The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-16
HELICOPTER
 RISES 150
 FEET IN AIR

Washington, June 16.-A helicop- ter that in tests has already risen more than 150 feet vertically rom the ground has been developed in Austria, according to reports from a European correspondent of the National Advisory Board of Aeronau- tics. In view of the experiments now being conducted by aViatorS in United States, France and Great Bri- tain, in an effort to design and con- struct a successful helicopter, the news is considered of great import ance to flying men here
 According to the reports, the Aus trian heIicOpter consists of a three armed frame built of steel tubes, equipped with three built-in gasoline motors of the Le RhOne type, each developing 12O horsepower. The motors drive two propeller shafts revolving in opposite directions ana the shafts in turn drive two propel- lors arranged one above the other Ter on a central shaft, each nearly ~ feet in diameter. The pIHpe1ioI , are attached to the upper plane or the helicopter and revolve in opPo- site directions at about 500 reVoIu- lions a minute. In the center or pelIors, is the operating compartment which is also fitted with a machlne gun and a place for the gunner.
 In the tests so far conducted with the Austrian helicopter, according 10 the reports, the machine has been kept captive by means of cables, al lowing it to be hauled back to the earth at the conclusion of flight by means of a winch. During one such test the reports assert the hel- icopter rose to low altitude and remained in the air an hour In an other test the machine ascended about 16O feet, carrying a load equi- vaIent to four men, and remained perfectly tranquil in a high wind.
 The device is equipped with a par achute so arranged as to open auto matical1y in the event of an abrupt descent, the reports say, adding that the parachute will so ease the fall as to prevent injury to the helicop- ter.
 Advocates of the heIcopter con tend that the machine, if it can be perfected, will add a new and valua- ble weapon to aerial warfare. They assert that the device has all of the advantages of the captive balloon and few of its disadvantages. The hel- icopter, they claim, is but slightly visible when in the air and there fore offers a small target to gunfire; can shoot directly upward at enemy aircraft overhead; is non-inflamma- ble; requires much less ground equip ment and personnel than a balloon and can be rapidly transferred from one place to another.
 Navel aviators are interested in the
 
 ing the device may provide the best means of taking long distance ob- servatiors from battleships. Cap tive helicopters, it is also said. would be useful for gathering meteorologi- cal data and for carrying radio an tenna in places where radio rnasts to hold the aerial cannot be con structed.
 So far as is known the Austrian helicopter, known as the Karman- is the first device of the kind that has ever made a sustained flight to any height. Recent reports from Paris are to the effect that the DaubIanc hehcopter. now undergoing tests there, has shown considerable n-Oro ise. The Damblanc machine is C,, erated by two rotating wings. each formed by four blades assembled or, cross bar and revolving about the axis of the wings on ball bearings The device is equipped with two sta hiiizinS planes operated from tn, fuselage and the motive power iS furnished by two rotary I5O horse power Rhone engines. The Dam blanc machine is designed in carry