The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-09
LIEUT.. PORTE GLOOMY,
CURTISS I'LL IN BED
Encouragement Rrions Among
Aviation Experts in Amer
lea Camp.

HAMMoNrsronr. Y Y, July S-,tfter
experimenting for two weeks with six
varieties of water planning surfaces and
pontoons for the Rodman Wanamalter
transatlantic flying boat America the boat
II no nearer completion than she was
when the experiments began. Lieut.. Porte
has cancelled his passage on tho Florizel
to Newfoundland next saturday. Two
experiments to-day wcrc failures. and the
experts were in consultation AT late
hour tonight over what will be done
tomorrow.
The problem is TO get the America,
loaded with about 5000 pounds necessary
for the transatlantic flight. off the water.
she has demonstrated her ability to fly
with that load and Mr.. Curtiss brought
her out of the water once with the neces-
sary load with the aid &. heavy pontoons
underneath the lower wings, which would
not be practical in long flight.
Bookings for the boat and mechancians
10 sail from New York for st. Johns
on July Is are still being held. but it is
doubtful II she will b. ready by that
time.
Early this morning the America was
tried out with biplanc water fins extending
out on either side from her hull She
jumped and Owed in the water like an
angry porpoise The fins were a failure,
but the experiment showed that IT would
be possible TO build set OF fins that
would give the proper lift, but 1t might
take months of experimenting. Lieut.
Porto Is inclined TO believe that she
might be difficult 10 handle in rough water
with three fins. The fin idea was ADAM
doned after the morning test.
Late this afternoon Lieut.. Porte took
the machine out with tho fins removed
and the Langley pontoons in their place.
She ploughed thraligh the water like a
ferryboat. New pontoons. longer and
deeper than the Langley pontoons, Will be
added tomorrow Just how long and
how deep and at what angle is being de-
cldcd at the conference tonight. one
question is now settled. pontoons and not
fms will be used.
There is gloom everywhere tonight.
lieut. Porte is discouraged. lie realizes
now that his chance Of starting the Hight
this month IL slight. Mr.. Curtiss was Ill
in bed most of the day, but he came to
the field for the conference to-nlgS
George Robinson, n mechanic. who has
worked nearly night and day with the
America. was overcome by the heat ON
the field this afternoon and was attended
by physician.
Lieut. John II. Towers L. :. n, and
Cant. +. Creagh-Osborn, superintendent
of compasscs for the British navy. tried
ont this afternoon the Sperry drift re-
cording instrument that Lieut. Porte will
use on the new hydroplane Curtiss has
built for the navy. The speed and drift
are calculated by observing tho waves
through a series OF lenses, The instru-
ment worked all right by taking obser-
yations from trees while flying over the
land, but there was not a ripple on the
lake. so It could not be tried over the
water.
Lieut.. Porte said that he thought to-
morrows experiments would he success
full and that the boat would be ready
for shipment from New York on July
IS Lieut.. Porte expects to sail with
the boat. In order to be shipped from
New York on July is the America will
have to leave Hammondsport Tuesday.
william D. Cash. Rodman Wanamak-
er's personal representative, left the city
for HammondspOrt last night to have an
other look ut the America and the prog
ress being made Mr., Cash said that he
believed everything was going well and
that he thought Lieut. Porte and Glenn
curtiss We're working together in per-
feet harmony. Mr. Cash will stay in
Hammondsport few days.
Some avators in the city yesterday
thought that Lieut.. Porte was showing
the effects OF the nervous strain under
NH oh, ho no frhnN
out the Englshman's statement that he
would take no life prescrvers as a fool
ish thing. officials of the Aero club of
America renewed their expressions OF
confidence in the undertaking.