping to him
self at present. When the time for
the initial trip into the blue ethereal
comes the State Journal has the
aerial inventors promise it will be
allowed to have a representative on
the ground
Pritchett's flying machine was
shown to State Journal representa-
tive yesterday and he was permitted
to make close inspection of the
dainty air traveller the local inventor
confidently expects will excel the ef-
forts of the Wright brothers and
make Springfield more famed in the
world of aeronautics than Dayton is
at present.
Mode! Designed as Test.
The model which Pritchett has
been working upon since July is de-
signed simply to test certain of the
designers theories regarding aerial
fiigh and has proven so sue
cessful large and more important
machine will then be built as
Fic"ett behaves Il IL ..an demon
strate his principles successfully he
will not lack financial backing to con-
struct machine on larger scale.
Wings on the model to be used first
measure fourteen feet across and are
to be similar to those of a box kite.
An arrangement of levers allows the
wings to be raised into different posi-
tons to meet counter currents of air.
The length of the machine is fifteen
feet In front is the guiding de--ice OF
Pritchett's own invention which auto
maically allows movement to cores
pCHd Will bir flli CANOuillCi'
ed. The motive power is generated
by three large fans in the machine,
operated by belts connected with the
engine
Bicycle Motive Power for Test.
Instead Of using an engine for the
trial trip Prichett has arranged a
bicycle, with the rear wheel SO ar
ranged that when turned it will cause
the power fans to revolve rapidly.
The inventor, who expects to make
the first trip, will sit astride the by
cycle and operate 1t.
To give the machine its start, an
incline plane will be built. Wheels
on the bottom of the machine, pro-
PEELED by the operator, will cause it
to ascend on the incline and by the
time the top is reached Prichett be-
lieyes the machine will have attained
sufficient momentum to carry it up,
where the wings and fans will carry
1t in the desired direction through
the air.
Has Experienced Frequently.
Considerable work remains to be done
towards balancing the machine and
preparing every part for the initial
test. Pritchett says he has had ex-
perience in working with balloons and
is not afraid of air travelling. Although
this is his first attempt at building
real flying machine of sufficient size
to carry man, he has made num-
Der of smaller models which have
flown in the air He has a number at
his home. having been interested In
the subject of aerial navigation for
many years.
Because of the fact that he wishes
to work without molestation from
curiosity seekers, Pritchett is keeping
the location of his invention secret
until the time comes to prove it's
worth.