Ellsworth American., 1912-02-07
AVIATION In 1911.
M .oTIoALLY EVERY RECORD
.ngrEvEMENT SURPASSED.
ru GREATER STRIDES TOWARDS
cosouERrNa THE AIR ARE Ex-
pEcTED THIS YEAR.

rnsre has been real progress in aviation
.nr;pg the past year. look for much
~roater progress during 1912, writes Glenn
s5 curtis in the New York Times. Prac-
.;cally every achievement of the aeroplane
.rhich stood as record at the beginning
s,tot,. was surpassed during the twelve
..,ontbs. and believe that every achieve
,,,ant that now stands as Q record in
.reed. duration, distance and altitude,
r,ll be surpassed in the year 1912.
Every new year sees new records in avia-
ion These records would not be SO con-
.istent and so striking II there was not
.,eady and important Improvements in all
~ the standard types OF aeroplanes. The
stilI OF the aviators has kept pace with
,be increasing dependabiiity Of the ma
cbipe. Aviators have become more pro-
sceut because they have more faith in
,ssir machines. II is true, hewever, that
A, some instances this confidence on the
mart OF the sviators has .oolishly led them
Ia nut unnecessary strain upon their ma
chimes and some unfortunate accidents
have been the result.
The most encouraging sign Of 1912, to
the established builder, 10 the growing
nublic interest in the seroplane a. COM
n,ercial vehicle. This widening interest
Ia largely in the machine Of the greatest
carving capacity. There IL healthy and
steadily increasing demand for machines
thst will carry one or moro passengers and
equipped to make long, continuous flights.
Builders see in this demand for machines
OF greater carrying capacity broadening
OF the scope OF usefulness TOR the aero
plane.
To the American builders, nearly all Of
whom favor the biplanc, there is satisfac-
tion to be taken out OF the fact that 1911
has witnessed the vindication OF their con-
ten,ion that tho biplane is the safer and
more dependable type. 1t ID also to be
noted that Europeans are turning to
America and purchasing its best types OF
air craft. This would seem to indicate an
acknowledgement on the part Of Europe
that the American builders have made the
most progress in the essential features Of
aviation. 1t 10 true that Europe still
excels in the matter OF speed, but, ss
speed is altogether matter OF power, the
American manufacturer is cspabl OF more
nearly rivaling the best records OF the
European machines at any time he
chooses to equip his machines with more
powerful motors.
While there is keen rivalry abroad be-
tween the advocates OF the biplsne and
the monoplane, il is to be noted that the
monoplane has not made much progress in
this country. With the possible excep-
tion OF having more pleasing lines to the
eye while in flight, the monoplane pos
sesses no material advantages over the
biplane; in fact, the biplsne type, as has
been clearly shown in this country, is
more stable, and, therefore, safer. There
will always be room for both types OF ma
chimes, however, although there is a
stronger tendency to change the prevail
ing lines OF the monoplane than there is
Of the biplane.
AS A WAR MACHINE.
look forward to widening field for
the aeroplane in the armies and, navies OF
the world. The remarkable stimulation
which the French government has given
to the aeroplane industry in that country
in offering large cash prizes and liberal
orders for craft that would meet the sreci-
fcations drawn up by the military
authorities, has drawn the attention oil
Anhgrj