Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-21
MAKES ITS TRIAL TRIP:
Many Persons Attracted to River
Front to See Hydro-Aeropiane
Make Start.

Skipping over tne surface OF Ihe
Potomac but making no effort to ac-
tually fly, "Clare", A. S. Richard
sons big hydro-aeroplane, was taken
for its first trial trip today. Shortly
after II O'Clock it was towed from
it's berth in front Of the old Pioneer
Mills and to the center Of the channel
almost in front Of the Norfolk ana
Washington Steamboat Cos wharf.
Here the tow lines were dropped and
after a short delay the boat was
started under its own power. Inc
rear engine was started first and the
boat swept up the river in the direc-
ton of Washington at a speed estl-
mated at 90 miles an hour. A Jew
seconds later the front engine was
hooked up and the sound OF the two
Dig six cylinder Emersons, whlrlmS
the propeller 900 revolutions PEI
minute, was deafening. With bo5t
oropellers going it was estimated thai
the boat was making a speed OF 81
niles per hour.
After going for q mile and a hall
he engines were stopped and 1t was
stated that some changes would be
accessory before an actual attempt
% fly would be made.
At this mornings experimental!
flight A.. S. Richardson, the builder
was in charge, with Dean Z. Van
Kirk, Of Washington, as aviator. MF.
Van Kirk. who secured his flying eH-
,erience at College Park, is organic
ing an aeronautical reserve corps o.
the naval militia of the District q
Columbia. Victor Emerson, Jr., wa
in charge of the engines, with Am"s
F,ntwistle, VIM Moffitt and Walter
Padgett as assistants, Among the m
crested SPECTATORS at today's trla!
was +. r. Richardson, the iinancia'
packer of the company which rs to
manufacture the planes, and his soH,
Harlow c. Richardson.
Tests will be continued every DAY
until the machine is actually tiowH.
II these tests are successful. as Il
l..
seems they will be, a big stride VIII
ne made in aerial navigation.
Not only is the machine the largest
y its kind ever constructed. exceeding
n size and carrying power the glaHt
jurtis machine built last summer 1ol
| transatlantic voyage, but many
novel features never before moor
porated in a flying boat have beer
added.
The distinguishing feature of rhe
Richardson invention is the. arrange
nent Of the planes. The accepted
:ype OF biplanes have two planes on
each side, one above the other, but the
Richardson machine has four planes
on each side, two in front. and two
arranged in tandem form. Between
inc two sets of planes is the
platform upon which It is proposed
20 erect the cabin 10 house passcn-
gers.
According to the builder the douo!~
ing Of the planes will not only give
greater lifting power, but will give
The machines unusual stability. 1t
will be almost impossible to ''rocA
the boat" and the pilot will not be.
bothered in his efforts to keep Level
keel. which is one of the greatest
sources of trouble in the accepted
;ypes. of heavier than-air machines.
The Richardson machine has been
under construction for more than d
year. Before the present plane 'Taa
constructed elaborate tests were
made with models, which II Is sa!d
showed that the ideas Of the inven-
tor were on the right lines.
On Monday the big yellow, kite
looking affair was taken from lis
shed for the first time and gently
slid into the Potomac, where 1t has
since rested like bird upon the
surface. Since that time dozens OF
mechanics have been climbing IN and
Out OF it's rigging, testing engines anu
propellerS, tightening up stays and
belts. and doing the innumerable lit
tie things that mean so much TO the
aviator before he launches himself
INTO the skies.
Tests have been delayed from hour
TO hour from one cause or another
and big crowds of Alexandrians who
have swarmed the docks and river
shore have gone away disappointed.