The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-20
AIRSHIP VOYAGE
ACROSS ATLANTIC
ENGINEER VANlMAN OF "AMER-
lCA" WILL TRY TO BEAT
WELLMAN'S REC
ORD.

This was the characteristic express
sion of Melvin Vaniman, chief engineer
and acknowledged leading spirit in the
sensational air dash of the drigible
America for the shores of Europe from
this city last fall. concerning his con-
fdence In the trip he is now planning
from Cincinnati to this city and then
across the Atlantic in his own dirigible,
now in course Of construction at Gin
cinnati.
With James j. Heekin, vlce-presl-
dent of the Cincinnati Trans Atlantic
Airship company, the daring aeronaut
arrived here at noon today to hold a
conference with the officers of the
American Exposition company, which
| financed the Wellman expedition.
Vaniman and the representatives of
the Cincinnati syndicate had three
plans for the consideration of the At
lantic City concern. Just what these
propositions were was nat announced.
Aeronaut Vaniman, modest, but thor
! oughly mbued with the spirit of the
venture. for the first time went into
details Of the construction of his air
ship.
I'm building this ship | have tried
to carry out a campaign of elimina-
ton. doing away with or strengthen
! ing the things discovered to be weak
on the America. My drigible will be
so feet longer than Welman's 2SO-
footer from tip to tip. Its diameter /
have not decided, but believe l shall
thin 1t down to less than that of the
America. This ship will be speedier
Where the America lmped along un-
der 100 horsepower, my engines will
pound out 42O horsepower.
"The fatal equillbrator will be prac-
tically eliminated. My experiments
aboard on appliance. built on the lines
OF the Americas equilibrator, shows
Il. is an impediment rather than help
to sustenation.
Its chief fault was the impossibility
i'm shifting the wicket on this tall as
we had figured on. 1t caused us to
bounce along after the fashion of a
rubber ball.
'"rhe affair / have worked, for which
have not selected a name. works out
n new pHJcess of adaptation of height
The appliance adjusts the total weight
in exact accordance TO the lifting
powers of the gas; does this constant
ly and instantly. With this and the
speed the vessel will develop l am con-
fident we can negotiate the distance
between Cincinnati and Atlantic City
and then connect America with Europe
by the air route.
"Other minor changes have been
made. all working toward making our
vessel equipped to stand the rigors of
be of the same type as those used on
the America.
81 will have at least two of the crew
of the America with me. One of these
will be Louis Loud. the youngster who
proved himself to be a good birdman
not only on the American trip, but
in campaigns conducted by Wellman
i'm the north"
The aeronaut and his hackers re-
fused TO announce any definite date
for the launching OF the huge airship
in Cincinnati. This is a matter which
will depend entirely on weather condi-
tions and the completion of the equip
ment, said Mr.. vaniman.
I'VE want to get away early in July
If possible" he added "but the final
Start NOV not ha roada for On or oven
90 days after the Fourth. But we are
certainly going through with the prop
osition."
1t is the plan of the airmen to sail
from Cincinnati to this city as a tryout
for the final dash across the ocean.
Work is already being started in reno
waiting the huge hangar and the inlet
used by Wellman and his crew, where
the Vaniman ship will be equipped and
provisioned for it's transatlantic voy-
age.
|. The Cincinnati company, which is
headed by August Hermann, million
aire brewer, grand exalted ruler of
the Elks and baseball magnate, was
Incorporated on March % with a capi-
tai Of $4,000, to be increased to $7O,-
600 before the last of April. T.. Lin
coin Mitchell. recently appointed sur
veyor of customs i'm Cincinnati by
President Taft. is secretary of the
syndicate; E. r. Blaine, treasurer; A..
s. White, James L. orr. George f.
Dieterie, Julius Fleischmann, all big
business men, directors.
Joseph w. Salus. millionaire packer
president of the City business league
heads the exposition company. mem
bers and officers Of which include
practically all the big Beach front no.
tel men.
1--WE are ready to go into this thing
with any amount of money" said
President Salus Immediately after the
conference.