The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-22

Especial to The Richmond virginian-)
NORFOLK, VA. June 22.--Claim-
ing they have solved aerial navigation
with an heaviartnan-air aeroplane,
r. r. Grant and j. r. Morse, Of this
city, have completed machine that
is said to be the equal if not superior,
of anything any of the other airship
inventors have turned out
1t is claimed for the Norfolk ma
chine that weather conditions can be
better overcome than with any of the
other aeroplanes. bipianes or atrships-
Nothing short of a hurricane, II IL
said, will bar the Grant Morse ma
chime from flying and they propose to
prove that their invention is practi-
cal by text next Saturday. when they
prove to fly somewhere in the vicinity
of Cape Henry and Virginia Beach
Work Of assembling the machine
was begun at the Beach this morn
ing. 1t will be housed in a tens near
the pavilion and after 1t has been put
together it will be exhibited to the
crowds that go down to the resort.
This was one of the conditions upon
which the Norfolk Southern railway
yesterday induced the builders TO have
their tryout at the resort. Just when
the actual initial attempt to fly will
be made the builders or the machine
refuse to say. They do admit. how
ever. that the affair will not be ready
for trial before Friday morning.
technical description of the mono-
plane would be lengthy. There are
new principles of aviation involved in
its construction that no doubt win at
tract widespread attention in the
event 1t proves a success.
Naturally the most important thing
Is the engine, and the builders claim
they have the best that has ever been
Installed in any air craft OF the heavi-
er than air variety. 1t Is a $3.50
horsepower affair of eight opposed cy-
finders. arranged horizontally above
the center line Of the central struc-
ture of the machine. These cydin-
ders have a double exhaust. making
sixteen exhausts in all. they are au-
Dramatically fed and the fabrication is
likewise arranged. The propeller Is
attached direct to the shaft and an in
novation is a balance wheel. The
engine is air-cooler by means of a
yentilator similar to that of a ship.
which points forward and throws the
cool air directly into the innards OF
the motor.
The operator sits In front Of the
engines. A wheel on each side of
Nun regulates the FSEtiGdi anu AateR al
movement while . lever works the
long tail rudder.
The throttle. spark and other con-
trolls are In hands reach. and the
feet OF the operator control the euutli-
brium OF the machine.
The center cage composes all Of the
structural work OF the machine. " -
eight feet long and Ave feet wide;
built Of New England spruce. as ts all
OF the wooden parts OF the machine
and braced with stAunch steel wire.
TOP, rirht ana left, the wings proper
extend. The third plane. instead Of
being above IL below and the entire
machine 10 mounted upon six wheels
four under the center cage ana two
under the tail. From ZIP 70 sip q IN, .nf
lonG: each wing being eight feet wide.
The tail extends from tho front to the
rear twenty-seven feet and has SONS
new features made necessary 20 con-
troll the air pushed back In circata s
In the way al tips to the wings has
been introduced by the builders, re-
sembling more closely than anything
vet achieved the wings Of : bird.
The engine e very powerful, y has
hundred pounds. using . seven foot
propeller with q six foot push ana tho
machine IL expected to rise OF its own
momentum when the planes Are tilted
properly, ANOTHER feature . q ne ~ on
With them IL THAR ability to cut out
four Of the eight cylinders and nAvt-
gate with the other four. y e really
4 single engine made ue OF two en-.
ginss opposed 70 each other and win
the cranke SO arranged that there -
not the least lost motion.