The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-31
JOHN D. COOPER, AVIATOR, IS ON
 HIS WAY HOME

Entertainment by the royalty of Europe, troops through Russia and into the balny Crimea, strange scenes and thrilling flights into the air,rhaVe been the recent experience of John D. Cooper, well known in Bridgeport, the city of his birth and early years, who in his capacity as chief aviator of the Hupp Motor Car Company of Detroit. Michigan, is now returning to the United States after an extended trip abroad
 In letters to friends in this city as well as reports filed to his company in the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, much interesting detail is given upon aviation matters abroad, which to persons accustomed to a small stand ing army seem beyond the pale of possibility here
 Cooper after receiving an official visit by his Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Alexander Michael, at which time that dignitary complimented him highly upon the excellent aeroplane flights he had made before the Rus sian Naval aviation board at Sebasto- pol, returning to St. Petersburg which city he left on October II for Lon don, where he was scheduled to meet RalphI Curtis Both are to join in flying and demonstrating the possi- biIities of aying-boats to the military commissions of several of the conti- mental countries. A trip to Spain and Italy may retard his return to Bridge port.
 Not only does Cooper predict that the present type of monoplane and bi- plane will be replaced by the hydro plane, but his demonstrations before the Russian aviation commissions and later acceptance of air-boatS manu- factured under his own patents, dem onstrate that a rough-water type of boat will be the future make for any war, passenger and sport purposes.
 The following extracts from his re- ports from Russia as well as letters of friends here will prove most interest inga
 T left sebastopool on October 8, where the climate was splendid Glow CTS and trees still in full bIoom) and in less than forty hours time I ar rived in St. Petersburg and was greet ed there with a snow-storm; the weather being extremely cold.
 Every courtesy was extended to me by the officers during my stay in Sebastopo1 and great assistance rem dered by the sailor mechanics who have had over a years experience on the Curtiss machines and are now thoroughly conversant with the de- tails of the work.
 Most of the officers speak very good English and it was simple matter for me to instruct them in the art of handling the boat.
  pol on September 8 and have just finished the final test on October 4. Everything went off fine The two hydro-aeropIanes made the climb and the hour duration in good shape. They were accepted immediately. The flying boat created quite a sensation.
 MT. and Mrs. Curtiss arrived in Se- bastopol and stayed there for a few days MT. Curtiss tried out the boat taking up several passengers among them Count A. A. Muruzi, Lieut. Col oneI of the Army Aviation Corps; also Lieut. Stacowski, Commanding Officer of the Navy Aviation Corps. Count iMuruzi expressed the greatest adrni- ration for the boat which was after wards turned over to me
 T made the climb of one thousand feet in three minutes carrying 34 gal Ions of gasoline, four gallons of cyl finder oil and one passenger weighing f1SO pounds The machine behaved beautifully although we flew in a puffy wind about 20 miles an hour; and made the landing via spiral glid- ing
 Much sI-epticism prevailed among the officers as to the ability of the machine to make the climb ac- count of the weight of the boat and the amount of fuel and passengers
 '"The Naval Camp is situated inside the harbor which is also the head quarters for the Black Sea Fleet The harbor appears to be about one mile wide by three miles long, At all times there are over seven to fifteen battleships and about thirty torpedo boats of various types at anchor in the harbor making landing places very scarce. At times we have flown several miles out to sea and on such occasions one or two of the fast tor pedo boats put out after us to assist in case of accident. I am happy to