Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-22
AIR CRAFT AT ANNAPOLIS
THE BAGLEY ARRIVES WITH
AMES' MACHINE.
Torpedo Boat Lies at Wharf With
Mysterious Filler in Plain
4. View.

ANNAPOLIS, Nd, July 22-In plain
view on a specially constructed platform
on the bow of the torpedo boat Bagley, as
she lay moored to her wharf at the
Naval Academy, yesterday evening many
details of the hitherto mysterious air
craft of Representative Butler Ames be-
came plain, and were the subject of in
terested comment to a number who WIS.,
tied her after her arrival from Wash
ington. The Bagley reached Annapolis
harbor and steamed up to her wharf at
the academy shortly before o'clock yes
terday afternoon.
Just when the formal tests will be made
awaits q consultation between the in
ventor of the air vessel and Commander
Walter F. Worthington. who has charge
of the naval experimental station here,
under which the tests will be conducted.
Though the formal tests before the Of
fcers of. the navy have not. taken place,
1t has become known that the odd craft
built to navigate the air acted we'll in
certain preliminary and informal trials
which took place during the trip from
Washington to Annapolis.
New Form Of Aeroplane.
The Ames airsbip is along entirely new
lines from the now familiar form Of aero
plane and involves new and little known
laws OF physics. Its main features are
the great cylinders of canvas which flank
the motor and the seat of the operator.
The axes of the cylinders extend at right
angles to the direction in which the YES
sci is to be propelled.
The cylinders are about eight feet in
diameter and twice that In length. Short
planes, also Of canvas, extend as tan
gents from the cylinders and a canvas
rim about a foot and a half wide extends
from both ends of each cylinder, going
around its circumference. The tangential
planes apparently play a large part in
the operation Of the machine, 1t would
be thought that the cylinders would be
revolved In such way as to catch the
air In the pockets between the surface OF
the cylinder and the planes, but this is
not the case. The cylinder revolves In
the opposite direction, and the physical
laws which bring about the upward or
lifting power Of the machine are GER
tainly not we'll known.
Only Partial Experiments.
The experiments will be only partial in
their nature. and that portion of the ma
chinery which is designed to give the
airship It's forward motion will not be
installed. The lifting power seems to be
entirely disconnected with this, in which
it differs entirely from the aeroplane
type. and to be centered in the revolving
cylinders.
The wooden platform on the bow Of the
Bagley extends about ten feet above the
deck. Inside the machine and I'm the
place where It's motor will be situated is
an electric motor driven from the dy-
namo of the Bagley. By this means the
canvas cylinders will be revolved.
Weighed bars of lead piled on platforms
attached to the machine by cords will
give the exact lifting power of the ma
chine under the known power. From
this data calculations as to the size and
power of motor necessary to drive it can
be made. The next step will be to test
the machine as to its forward motion and
it's stability and dirigibility. Whether
these will be continued under naval au-
spices Is to be determined.