The Washington times., 1915-06-20
,HYDRO-AEROPLANE TO.
Be TRIED TOMORROW
Big Stride In Aerial Navigation
Expected From Huge Rich
ardson Machine.

II the preliminary flights of the Dig
Richardson hydro-aeroolane. now be-
ing tuned for its first air voyage In its
berth op the Potomac in front of Alex
andria. are successful. big stride Will
be made In aerial navigation. according
to A. s. Richardson. Of Lowell. Mass.
its builder.
Not only is the machine the largest
Of its kind ever constructed. exceeding
in size and carrying power the giant
Curtis machine built last summer for
a transatlantic voyage, but many
novel features never before incor-
porated in a flying boat have been
added.
The distinguishing feature Of the
Richardson invention is the arrange
ment of the planes. The accepted type
of biplanes have two planes on each
side. one above the other. but the Rich
afdson machine has four planes on each
side, two in front. and two arranged in
TANDEM form. Between the two sets Of
the planes Is the platform upon which 1t
Is proposed to erect the cabin to house
passengers.
Can't Crock the Boat"
According to the builder the doubling
Of the planes will not only give greater
lifting power. but will give the machines
unusual stability. 1t will be almost i'm
possible to rock the boat and the
pilot will not be bothered In his effort
to keep n level keel, which is one of the
greatest sources of trouble in the ac-
cepted types Of heavier-than-air ma
chimes.
The Richardson machine has been un-
der construction for more than a year.
Before the present plane was con-
structed elaborate tests were made with
models. which 1t is said showed that the
ideas cf the inventor were on the right
lines.
On Monday the big yellow. kite-lookins g
affair was taken from its shed for TIE
first time and gently slid into the Po-
tomac. where it has since rested like a
bird upon the surface. Since that time
dozens of mechanics have been climb
ing in and out of it's rigging. testing
engines and propellers, Tightening W
stays and belts, and doing the innumer'
able little things that mean SO much tc
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 shor'
have gone away disappointed. Many
were reminded Of the hours of weary
waiting they experienced years age
when, perched on the top of Shooters
hill. west of Alexandria. they wiltet
through hot afternoons to see Wright
make his first cross-country flight and
were finally rewarded by seeing fal
above the heads the first successful
aeroplane make a graceful circle oveI
Alexandria and dash back to its rest
ing place at Fort Myer.
Stopped By Wind.
Everything was ready for prelimi
nary spin over the water yesterda,
afternoon. but a southeasterly wind
made those in charge fear that the
machine would be driven upon the piles
Another postponement was made unit
tomorrow when it is said that a tria
will certainly be made. The hour ha.
been definitely fixed, but II the weather
conditions are satisfactory a start Will
be made as shortly after o'clock a!
possible.
The Richardson machine. as 1t rests II
the water, looks as If 1t was through!
capable of carrying out the promises o
its inventor. 1t Is a business looking
affair without any freak features whic
characterize many inventions that prom
ise to revolutionize things.
It's wide spread of wings glisten II
their waterproof covering, it's deck o
cedar is bright with fresh varnish an
engines shine as II they were made o
silver. 1t floats on two parallel pom
toons, 2s feet long and feet square
With its equipment the pontoons az
submerged less than three inches in tn
water. Upon the pontoons rest tn
deck, % feet long and feet wide. Lat
erals of white cedar carry the super
structure. to which the planes are at
tached.
-Four feet above the deck are the er
gine beds. The two engines are al
ranged In tandem form. the rear on
being placed Is feet behind the fror
one. The engines are Emersons. manu-
factured in Alexandria by Victor EmeI
son. They are each six cylinder, an
have an actual horsepower of sixty
eight although 1t is claimed that thei
rating is much higher. They are bull
of aluminium and crome steel and weig
placed in front of the first engine an
In the rear of the second.
Seat Under Engine.
The pilots seat is directly underneat
the front engine and here are locate
the levers and devices that control tn
ascending and decending planes as we
as the steering gear. Behind the pilot
seat and between the two engines is
platform six by ten feet, which is tn
space to be used in carrying passenger
or cargo.
Twenty passengers beside the II
crew can be carried. The gasoler
tanks, four in number. are on eac
side Of the engines. They have a cap'
city of fifty gallons. In the pontoor
are gasolene tanks which have a capi
city of five barrels. 1t Is estimate
that fifty gallons of gasolene will ~
the machine for three hours. whic
at its estimated speed Of sixty miles q
hour, would give 1t radieus of !
miles without calling on the reser'
gasolene in its tanks. The machii
and it's contents weigh $500 pounds.