The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-16
FOR SPRING

San Antonio, Tex, February lo.-tSpe-
cial) -This city is literally aviation-mad.
Though most of its citizens have sur
veyed Mother Earth in the past IRON no
higher elevation than is afforded by the
COW puncher's saddle, they have taken an
intel est in the man-made things that fly
that amounts to practically a craze. Not
a few have built aeroplanes-thil.gs that
came to grief a few feet above terra
firna; and those that have not have eked
the daring ones on with announcement
bordering on reclzlessness. San Antonians
had their first taste of aerial venture
and honor when one of their citizens.
Or. Fielding, carried off a trophy for long
distance sailing IN a balloon three years
ago. Shortly after that the aeroplane
made its general appearance and within
a short time everybody of a venture
some turn of mind was building kites.
Prentice Newman was one of the first
TO enter the field. Like all of them. he
had something new to offer. His machine
was to keep its equilibrium under all
conditions, but failed to do so. During a
trial trip he mad it towed by a powerful
automobile. After ascending to a height
of about 100 feet the rope Harvesting the
flyer to the automobile broke and the
equilibrium aeroplane dashed to the
ground, losing most of its Identity and
giving the operator and inventor a severe
shaking up. Other kites built by the
same man served merely to demonstrate
his pugnacity-the equilibrium feature re-
fusing to naterialze.
The next inventor and aviator in the
field was J. w. Oman. He entered the
market with a contrivance that would
have delight ed the heart of Jules Verne.
His was not a matter of sticks and can
vass and nigh tension piano wire. The
apparatus was to be built of steel and
aluminium, and obviously answering navy
and war department specifications it could
rise from ground or water without the
initial plunge forward of the ordinary
variety of aeroplane. Helicopters were to
lift The thiLg bodily off the ground, carry
it into the realms above and hold it
there until the momentum of the whole
would be great enough to permit it to
glide on the planes. The Oman enter
prise went as far as the formation of a
company and the subscription of funds.
Orders were placed with manufacturers
of the material needed, powerful mo-
tors were i spected and SO far the Oman
airship is still thing of the future. Ac-
cord'ng to all indications the motor pow
erfm and light enough to make the Oman
airship, for airship it was, possible, has
not been fourd yet.
A. Herff, Jr., was the next to try his
hand at aviation. He, too, was prompted
In this by a desire to make the aero
plane a safe thing, something that would
not detract from the value of life insur-
ance policy. What is more he succeeded
in doing this to some extent. His kite,
having wings somewhat curved and other
appurtenances positively refusing to come
down deways. Law of gravity, how
ever, sent it on a forward-downward
course that proved disastrous for the
reason that plane and earch met too soor.
For all that Mr.. Herff's machine gave
great promise.
Among the latest inventors is Capt.
A. w. F. McManus United States army,
retired. 1t may be said that he has
made real progress towards the settling OF
the equilibrium problem. Using the prin-
oiple of gravity he has shown his ma
chine to be a decided improvement upon
others. The weight carried Is suspended
from the plane frame by pivots an ar
iangemt mt irsurirg perfect load distrlhu-
ton at all times and under all conditions.
The arrangement is extremely simple and
effective and leaves to the operator only
the choosing of his course. Tho remarka-
hle qualities of the McManns machine
were definitely demonstrated few days
ago in a model flowed behind an auto
mobile
But San Antonio is getting little tired
of its home talent. Uncle Sam has been
induced to establish an aerial navigation
station at Fort Sam Houston, where after
February Is daily performances will be