The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-04
HEAR BIRDMEN TALK HALF A MILE UP IN THE AIR!
WIRELESS WONDER SUCCESS
CULvERS INVENTION MAKES EN- HEAR 5000 FEET UP
| BY e. A. GElDHOF.
N. e. A. Washington Bureau.

N. e. A. Washington Bureau.
Washington, D. CT have been
hearing the birdmen talk, half a mile
In. the airy
have been watching them dip.
spin and spiral over my head at the
word Of command spoken from the
ground.
The birds were squadron Of four
aviators, and the word Of command
was spoken from the ground through
the wireless telephone.
Col. C. c. Culver inventor of the
wireless telephone device for air
planes, staged an exhibition for my
benefit.
Airmene Hear, Reply
While 5000 Feet Up.
We stood in the wireless telephone
room in the military aeronautics d.
vision. Col. Culver had a mouthpicce
strapped to his chest. while two of his
aides and held receivers to our ears.
Three thousand feet in the air, fly
ing over the Potomac, so we could
see them through the window, four
:, i4plunessoared. The machine Of
Lieut.. Lucas, in command Of the
squadron, was equipped with 81 trans
mittar as we'll as a receiver. The 9TH
-er Their planes had receivers only.
Aviators aren's supposed to talk back.
"Hello, Lucas; can you hear me :"
smoke Col. Culver into the mouth
piece.
"Yes, sir" came the reply, clear as
Il bell.
"All right; form center line"
Each of the airplanes was number
ed Lieut.. Lucas called each by num-
Der, to see if apparatus was working
properly.
"Hcl|o, Number One! If you can
hear me, dip!'
Number One did.
AL! right, now Number Two"
Number Two dipped.
"How about you, Number Three"
Number Threc's hearing was bad.
He SCARED biSsfuly on. Col. Culver
explained that Number Three's APP
para,uS was probably out of tune.
"ilcllo, Number Three! Hello,
Number Thrce!" came Lieut.. Lucas
voice through the air. Can you hear
me, Number rmee?"
Culver Invention
Telephone Wonder.
Finally Number Three attuncd his
receiver and dipped.
Form center lineII" ordered Lieut..
Lucas. The four machines maneuver-
cd into straight line.
"To the right, reverse" spoke Col.
Culver. Lieut.. Lucas echoed the COM
man, and the machines executed q
sharp turn to the right and flew in
the opposite direction. The machines
We're now getting out Of range CT The
window.
Come back over the building; we
can't see you," ordered Col. Culver;
"you're getting too far away"
Eyes, sir" came back the answer
from the sky. '.Io the left, reversed"
"Now, form a right line and dive
to 1900 feet" said Col Culver. With
remarkable precision, the planes drop
ped as Lieut.. Lucas gave the COM
mands. Climbing again to 5000 feet,
the machines "stood up which means
standing on one wing, Topped. topped
over, dived, spun and pulled off, each
at Col. Culver's command, all the
tricks in the aviator's bag, while the
rest Of Washington looked up and
wondered.
For half an hour l watched them.
1t was most fascinating.
Wireless telephony is by no means
new, but talking in flight was never
possible before Col. Culver accom-
plished it. The principal difficulty
he overcame was in excluding the
noise Of the motors. This he did by |
a mouthpiece which keeps
out all sound but that of the voice.
His success has given the world the
most important aircraft development
since the Liberty Motor was perfected.
And it has raised Culver from a ser
geant of cavalry to colonel of the
air service.
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