The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-01
VAN sLEErs AlRsHlp
VIII Be Built In Boston for Fulton
Race Next Fall.

Race Next Fall.
Pittsfeld. March IA Boston can
italist is arranging to build for vii
liam Van Sleet Of Pittsheld. one ofthe
most intrepid balloon pilots of Amer
lea and the official pilot of the Aero
club of Pittsheld, a huge dirigible
balloon, with which he will try to
capture the $4,000 airship prize in
the Fulton flight next October.
Van Sleets airship will be built in
Boston and tried out in Pittsfield. The
balloonist says that he win have a
ship that is both fast and can nego-
tiate the distance HE has been study
Ing all the French models and his de
sign will be unusual, combining many
Of the best features Of the Clement
Bayard and Zeppelin dirigibles. The
dirigible will carry only its pilot and
will be cigar shaped.
A Chicago Arm has agreed to build
the envelope and samples of the ma.
terial and specifications have been
sent to Pittsheld. The length of the
ship will be about 65 feet. It's frame
will be combination of wood and al
luminum supported by a strong steel
wire net.
There will be four propellers and a
cradle for the motor and pilot. The
envelope will have a capacity of 10000
cubic feet Of gas that will be made
from French receipt.
Il shall make a study of the air cur
rents along the Hudson river during
the summer says Mr. Van Sleet, by
making several balloon flights With
a knowledge of the prevailing winds
and their draft. an airship pilot may
jockey for position with the wind and
air current and win the big money
prize.
Il don't understand that pilot has
to- follow the Hudson river. He NAV
head his craft over the Catskills and
drift with the wind toward the destin-
alton That's why want to know
something about the direction of the
prevailing winds at points along the
Hudson river. | believe that | shall
have one of the lightest and fastest
crafts that will be entered. | have
never driven an airship, but | have
| studied all the best American designs
| Within short time | shall be able ia
announce the specifications of the dir.
igible racer and other details Ii will
be called either the Massachusetts or
the Berkshire
We shall first try straight away
| distance in the tests from Pittsfeld
of $50 miles. Then we will try tack
ing test, driving the airship straight
against the wind for say 20 miles and
then lacking back into the course
just as a ship goes against the wind
II shall devote the greater part OF
the summer to experiments with the
airship. test of the motors and in per
fecting the gas formula"
William Van Sleet qualified as a bal
loon pilot of the Aero club of Pitts
| field. Oct. 10, 1908. Making his test
fight with Mr. and Mrs. Leo Stevens
OF New York, Stevens acting as the
critic for the Aero club of America
Previous to that he had made flights
from North Adams, Springfield, lone
uight from this city and night flight
to Cape Cod, breaking the long dis
lance flights from Pittsfied, a dis
lance of 1876 miles, passing over Bos
ton.
He attracted notice years ago as q
bicycle rider, winning events in anna
teur circles. Then he entered the
automobile business and became al
expert driver. President Luke Nina
han Of the Aero club of Pittsiield pick
ed him for the pilot OF the Aero clul
lof Pitished from large number o
men and he has participated in flights
in which there have been hazardous
landing and flights in gales of wind
where his nerve has been tested H,
is considered one of the best men il
the balloon plotting business.