Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-26
Stability and Speed
Attained by Ecob a
With Tandem Biplane

Robert Gilbert Ecob, architect, New
! York, son of DR.. James III. Eeob of
| this city, has just received letters pa
tent for new type of airplane. This
patent covers the three most impor-
tant points in airplane construction:
stability, lifting power and speed. Up
to the present time, stability has been
the great desideration among aerial
inventors Many stabilizing devices
have been tried. but their success has
been unimportant. The Ecob plan is
self stabilizing. The models were
very carefully tested by a committee
of military men in Washington. From
, the roof of an eight story building the
models were thrown head first, tail
first, side wise and upside down. In
every case they righted themselves,
landing on the pavement as lightly as
bird with not q sign of breakage.
The great lifting power of this
plane is readily seen when we con-
slider that it has six planes instead of
two. An officer in Washington gave
it the name of SeXto plane. The in
ventor calls it Tandem Biplane. The
three sets of biplanes are placed
equi distant on a long, slender body.
Caproni sought lifting power by plac-
ing an extra plane above the other.
But this gave a high, three storied
effect to his machine which present
ed an opposing front to the wind of
speed and to any chance wind that
might blow.
The speed of the Ecob plane is
~ ,~Ix
shaft-like body. 1t at once suggests
an arrow While stability and great
lifting power are, of course, the prime
elements, speed is a very desirable
consideration.
Now that air travel has come to
stay, why may we not expect that
this new type of machine may be one
of the first great aerial lines to con-
Quer the distances of the air as our
great ships have conquered the sea?
Robert Gilbert Ecob was born in
Albany, n. Y, where DR.. Ecob was
for fifteen years, pastor of the End
Presbyterian church. He was a pupil
of the famous Albany Boys Academy
and finished his preparation for coll
lege at the Boys High School, Phila-
delphia.
After graduating from the Archi-
tectural Department of the Universe
ty OF pennsylvania, he began work in
washington, D. c., under the Gov
eminent. Mr.. Ecob's plans for the
Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth
were accepted. While in Washington
he superintendent the building of the
celebrated Masonic Temple, designing
much of the interior decoration, es-
Ncialiy the frieze of Masonic en-
blems in the principal hall.
During his residence in Washing
ton Mr.. Ecob became interested in
the Tying machine Of Prof Langley.
whom ne regards as the real inventor
OF airplanes. He made a thorough
study OF all the Langley models in
the Smithsonian Institute. From this
time on. aerial navigation was his
constant study and experimentation.
For several years Mr.. Ecob was
with McKim, Meade and White. in
New York. Under that firm he was
gwen important work on the extern
sion of the Metropolitan Museum and
was later sent to San Francisco to
assist In the construction of the Pan
American Exposition Building.
Two years ago the Legislature of
New York offered a prize for the best
plan Tor reconstructing the old, down
town blocks in the Stun district of
the city. Mr.. Ecob won first prize
over forty competitors.
He has recently completed a saw
lngs bank in Long Island City, which
has attracted much attention among
banking men,
Mr.. Ecob has travelled much in this
country and in Europe studying the
best architecture. In the American