The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-30
District Man Plans
10 Build AirpIane To
Carry so Passengers

An aeropIane 240 feet across the
wings and one hundred feet long,
Weighing so Clio tons, will be carry
ing nifty passengers to Europe before
Christmas, according to the plans of
its inventor, Col. Thomas L EggIes-
ton, Washingtonian and Confederate
veteran Of the civil war. He lives at
1917 Hobart street northwest
Colonel Eggleston, who is wen
known in national scientific circles for
various research work, has been ac-
lively engaged in airplane construc-
ton work since the outbreak Of the
war.
Colonel Eggleston's plane, the larg-
est heavfer-than-air machine ever de-
signed, IL made possible only by en-
pIoying q totally new form Of design,
known as the 'tair-eell'' system.
The plane, which will be built In
October, has q wing spread twice the
size OF Commander Reads NC-4
Designs Completed.
The designs have been completed
and the work Is already under way to
a certain extent. A carefully con-
structed model Of the machine. when
released from q great height, foated
slowly earthward and finally made q
perfect landing on the ground Sub
sequent wind tests have proved the
soundness of the construction prin-
cipIes involved
Alexander Graham Bell, after thor
SuKh study Of the model and the de-
signs, stated that the plans had fol-
lowed closely numerous tests Of his
own and that he thought it entirely
practicable. Other scientists and
aeronautical experts have examined
the plans, approving highly. OF the
The entire plan Of the monster Is
carried out on a huge scale. The
wings are twenty-five feet wide and
are placed the same distance apart
The ailerons are forty feet long. The
rear plane, or stabilizer, Is twenty BY
eighty feet, as long a. the Martin
bombing plane.
DOubIe-Deeked Car.
The fuseIage or body takes the
form of q double-decked car seventy
feet long by ten feet wide. On the
lower floor, to the front 10 the pas
senger compartment. arranged HkeI
the interior Of a Pullman car, with
seats for nifty passengers. Just be-
hind this compartment is the en-
trance door and a small vestibule
with a circular stairway to the upper
The rear OF the lower
floor contains q dining room with
tables for twelve people.
In the upper floor are the crews
quarters, the baggage room. pilot
house and engine control room and
wireless house.
The plane is equipped with four
500 horsepower motors, giving q
speed estimated at 100 miles an hour.
Two OF these motors are already
built and have been tested. giving a
brake test Of about so horsepower.
S,OoO-GaIIOn Capacity.
The fuel tanks will hold 5000 gall
Ions Of gasoline. Oil tanks with a
Of 1000 gallons are provided.
as well as tanks for 90 gallons Of
water. This water supply will be
utilized for the motors. for drinking
water, and for use in the two bath |
rooms.
After his examination OF the de-
signs, Alexander Graham Bell wrote !
as follows to Representative E. s. |
OF Mississippi, who brought !
about the meeting between Mr.. Bell |
and Colonel EggleSton.
81 have no doubt that the success
'ul building Of large weight carrying |
will depend upon the adop- |
ton OF q cellular mode Of construc-
lion. The great advantage Of such a /
system is that the flying weight OF /
he whole structure need be no great
er than the flying weight OF OF the
Individual cell.
81 have made many experiments
With the triangular form OF cell,
which seems to be the basis Of Col
mel Eggleston's system, and while I