Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-19
Biplanes Mechanism Left Intact After
the Experiment,
WEATHER CONDITIONS PERFECT
Apparent Ease of Performance Lessons
Spectacular Effect.
ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
Seven-FOOt POntOOns Built Under
BipIane to Float the Machine in
Case He Descended Into
water.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan 1S.-Flying a
Curtiss bplane, Eugene r. Ely today made
a successful landing on the cruiser. Penn /
sylvania. and an hour later rose from the
deck and flew back to Selfride Field, |
twelve miles away.
The feat was accomplished without mis- !
/ hap Not wire or a bolt Of the delicate
mechanism was injured and the seeming
| ease OF the whole performance lessened the
| spectacular effect.
! 1T was easy enough. i think the trick
could be successfully turned nine times out
Of ten" said Ely.
! Ely's flight was feature of the program
OF the aviation meet which is in progress
here.
Adverse weather had caused It's post
ponement from day to day, but when Ely
reached Sefridge Field this morning, he at
once decided to make a try for it, The
day was smoky, but MINDLESS and the air
was heavy.
! II was 1O:45 o'clock when he left the
ground His motor worked perfectly and
after few try-out circles he headed north
eastward over the San Bruno hills and
disappeared.
Preparations for Reception.
In the meantime the wireless had mott
fled tahe crser at anchor with the fleet in
| the bay, that he would make the attempt
| an dfinal preparations were made for his
reception A wooden platform 100 feet and
fifty feet wide, had been constructed over
the after deck Of the ship. 1t sloped gently
aft and across the fleer were stretched
ropes with 1OO-pound sandbags made fast
| at either end. These were destined to he
caught by hooks on the lower framework
OF the biplane.
| As a further preCaution a canvas barrier
was stretched across the forward end of
the platform. Launches and ships boats
fully manned were put out in event of
mishap Ely had installed two seven-foot
pontoons under his aeroplen to flot the
machine in case he was forced to descend
on the water and forward he had built
hydroplane to keep the aeroplane from
diving
+ Al 10:5s the lookout on the PENNSYLVANIA
| sighted Ely through the haze and the
ships siren roared blast of welcome. He
came on at terrific speed and moment
later circled around the fleet, dipping in
salute to each ship, and came up i'm the
wind for the stern of the Pennsylvania
He was flying he neared the ship and
dropped down as lightly as a gull. striking
the platform about forty feet from the
end. The hooks which had been ar,
ranged in the centerpieces of the aero
plane did their work perfectly and the
airship was brought to a standstill within
twenty-five feet.
AHghts I'm safety,
When Ely touched the deck he was going
at the rate of about thirty-five miles an
hour, but so gradually was the speed
checked by the dragging of the sand bags
is they were picked up in succession that
he came to a standstill without disar,
ranging any part of the machine
Ely was taken below to the captain :
cabin, where he was the guest at luncheon.
In the meantime his machine had been
turned around the hook on the bottom Of
the centerpiece removed and the gasoline
replenished ...... ,....-
In exactly one hour from the time he
landed Ely took his seat in the machine
and gave the word TO let go The areplane
, swept down the 125-foot platform at a
, high speed. dropped off the stern with a
I gentle dip, and then rose rapidly over the
, ships In the harbor. The start was per-
feet as the landing had been. Rising "a
a height of 1000 feet Ely circled over the
extreme southern part of the city and then
headed straight to the aviation field. He
landed there at 12:lS
The cruisers wireless had advised the
field officials Of Ely's departure and they
, were ready for him. A fun company OF
the Thirteenth infantry swooped dowr
on him as he dismounted and bore him ir
triumph on their shoulders TO Maio,
ONeill's tent. The other troops were lined
, up TO cheer the aviator, An Informal re
, ception In the majors tent followed
Among the guests on board the cruiser
We're Rear Admirals Milton and Reese
both retired and each of them said tha
> Ely's feat demonstrated beyond doubt IN,
> utility of the aeroplane in naval affairs
Militurs Men on Program.
This was National Defenders day al IN
i aviation field and the military men had ,
prominent part in the program. Genera
Tasker H. Bliss, commanding the depart
p mont of California. attended with his staf
e TN fun dress uniform. Several foreign con
suls general stationed in San Francisco
" also We're present
Is An interesting military problem invoIv
Continued on Second Page)