The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-12-29

There is but one topic in sporting
circles at the moment, all others be-
ing overshadowed by the keen inter-
est which is being manifested local
ly in aviation, consequent upon the
presence in Honolulu of j. G. Mars
and his party. Out on the Moanalua
Polo field a biplane was put togeth-
er yesterday and the news that this
was being done drifted into town
early in the afternoon, with the re-
suit that several interested parties
availed themselves of the opportunity
of having a glimpse of the aeroplaneI
at close quarters.
On a small knoll rising on the right
of the field, looking towards mauka
and commanding a splendid view of
the golf links and the polo ground,
the biplane was put together under
the supervision of Tod Schriver and
its appearance, even though most Of
us are familiar with the appearance
of aeroplanes by reason of the eX
cellent Illustrations which have been
given of them in the many pictorial
journals which we receive from the
Coast, elected EXPLANATIONS of sur
prise. 1t seemed far too fragile TO
bear the weight of human being, as
well as the weight of the 23Olb mo-
tor which supplies the motive power,
and which enables the aviator to
emerge successfully from his contests
with the elements. Each time an as
cent is made it means a struggle
against the air currents, which threa-
ten destruction continually.
The Diez-Schriver biplane, with
which Bud Mars will make the as
cents, is similar in general principle
to Curtiss' machine, thogh it's meas
urements are not quite the same,
there being greater length and
breadth to the support planes.
These planes, of which there are
two, extend across the machine and
measure 80 feet in length from tip
to tip and five feet in width. They
are constructed OF vulcanised silk,
which has all the appearance of fine
strips or rubber, on a light wooden
frame, strengthened with thin wires.
The first impression which the ma
chine suggests is that it can hardly
sustain the weight asked of it, but a
closer inspection, in conjunction with
the lucid explanations of the action
of the air as handed out yesterday
by Schriver, removes the impression.
The wires are of great strength and
there are a great number of them.
The silk is of the finest quality, Of
great tensile power, and the light
framework VIII bear far greater
weight than would be thought posi-
Bile by the average man.
The aviator is supplied with a
small seat just in front of these two
planes and Immediately behind the
seat is the eight cylinder fifty horse
power motor. Ten feet in front of the
seat and controlled therefrom by
wires from the steering wheel are
the steering planes, two small planes
which can be depressed or raised,
DETECTED to the right or left at will,
simply by the turning Of the steer
ing wheel, and at the back of the
two large planes are two small sec
lions which act as balancing planes
and which by their raising or low
ering enable the aviator to maintain
I his equilibrium. These smaller bal
ancing planes are controlled from the
seat by the aviator swaying his body
to the right or left as the case might
| be.
All this seemed so simple that one
fell to wondering wherein all the diff
ficulty lay Where the necessity fol
great skill, nerve and initiative SC
persistently lauded by the scribes
who have witnessed the world
greatest flights? AS Tod SchriveI
pointed out first one and then thu
other sections of the aeroplane ant
explained their uses, and Their are
very few parts, the wonderment dee
pened. Air currents were the distur
bling factors, explained Schriver
Were it possible to make a chart o
the ethereal regions, showing the di
rection and force OF the currents, tn
mountains and valleys they made, tn
spaces which were scattered hapha
card here and there, aeroplanin
would be a far less interesting study
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