The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-09
GRASS AEROPLANE
LIKE -FOUR MASTER
Ralph tombstone and Moisant
Declared Richmond Boys
Plan Was Feasible.
TO CARRY FIVE PASSENGERS
Six Planes and Seven Propcllcrs
and Boat-Shapcd Body OH
New Machine.

The latest aeroplane Anvcntcd is one
tina, has been evolved from the mind OF
J. Edward Grass. Jr., twenty one years
Old of 25l9 West Grace Street, who
viii soon put ono on the market, With
hiN planes and seven propellers. the
supporting surface being 400 square
feet. y working model has been pnilt
and that the machine will fly has been
proved. 1t will Toe constructed TO carry
FIVE passengers besides the nuviga: OF.
Tho body is shaped like boat Win
tile lines of a yacht. and contains the
engines and controlling gear and a car
io~ the passengers.
The planes are ranged so that three
arc In front and three directly behind,
each plane being on a level with the
one behind. and all operating indie
pcndently Three OF the propellcrs are
In front. one before each plane; tive
behind. and there Is one on cacis side
making seven i'll ali.
Can Rise Quickly.
The two side propcllcrs are enti-,:v
Tew and patcntablc. They can bc
worked in any direction, but arc con-
structcd mainly for the lifting power
they Will AFFORD when rising from the
ground, But they can be changed 50
as TO give n forward. downward u
an upward thrust. Though the model
is equipped with wRrping planes an
invention patented 10y the Wright
brothers. Mr.. Grass intends 10 equip
;he machine with ailcrons also so mat
The aviator may use either in cnse OF
emergency. All the machinery is
opcrated on the universal joint and
with one control. though If the ailcrons
arc added st. will DO necessary to add
also another lever.
To the lay mind it would bc -athcr
difficult 10 describe the now ncropidnc.
but IN all outward appcaranccs ii re-
scmbles nothing so much ms it does a
combination Of hiplancs surmoun,al rv
q third plane. and AT Il distance ii
looks much like a four ma ted ship
Tho Rcroplanc will be equipped with
three engines. each of 100 horse powc;
Two Will be used together. and the
inird Will be depended on in case Of
emergency Though there are ininr
parts. the controlling gear is markell
by Its extreme simplicity. tho gigantic
man made bird being under the con-
troll OF the navigator ny only one icvcr
Snu one steering wheel. All foo, c5l-
trolls having been eliminated
Centre Of Gravity swings.
The seven rrorcllcrs may he used
together or separately, 50 that if one.
or even three or four. fail to work or
arc broken, the others will afford SUM-
Gent momentum 10 carry the auropIanc
10 any point for a landing, where re-
pairs can lie made. With the use of
tile side propcllcrs, rising from tho
ground VIII be comparatively easy.
easier than with any other type Of
uacninc now on the market The
other propcllcrS can he shut OF in IA.
air. and the side blades used alone for.
descent And in This now type the
passengers can movo from place to
place without affecting the cuuilib
Fftsr Its. no, M ,,,
that It's centre Of gravity Will swing
witn tho acroplane.
The machine must rs ri remains
now only to perfect minor details. aud
as soon as one is built from the model.
Mr.. Grass will himself tost il some
whore near Richmond Plans arc now
under way for the incorpora ton OF a
stock company 10 build tho machines.
ana several ihousand dollars have al
ready been subscribed. Within the
next few weeks the model constructed
hy the inventor will be sent away TO
model hnilaets. ana other tests will be
applied.
Dcnd t,int"rs Snv u.
Ralph tombstone viewed the machine
when lie WAS hero, and tho great ayia-
tor who lost his life in dcmonstratin.
The new science pronounced II entirely
feasible. II was also described to John
B. MOisant. and that optimistic flyer
gave l,he same dictum. Thus cncour-
aged and with tho knowledge that his
Invention was bound TO ny whatever
else IT did, tho Young inventor went
ahead. ANA there remains now only TO
raise sufficient money for the construc-
ton of ono large enough 20 carry "a
passenger. Mr.. Grass is hopeful Some
Of the parts have been patented and
within q few months he expects to give
practical demonstration Of tho tlyin;;
capacity OF his Invention.