Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-08
IA ERON AUTS THRILL
CROWDS WITH FLIGHTS
Continued From Page ~

t those of Simon and Barrier and the
biplane Of Captain Frisbie. Even
should they fail to see the flights the
privileges of viewing the machines was
one that none would have missed. The
monoplanes resemble in appearance the
dragon fly, better known as the SNAKE
feeder" They have just two nam
moth wings with the propeller stu
t ated exactly between the two. This
is many feet in length. Directly be-
hind the engine and propeller, extend
ing perhaps twenty feet straight back
lis a long frame work Of delicate but
firm construction, bearing the "rud-
der" or control. Between the two
wings sits the daring driver, with his
levers and controlling apparatus at the
tins of his fingers The huge bird can
mot be described with justice and 1t
must be seen to realize the value, the
mechanical genius which has been en-
ployed in it's construction.
Soaring ever higher and higher until
he had reached the great height OF
nearly three thousand feet, the fool
flyer" Simon, continued his course
like mad. Over the crowd he came
again to be greeted with great
applause. So high was he that the
monster bird looked no larger than an
eagle. and many remarked that the
machine looked to be two feet wide
and a foot long. Over the city he sped
at forty miles an hour, almost gettlns
ont of sight of the crowd. Slowly put
surely he turned around. Back ne
came sailing gracefully and smoothly
; When within several hundred rect Oh
the field he suddenly shut off his en-
CINE Stiffness reigned The announcer
nroclaimed the terrible dip Of death.
Going at the same terrific speed ne
headed the course OF mis- machlhe
downward, almost perpendicular 10 tne
| earth. Gravity lent speed TO MS urop.
Faster and faster he came, LOOKING as
| if he would fall to earth ana spinner
his machine and himself into NOUS
and pieces The crowd stood aWestrucn
When within only a hundred ieet %
the ground, when 1t seemed that nc
was doomed. the control was onc7
again shifted and away gnoeu Tue
bird with the speed OF meteor. SIGNS
of relief escaped the multitude once
more they breathed freely and clune
to mother earth, glad they were on
solid ground Away sailed the b1romah
Rounding once more toward the
crowd he tried feat that Is conslo-
cred the most dangerous OF hylng.
The Right Turn. /
This is the turn to the right. 1eat
but few aviators have ever attempted
because the slightest error, the least
miscalculation means death. TO the
right Simon went for some distance,
demonstrating that he was the TOOL
flyer" Once again he swerved to the
left and over the crowd. The reason !or
this feat being so dangerous Is De-
cause of the fact that the propeller
whirls from left to right, with the
natural inclination to pull the ma
chine to the left. To oppose this Is
risk that requires the nerve OF the
most reckless. Simon succeeded amid
the applause of the crowd. Circi1ng
three times more he came the last time
lust a few feet above the spectators,
many running for shelter, fearing that
they might get in the way OF the ma
chine. But Simon was too high. Reacn-
ing the field he suddenly darted down
ward toward the starting place. Wnen
within few feet of earth he suddenly
rigbted his machine. Slowly but surely
and most gracefully did the craft
settle. For several hundred feet 1t
Skinned along the ground before It
stopped.
The Biplane.
The biplane. the machine OF Capt.
Frisbie. is AS different in construction
from the other two machines as Wnlte
is from black There are two wings
but both extend many feet on either
side of the engine, one being exactly
beneath the other. There is stearlng
apparatus in front and In the back and
the operator swings in his seat, just
in front on the engines and outside
the wings. This craft is pushed along
by the propeller behind instead OF
pulled along as the other two ma
chimes. All three are equipped with
seven cylinder, fifty horse power
Gnome gasoline engines. the biplane
weighing 700 pounds and the mono
planes about $50 pounds.
Simon Makes First Flight.
About 4:3O o'clock the machines
were run out of the tents and placed
in position on the field. The crowd was
placed at safe distance by the mem
bers of Company G, who are doing
guard duty at the meet. Announcer
McDermott took the center of the field
at 4:45 and stated to the vast assem-.
blage that Rene Simon, the fool
flyer" would make the first flight. me
crowd did not realize what the word
flight meant until the daring aviator
issued from the tent clad in his heavy
suit and his protective goggles IN
readiness. Even after he mounted MS
bird the realization of flight did not
seem to dawn upon the multitude.
Many hands laid to and held the ma
chine rigid until all was In readiness:
The huge propeller was given whlrl
and the loud popping of the engine
caused all to prick up their ears.
Holding the eager machine to the
ground by sheer force, the signal was
awaited. Simon set himself firmly ana
then dropped his arm. He was on.
With the speed Of deer the mons
plane sprang along the field, gather
ing it's velocity and energy for the
final lunge into the air. For three or
four hundred feet the craft chung 10
the earth. When the terrific speed was
reached Simon elevated the control