Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-07-07
TWO SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS
BY CAPTAIN BALDWIN.
California Arrow Goes Up Morning and
Aftsrneen-WiIl Remain Here for a
Week II Necessary to Mako Longer
Flieht.

Two more airship flights. each at
tended by success In spite of unfavor-
able conditions of wind, were given at
the county fair grounds at East Great
Plain Tuesday by Capt. Thomas s.
Baldwin In the California Arrow.
Captain Baldwin made his first as
cension at 1--WE minutes before with
perhaps hundred people on the
grounds. Rising to height Of a few
hundred feet, the captain found that
TO attempt q lengthy Aight was useless,
as the AIR currents were moving NJ
rate Of fully fifteen miles an hour, and
therefore, after circling about, at once
descended The ship was in 1ight only
three or four minutes.
All day long, except for q short in
terval IN the early afternoon. the wind
kept up Its force. But at 5 o'clock
and after there seemed to be q luil and
people In automobiles, teams and OIL
foot began to flock TO the scene and
soon there were half a thousand spec
tators present who inspected with In
terest the machine which rested ready
for flight In its tent and, scanning the
leaves of the nearby trees, discussed.
eagerly the probability Of an exhibit
ton.
At length, after carefully noting the
weather conditions, Captain Baldwin
gave orders to his assistants to pre-.
pare for flight and after every detail
Of the equipment was painstakingly
looked after the big ship was taken
from its shelter TO the open space be-
hind the grandstand. The motor. was
started, the mon released their hold
on the frame and at STA the airship
glided smoothly into the air for the
longest and highest flight yet taken.
The captain at the start steered to the
north and then changed his course
toward the city, gradually rising IN
height until when third OF a mile
from the fair grounds, he was at an
altitude Of some 1000 feet. The air.
ship then described circle and came
back, passing over the watching crowd.
ground. After wheeling around several
times the steersman swung his ship in
4 wide circle about the grandstand and
inclined the planes downward. The
captain shut of the motor and the
ship settled gently forward and down,
the frame being caught before 1t could
touch the ground.
The flight lasted ten minutes. The
captain at the farthest point in his
cigar shaped gssbag
darted up and down, in and out, with
Increased and lessened speeds, giving
series OF aerial manoeuvres that delight
ed the crowd and provoked much en-
thusiasm. Speaking from his place
in the frame after landing. Captain
Baldwin said that the fight was very
pleasant but that the wind seemed to
be coming up or otherwise he would
have continued to the city.
The announcement that fight to
the city would be tried this evening
if possible was heard with applause.
The captain has decided to remain here
al the week II necessary to get good
cross country run. The past few days
have not been airship, weather, al
though the distinction is not so clear
to the average person, and Captain
Baldwin, than whom there is probably
no person better versed in aerial navi-
cation, feels that delay is preferable to
wrecking his airship In high wind.
Next week Captain Baldwin, accom-
panied by Augustus Post, the aeronaut,
who has been his right hand man the
last few days. and his force OF assist
ants will be in New York, where he
will be basy in preparing new equip
ment.
The general interest shown in these
ascensions by out Of town people is
noticeable. New London, willimantic.
Hartford, Worcester and Springfield
were represented by auto parties. But
the greatest surprise was given Cap
tain BALDWIN late TUESDAY afternoon,
when he was greeted by former as
sociate of his in old ballooning days,
George E. Palmer aeronaut, OF New
Haven. Mr.. Palmer made the trip to
Norwich especially TO see his old
friend, Captain Tom. go up, and great
was his pleasure at the success of the
fight.
Baldwin and Palmer travelled to-
gether nearly a quarter of a century
-
and later in Europe twenty years ago
this year Mr.. Palmer made two balloon
ascensions on the local fair grounds,
James Bill being president of the as
sociation at that time. For several
years now Mr.. Palmer has lived quietly
at New Haven in a pleasant home built
with the money from his baIlooning.
But in spirit he is still with the men
who daily risk their lives in the thrill
In nal1fnn