The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-04
Fair Management Made SpeC- ia|RequestOt Wrights to
 Have ParIne|ee Come
FLYING MACHINE MAN
 TALKS ABOUT HIS WORK
Has Had Wide Experience and Says He Can Do Anything With an Areoplane That Anyone
 Else Does

P. O. Parmelee, the Wrlght aVlator, is in Birmingham preparing for the flights which he will make every day at the Alabama State Fair grounds, beginning Thursday Upon hearing of his sensational work at the Appala- chian exposition, the fair management sent a representative to Knoxville, and upon his report President Holcombe wired the Wright brothers special request that the Birmingham assign ment be given to Parmelee.
 As Thomas E. Morris of Drennen & Co.,, expresses it, "He had 'em crazy up there," and it is just that stunt which MT. Parmelee promises to pull off in Birmingham.
 T will do anything that anyone else does,' he said last night. They said up there I did everything but turn back somersault. The people were certain ly pleased in Knoxville. I made every flight in the contract, Il in all, with not the slightest accident.
 Thinks Field Ideal
 q want to say that your field is ideal | There is not better one in the Unit | ed States for aeroplane flights. It will be a pleasure to use it and I can do any of the stunts at the fair grounds that have been attempted anywhere. l can promise a surprise for every day, cutting figure eights making dips, rol- 1 Ter coasting, coasting to the ground with the motor shut off from 500 to 600 | feet and a half dozen other such fea- tures."
 |, aeroplane. Trained at the Wright | camp near Dayton, Ohio, already skilled mechanic, he has studied the fine points of the business. Like the Wrights, he is not seeking notoriety but the development of the machine. He made his first flights in Indianap oils and has since handled the aero plane alone at a number of points | through out the country. At Parkers- | burg w. Va, he startled the public by ascending in high wind and al though it seemed that treacherous cur rents would dash him to the ground any moment, he was the general throughout and gained a successful landing.
 Raced Automobile in Knoxville | In Knoxville he made flights to 5000 and 1000 feet and raced an automobile around the track, winning fairly. The automobile was a Buick special, driven by a professional who came within half | d second of the record time on the Knoxville track.
 MT. Parmelee states that he runs the machine at between 50 and 50 miles an hour. This race will be repeated 1 in Birmingham and will undoubtedly be the most exciting race ever wit messed at the fair grounds. The date has not yet been set, but Thomas E. Morris will pilot the automobile and he declares that he will win If any automobile can do it. Mr. Morris will also be the first man to ascend with the aviator. Secretary Chaffee is still endeavoring to make arrangements with the company to allow brilliant young society girl to make flight | but has yet been unable to secure the privilege The young lady is ceaseless in her efforts to leave the ground and | has already approached MT. Parmelee on the subject. He states, however, | that he can take no passengers unless by orders from MT. Wright himself.
 Future of AerOplane
 The aviator talks Interestingly of the | future of the aeroplane Asked what he considered the most necessary improve ment on the machine, he said: "A more | reliable motor, and automatic stability constitute the sum total of airship per | lection. When we get a motor that will not go dead suddenly, and can be de- pended upon absolutely, aviation will be | as safe as running an automobile. Of | course, along with this must come auto matic stability-the machine must be con- | trolled automatically, removing so much | of the human agency in handling the in- | tricate parts.
 "In ordinary weather the Wright aero plane Is absolutely stable and safe, and | just as safe as automobilng. man can learn to run machine in still air, on a straight line, with four hours of prac- l tice."
 Discussing the future of the aeroplane, he said: T think that within three years | the machine with speed of 150 miles an hour will be common A speed of 69 miles has already been reached, and 1t is | only matter of a few days before this | will reach 100 miles an hour.
 People are now using the aeropane | for pleasure purposes. In France men are making visits in them. Bleriot, across the pond, Is carrying five passen-