The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-31
PLAN UNIQUE TEST
FOR An AEROplANE
Will Try to Fly Across CONT
nent Propelled by an
Auto Engine.

INDIANAPOLIS. Aug. Sl.-with .
view to determine the superiority Of
an automobile motor over the present
power plant used in aeroplanes. three
members of the Cole Automobile or
ganization have completed arrange
ments for flight from San Francis
CO to New York for the $4,000 offer
ed by New York organization. The
trip will start from San Francisco
be Wright biplane, to be called the
Cole Flyer. and equipped with . Cole
motor. Bob Fowler. aS-year old
birdman from Gilroy. California. who
has made quite record for himself
in Southern California flights will
pilot the Cole Flyer on this. the first
actual attempt to cross the United
States through the air.
The question of motor power for
|aeroplanes has been one that 1t is
claimed has not been given the proper
attention in the construction of heav-
Ter than air machines. Bob Fowler
has been experimenting in Southern
California with Curtis biplane and
a Wright biplane. using different mo-
tors. From his flights he Is of the
opinion that the cross-country trip In
the air can be made in q machine OF
the Wright construction with . Cole
motor.
Orders Second Machine.
w. F. Grundy. a millionaire OF Los
Angeles. is the Cole agent for South
ern California. He owns q Curtis
type aeropiane and recently placed an
order for his second machine with the
Wright Brothers at Dayton. Ohio. II
was his intention to have it equipped
with Cole motor.
1t was at the Elgin National road
races in Elgin. Illinois. that ]. ]. Cole.
president OF the Cole Motor Car com.
pany and c. p. Henderson, general
manager of the Henderson Motor
Sales company, were interested In the
flight by Mr.. Grundy. William L. Colt
and Harry 8. Stratton. OF New York
e. C. Frady OF Chicago. and other Cole
Representatives were found to be en-
the subject of haphazardness OF the
automobile racing game of today az
compared to aviation came up. the
first definite step in the perfection
of the coast to coast flight matured.
1t mas In the motor problem that Mr..
Cole was more deeply interested. This
resulted in q trip to Dayton. Ohio, the
next day and the delivery of the ma
chine, previously ordered by Mr..
Grundy, two days later. Mr.. Cole
agreed to financially back the prOpo-
sition providing Mr.. Grundy managed
the flight.
Motor experts from some OF tho
largest automobile manufacturing
plants in the country were present 1t
the Dayton conference, the telegram
informing them of the contemplated
plans being sufficient for them to
make hasty trips. 1t was the consen-
sus of opinion that the automobile mo-
tor would be better In airships than
the present day type of airship en-
gines. Numerous arguments were ad-
vanced for this phase Of aviation and
even many of the Wright experts
were willing to concede that the au-
tomobile engineers had arguments
that would play important parts In
future aviation.
| A Heavier Motor
| The Cole motor is 200 pounds heav-
Ter than the motor now used In the
Wright machine. But it gives to the
aviator more power and q better
chance to handle his plane. Fowler
is confident he will win the prize of
fered. THE question" he says, "is
one that have given thorough study
The flight is the greatest thing at
tempted in aviation circles. A man
must use the greatest Of judgment.
He must be familiar with the difficult.
ties he will encounter.
| l am sure my observations. for I
have been studying the problem since
last January, will carry me safely In
to New York. / have confidence In
the Cole motor"
| The biplane which Fowler will use
is now enroute to San Francisco by
iexpress, entaiiing a cost OF 81 800 for
the transportation Of the machine
alone. The machine cost $1,000. A
complete set of duplicate parts will be
carried on the special train that will
follow the aviator. The Union Pacific
will furnish this train as far as Chicar
go at cost OF $1,000.
/ The route Fowler will take IL
through the southwestern part Of tho
United States, coming north via Oma-
ha to Chicago. Stops will probably
be made at st. Louis, Indianapolis,
lPittsburg. Cleveland, Buffalo. Roches-
tier. Syracuse, Utica, Albany and New
York.