Evening journal., 1918-12-07
BANCROFT AIRPLANE
TO Be GIVEN TEST
Flight of Machine at Els
mere Delayed by Engine
Trouble
STATIONARY WINGS
FEATURE Of PLANE

A test fly OF an airplane built by the
Bancroft Alrplane Company. OF Elsmere,
will be made this afternoon providing
; the motor In the plane can be made 10
run. Those interested In the machine
where out early this morning preparing
for a test flight. but up until noon they
had failed 10 get the engine running
smoothly enough TO take TO the air.
, This, however, has not disheartened
The promoters OF this particular ma
chine, 10 is not the engine that they
are especially depending on TO make II
a success. For this test flight second
hand 45-horsepower Anzani French
motor is being used. This. however. is
only an incidental as II Is a stablizer, or
on which a patent has been secured
In other words a stationary set Of wings
In this country and France that makes
the machine different from any others
now In use and a feature which II Is
expected Will make the Bancroft plane
one OF the most successful ever built.
The Bancroft Alrplant Company Is a
Delaware corporation. The officers are
Lewis F. Bancroft, OF Elsmere, presi-
dent; Mr. Farren, OF Pittsburgh. vice
president; Charles f. Scheld, OF Pitts
burgh. treasurer, and Mr. Gerhard. Of
Plttsburg, secretary. Mr.. Shoemaker OF
Washington, r. II. Devices OF Philadel-
phia, and ]. W. Rogers OF Richardson
Park are also directors OF the company.
Messrs. Bancroft Devices and ROBBERS
were present today TO witness the test
flight.
D. s. Lamb, OF New York, formerly
member OF the British Aviation Corps.
and who Is said 20 have six German
planes 10 his credit, was out as the
aviator to operate the machine In the
test fly. Mr. Lamb Is said 10 have been
engaged by the government to carry
the mails by air from New York 70 Chi
cago starting next week.
The Airplane Company occupies what
was formerly the Downing wheel and
spoke works at Elsmere. Mr.. Bancroft
the president. Is the inventor Of the
new features TO the plane. He, with
several OF his associates, have been
working on the plane for more than
year. Il differs very little from other
machines except as to the stabliZers or
wings.
These wings on the Bancroft ma
chine are stationary and u Is claimed
that they make II a self-bslancing plane
and one that will be much easier for
the aviator to operate. All the aviator
will need 10 do In the Bancroft plane
II It works out as the inventor antici-
pates, Is TO steer the machine He will
not have TO operate levers TO control
the wings as Is the case with most
machines now being used, Mr. Bancroft
claims.
Mr.. Lamb was brought from. New
York TO operate the machine on its test
Night today. The machine was taken
on the field In the rear OF tbs COM
panys plant shortly before sunrise.
When an effort was made to get It of
before a strong wind should come up
engine trouble developed
Those In charge worked all morning
TO try and get the motor running prop
erly, with Mr.. Lamb sitting in the
plane. which has but single seat, !
ready TO take 20 the air at any time
hat the engine should show signs Of
working right.
While Mr.. Bancroft was disappointed I
lver the delay he pointed out that It
vas only the case Of an engine placed /
N the plane for the first test not work
ng properly that delayed the hight. Il |
vas not the engine but the stationary
Wings that he desired to give a thor
,ugh test.
The alght may be made this after
loon.