The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-09
He COMPETED
WITH BIRDS
IN. THE AIR
NAssR's AIRsHlP MADE TWO
BRILLIANT FLIGHTS YEsTER-
DAY AFTERNooN-rWo MORE
scHEoULED FoR TooAY-ALT,-
TUDE OF 1900 FEET ATTAINED
~ FEARLESS AVIATOR.

Marking the Introduction Of man.
propelled and man-made aerial de-
vices In Florida atmosphere. A. N.
(Tony) Nassr yesterday afternoon on
the Interstate Fair ,grounus gave an
exhibition fight with HIS airship,
Nassr II. Tho event was Witnessed
by great multitude. not only on the
fair grounds, but the strange craft
could easily be seen from every part
Of the city and surrounding territory
and the 'chuychug" Of its engine
attracted the gaze Of thousands. The
flight was preeminently successful. It
will be repeated twice today At 2
o'clock and again 1T 1870 O'Clock.
Exactly on scheduled tnae, 1:l5, the
nose Of the big craft with its daring
driver aboard was pointed skyward.
The guy ropes were cast on and with
. slow swing to windward the craft
was on on the f1rst aerial voyage ever
Witnessed In Florida.
Long before the time set for the
flight. the big tent containing the ali;
ship was sought out by the hundreds
Iiminaty to the afternoons racing
card and the grand stand and bleach
ers were thronged, while surrounding
the track were gathered me remain.
ing fair visitors.
LAS o'clock was the time announc-
cd for the first flight. Before that
time the great bag, with its strange
mechanism, was drawn. from its can
vass home. It was anchored to the
ground BY heavy ropes he.d by TWEEN
ty-dve or, thirty men and boys. The
Graz. was towed from its tent to 4
position in front of the Arand stand
on the race track.
At the appointed time, Nsssr. the
fearless bird man." climbed aboard.
tested his engine and made ready for
the getaway. His signal to let 20 was
responded to promptly and the great
ship doomed to the wind, on its sky
ward journey. At ne beginning of
its journey its nose was pointed al
most diagonally upward This course
was pursued until the aviator had at
tanned an altitude of nearly 1900
feet.
1t was at this height, when the avia-
tor was q speck against the blue of
the heavens, that his Thorough CON
troll OF the craft was demonstrated.
Circular dips were made py the air
craft. Figure eights'' were cut
against the blue sky anx In all OF
these evolutions, the crowds held
their breath, for the danger appeared
great and every instant, almost, there
appeared great danger Of the aviator
falling from. his frail seat, astride the
gear of the ship.
c,f thto d1A not b.~u>o 90 -
cent was made without incident, all
the time Nassr keeping In firm con-
troll of his craft
The Second Flight.
On the second fight of the after
noon at 1880, the craft was swung
out of its tent and again it was pre-
pared for a voyage. The second was
also made without incident, the
thorough control of the aviator again
being demonstrated.
In the first flight, Nassr announced
that he met with strong upper cur
rents of air which made the i,ayiga-
ton Of his ship difficult. On the sec
ond fight this trouble Mas not ex-
perienced.
Nassr's airship is one Of the strong.
est attractions ever brought to Flor.
ida. 1t is the FIRST airsh,p or man.
propelled craft OF any kind Its pres
ence here has no doubt drawn large
part Of the crowd attending the fair.
Its exhibition flights have proven
all that were expected OF them and
all that the contract called Tor. The
airship will remain on the grounds
for the remainder Of the week, giving
two flights daily. Owing l., the neces-
sity Of light wind, the hours OF the
flights will be left largely to Mr..
Nassr, but they will be about 1:45
and 4:3O o'clock each afternoon.
A voyage over the city is also
scheduled.
Witnessing yesterday afternoons
flights was Mrs. Nassr, wife Of the
fearless aviator who iS IN TIA <.i%p