The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-05-19
HOWARD REED TO
Be A BIRD Man
Richmond Youth Studies Aer-
ial Navigation with Large
Harvard Class.
GREAT PROGRESS IS MADE
MANY OF THE EASTERN uNlvER-
Sites AND COLLEGES HAVE
NOW TAKEN UP THIS WORK.
HARVARD LEADER.
palladium Specially

palladium speciall
Boston, May 19.-The most remark
able innovation in student life in the
American colleges is taking practical
form this spring In the big eastern In
situations. Flying through the air in
big aeroplanes constructed by them
selves, the college men are solving
the problem of aerial navigation. In
Cambridge, in New Haven. at Am
herst and other college centers of New
England colonies of young men who
foresee the conquest of the air are
testing for themselves the theories of
airships and their manipulation. Skill
ed professors are directing the work
and take their turn in managing the
bird-like craft that fit through the
air.
Harvard, Yale, Amherst. Columbia,
and the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology have come to the fore in
the practical study of airship prob
lens. Monoplanes, biplanes, elders
and balloons are in constant use at
these colleges and the young aero
nauts do their own sailing. their own
repairs, and work out their expert
ments along their own original lines.
Reed Making Flights.
The Harvard Aeronautical society,
organized last fall, is the largest of
the student organizations already
formed. Among the $50 charter men,
bers who are booming air navigation
and taking part in the aeroplane
flights and tests is: Howard C. Reed.
1913, of Richmond. Ind.
The Harvard aeronauts own work
ing aeroplane models of the Wright
and Bleriot types, a full sized glider
mounted on skids and provided with
controls for both fore and aft and
transverse stability has been complet-
ed, and an aeroplane is now under
construction which should compare
favorably in workmanship with any
thing SO far attempted. The Harvard
society is affiliated with the Aero club
of America. and the college men are
planning to take part in the contests
which are soon to be held by that or
ganization. A group of students are
now working to meet the conditions
which will bring them pilot licenses
for airship and balloon navigation.
The Harvard First"
The Aeroplane Harvard T. is soon
to be tried out in Cambridge. The
patented ideas used in this machine
may be used by the young aeronauts
in constructing their own machines.
In order to put the young aeronauts
in touch with the doings of other sci
entists in aerial navigation, a library
has been established consisting of
books and periodicals on the subject
A place in one of the Harvard engi-
neering buildings has been set apart
for the aeroplane and elders, and
there each day group Of the young
enthusiasts gather. The glider Is TAX
en- out into a neighboring field and
the students take turns in operating
1t. 1t is weird sight to see young
man kicking his legs and swinging his
body back and forth between two
huge wings. The operator runs with
the machine, others aiding him until
sufficient speed is attained. Then he
swings clear OF the ground, the big
wings rise and dip and away goes the
wriggling student over the bushes and
rocks. No great height is acquired in
the flights, twenty feet being consid-
cred none too safe The problem is
to stay in the air as long as possible
and how to get the best results in
wind currents. In the study of the
latter problem, Prof. A. Lawrence
Rotch, president of the society, is the
leading authority in America, having
made observations of wind currents
at all attitudes from the Blue Hill OBJ
servatory near Boston. Prof Rotch is
seconded in his work with the stu
dents by Prof. w. H. Pickering. who
comes over from the Harvard observa
tory each day and superintends the
flying. The students themselves are
led by James v. Martin. off Seattle
the manager of the club
When the plans for the big contest
soon to be held under Harvard aus
pieces are completed, the students will
be ready to attempt flights for new
records. The Harvard 1" will be the
principal craft of the student aero
nauts in the contests this summer
and 1t is possible that the students
may compete in international meets
in various parts of Europe and Ameri
ca.