Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-19
A|RSH|P IS TRIED OUT
Monoplane More Anxious to
Fly Than Aviators.
TESTS ARE SATISFACTORY
Machine Constructed by Robert
Moore and J.. F. Simmons.
CLOSE TO GROUND IN TRIALS
Allowed to Jump Some-Intended to
Give Experience to
Operator.

Short experimental flights were made
at Benning yesterday In an aeroplane
OF Washington construction.
1t was a monoplane built by Robert
Moore and John F. Simmons. Both have
been interested in aviation for some time
Mr.. Moore is the chief mechanic for
Emile Berliner. the telephone man. Be-
sides being an expert In gas engines. he
has done much work on aeroplanes in
the past two years. Mr.. Simmons is also
an expert machinist.-
The rnonoplane. which is their joint
work. Is an unusually fine piece OF con-
struction.
Only q small crowd was at the track
yesterday, including only Moore. Sim
mons and their two assistants. Sam Lut-
trell OF local automobile and aviation
renown ana one or two friends.
Trouble with Engines.
The assembling Of the machine did not
mean that 1t was ready to 50 by any
meaps. Just before leaving the shop the
engine had been run at full speed, work.
ed perfectly and developed q pull OF ITO
pounds. When 1t was cranked up at the
track it acted as though 1t never had
gone and never intended to.
Finally 1t was induced by judicious
coaxing to run for a minute or two and
then sulked like q spoiled child. Gasoline
engines are VIGOROUSLY notional, and 1t
was apparent that this one had q case OF
temper.
Everything was done that experience
could suggest. There apparently was no
way out of the difficulty till 1t was dis
covered that there was a tiny piece OF
waste stopping the gasoline feed pipe.
\
as though IT had never been anything
but well behaved machine all its life.
Only q Bare Tryout.
There was no attempt made yesterday
to force the plane. Tho mere fact that
1t got on the ground was rather moro
than was expected OF 1t.
All that was intended was that its
running power on the ground should be
tried out and that the operator should
get used to the controls.
There were several runs made on the
race track. This was soft and the speed
developed was not high. But there was
some difficulty in keeping the machine on
the ground at that.
First the rear wheels would raise and
then the back wheel. This always made
guiding out Of the question, and the
engine had to be stopped.
The machine was too delicate and cost
too much in time. labor and money to
risk injuring It.
to the infield. There. In spite Of the fact
that the grass was high, the only real
flights were made.
The engine was run at half OF It's
full power. BY manipulating the elevate
ing plane the machine was allowed to
jump a few yards at time. but was
lpurposely kept close to the ground
Mr.. Moore says he will try out the ma
chine further, but that he does not want
to hurry. II may be some weeks before
Q flight Of any duration Is attempted.
The main thing that was wanted yes
terday was proven. That IL that the ma
chine will fly II 1t 10 allowed to.
Description Of Machine.
The machine has been rebuilt several
times since Mr.. Moore first began work
on the problem. The plane tried out
yesterday. was more than anything else
like an Antoinette nnonoplane. but DIFF
fered even from that In . number of
particulars.
1t is "a feet across the wings and "a
feet long in the body. The elevating
plane Is at the end OF this twenty-four-
foot tail.
Above this there Is q fixed triangular
fin, like the dorsal I'm OF q nsh. The
end OF this fin forms the vertical rudder
that guides the machine from right to
Lateral control is by ailerons. as in the
Antoinette machine. These are worked
by the instructive motion of the aviator
body as he moves in his seat to maintain
| his balance.
His seat Is provided with q flexible
| steel back and sides. To this the cords
controlling the ailerons are attached.
The total amount Of supporting surface
in the main planes Is 1d6 feet. The tota
L u-oi machine
operator, is AS pounds.
Runs on Chassais.
1t runs on q chassis Of three bicycle
wheels. Two wheels, in front, are fitted
with shock-absorbing springs. One At the
back, which moves, for a steering wheel
The body Of the machine is a triangular
framework with nine sections. diminish
ing In size from front to rear. The
triangles in front are large enough to
accommodate the engine and the aviator
while they taper to fourteen-inch tri.
angles at the rear.
The body Is made so that 1t can be
dismounted in two sections for shipment
by rail-. The main wings also come on
and can be packed nat at the sides rs
in a Bleriot machine. The whole is
compact.
The engine is a fve-cylinder rotary. SCI
horizontally above the two front wheels
and works a heavy chain connected to G
tractor propeller, set on q level with the
main planes.
The controls are all operated from the
ayiator's seat. There is single lever
for working the elevating plane at the
end of the tail. The horizontal rudder Is
worked like the rear guiding wheel from
a small foot tiller. The ailerOns are
controlled by movements Of the aviator &
body.
Well Put Together.
The workmanship Of the whole machine
Is exceptionally fine. The main planes
are covered yrtfh frppovviopa nlnfh two