The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-21
CHARLES STROBEL.
TO FLY AT FAIR
Local Aviators Can Also Go Up
in Balloon if They Have
the Price.
CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED
Dirigible and Biplane Secured,
With Captive Balloon
Passengers.

d
Contract between the Virginia State
Fair Association and Charles j. Stro.
bel. the pioneer airship man of the
country, was closed yesterday for an
aerial exhibition at the next fair here
which Will surpass anything of the
kind yet seen In Virginia
The contract calls for the exhibition
of an aeroplane. a dirgIblc balloon, a
captive balloon and an air balloon,
from which the areonaut will make
from six to eight parachute descents.
The aeroplanc and dirigible balloon
are required 10 make two flights daily.
each OF not less than ten minutes, and
to be 500 feet above ground The
captive balloon will be attached 10
the end of a stout wire cable 1,UUU
feet long. 1t will have capacity of
$4,000 cubic feet. and will contain a
car capable of carrying from four to
SIX passengers 1t will be in constant
operation every day. and will give all
who have the nerve to go up an OPP
portunity to feel some of the thrills
the airmen know and TO get BIRDS
eye view of the city and surrounding
landscape.
Everybody Cnn Fly.
Thus for the first time In Virginia
visitors to the fair will have an oppor-
tunity of viewing together and in OPP
GRAFTON at one time all tn agencies
by which venturesome man has at
tempted to conquer the h.,hcrto I'M
conquered fields of the air. First
first entered upon air exploration, and
lastly will be seen tile aeroplane, the
latest development in aerial science
The Strobel aeroplane is a cross be-
tween Wright and a Curtiss biplane,
with single control in front and the
rudder in the rear and with aiierons
back of the planes. The planes are
covered with rubberized cloth. The
engine his six cylinders and is of fifty
horsepower.
Among the aviators employed BY
strobel are Fred Dubell. of Danville.
H.. who is only twenty-eight years
old. and H. LeVan. of Allentown. Pa,
who though now only In his seven
tenth year. has already made a mark
for himself. He has made seventy
hve flights, many of which from fif-
teen to forty miles long. Recently he
made a forty mile flight over Lake
Erie. between Toledo and Turtle
Island, and this week he expects to
attempt a flight between Toledo and
Detroit. III,
Many Parachute Jumps.
Edward r. Hutchinson will be in
charge OF the air balloon. from which
he makes from six to eight parachute
drops, each parachute dropping from
the one just above. He may vary this
feat By dropping in bag. which ex-
nlodes In midair. the aeronaut emery.
ing from the exploded bag in a para
chute and descending to the eartn
This act is said to be the greatest OF
its kind in the world, The perform
ance will be given twice daily, once
during the day and once at night.
CHARLES Strobel, who is known as
the father of dirigihle air navigation
in this country, has been in the nusl-
ness for the past fifteen years. and has
been seen at State fairs all over the
country This year he has engaged 10
make exhibitions at the New Jersey
state : air, at Allentown. Pa; Knox
Vile. Tenn. [ Spokane. Wash. ana
at other places.
The contract between Strobel and
the state Fair directors was regularly
drawn up and closed yesterday. and
Mr.. strobel, who has been stopping at
the stumpf Hotel. will probably leave
to-day.