The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-10-30
THE AIRSHIP AND THE
MAN WHO MANAGED 1T

onably blame an aviator for taking
every possible precaution to see that
the machine in which he takes the
risk of his life is in the best working
order.
Mr.. DeKor was delighted with his
stay in Abbeville and expressed the
hope that it would be possible for him
to return to next years County Fair.
He expects by next fall to have a
monoplane, an entirely different type
of flying machine. He contemplates
flying some in South America during
the winter months.
Andrews Not Killed
1t was reported in Abbeville that
Thornwell Andrews, who was origi-
nally booked to fly in Abbeville, was
killed. This was a mistake. Mr.. De-
Kor had date for town in North
Carolina for the dates on which he
appeared here, but as Andrews is a
native of North Carolina and wanted
TO give his exhibition in his home
State, Mr.. DeKor exchanged dates
with him.
Mr.. DeKor's home is in Los Ange-
.,
ing about two years. He is an "inde-
pendent" owning his own machine
and arranging his dates through a
booking agency in Kansas City.
The Machine ....
The machine in which Mr.. DeKor
flies is a biplane of the Curtis type,
costing about $4,000. 1t is called "The
Green Dragon" taking its name from
the color of it's planes. The cloth used
in this airship is what is called rub
berized' cloth, being heavy canvass
treated with rubber coating. The
uprights of the machine are made of
white pine and ash, consisting of
three laminations The controlling
planes are supported by bamboo cane,
reinforced at the joints with metallic
bands. AS there is practically no
strain on this part Of the machine,
these canes afford sufficient strength
and contribute to the lightness Of the
machine.
The small wires which help to hold
the aeroplane together are made of
steel of the highest quality. They
consist Of 19 wrappings OF small steel
thread, woven into cable about the
size of old-field broom straw. The
largest of these cables is capable of
standing strain of 800 lbs. There are
about 10000 feet of this steel cable
On the machine. 1t costs 5 cents per
foot.
The engine which gives the motive
power to the airship is a Hall-ScQtt
engine, with a capacity Of so horse
power. The tank which holds the gas
olene has a capacity of ten gallons,
which is sufficient to run the machine
about two or three hours. Mr.. DeKor
said the quality of the gasolene which
he was compelled to use here was not
up to the standard. Many persons on
the grandstand Thursday wondered at
the manner in which the machine was
pulling against rope tied to the
rear. This was, test to determine the
pull of the engine with the quality Of
the fuel. These tests showed a pull OF
$50 pounds, whereas the higher grade
fuel should develop a pull Of 40
pounds.
The propeller, which imparts the
notion to the machine, has 5-foot
Ditch-it is supposed to shove the ma
chine forward 5 feet at each revolu-
lion, and it makes l, 500 revolutions
minute. Under the most favorable
conditions the airship has speed OF
so miles an hour, but during his
flights here Mr.. DeKor only averag-
ed about so miles an hour. Well,
that's fast enough anyway.
The total weight of the Green Drag
on is $50 pounds. This little bundle
If cloth, wire and canes requires the
constant attendance of an expert me-
chanic, and before each flight a care
ful inspection Is made by him to see
that everything is shipshape. Mr.. Webb
Greer, of Houston, Texas, Is the. man
who holds this responsible position
with Mr.. DeKor.
How To Run 1t
One of the main things required OF
the man at the steering wheel Is
GOOD nerve. Coupled with this he must
be possessed of a cool head ana nave
a keen sense Of how to MAINTAIN an
equilibrium. -,
AS said before, the propeller i'm
narts motion to the machine. over
this the operator has no control ex-
cent to shut off the motor which actu-
ates it. The direction Of the flight is
determined by rudder in the back.
This rudder is controlled by rotary
motion of the steering wheel. Tne
steering wheel also has a forward
and backward motion, which operates.
the planes on the front and rear OF
the machine to raise and lower 1t.
The equilibrium is preserved by the
nlanes ON either side. These planes
are operated by the pressure OF tne
Operators shoulders against the steer
frame sides of his seat. From tnese
sides run steel wires which control
the small cloth planes that keep
the airship balanced, and an accident
TO this vital part might cause the
wonderful little ship to lose balance
and turn turtle, resulting in sure
death to the man at the steering
wheel.
Some Airship Records
It might be interesting to note some
of the worlds aviation records:
The altitude record is held by
Frenchman named Legagneux, VINO
attained a height of 1855 feet OF
3.3 miles.
The speed record, which is lo5;'
miles an hour, is held by Jules Vedrl
nes. who established it at the GOT
don Bennett trophy race at Chicag'
last September.
The endurance record is II hours.
I remove Harris from his sphere
usefulness. The injured man was mrs
INV u,ifb rock was ShO