The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-07-28
.HELIC0pT'ER TO
Be USED SOON
Dr.. Albert F. Zahm, Expert foT
the Navy, Declares It Is
Not an lmDossIbility.
TWO TYPES OFFERED TO U. S.
Experiments Are Continuing In Hope
of Perfectlno a Motor That Can
Be Depended Upon to Main
tain Machine In Air.

Washington.-Th helicoptor, or yer
teal rising air machine. is not ar
impossibility, and, should a real use
for such type arise, successful ones
may be seen before many years, &C
cording to DR.. Albert +. Zahm, aero
nautical expert for the navy. Had
there been a need for the helicOpter
during the war, he said, any of several
types could have been perfected, OF
which working models have been
flown
Much interest has been shown Of
late In reports of successful machines
of the helicopter type being perfected
In both Germany and England. How
ever, While some flights have been
made, none of any consequence are
reported by machine equipped with
horizontal propellers or revolving
planes, designed to rise vertically from
a confined space and descend on the
same.
That the helicOpter is possible Doctor
Zahm said, is proved by the German
machine, which, rising several times to
iuOuCldtC IClSIlS, udS CdItlCu OUSCl "
ers, remained almost stationary while
in the air, and descended in safety.
The machine, however, has made no
extended fight, such as would prove
its dependability, bur was tethered to
the ground by mooring rope. At
times, when the motors failed, the
machine dropped, and the passengers
saved themselves only by leaping with
The experiments are continuing,
however, with the purpose of perfect
ing a motor which can be depended
upon to maintain the machine without
sudden failure, the scientist explained,
Tor, as soon as the engine stops, the
cannot glide to the ground,
rs does an airplane, but drops YER
.ically. In a proper descent the pro
pellers should be whirled slowly to
ease the landing.
Two Other Types Offered.
Present hopes of attaining success
ul vertical flight rest mainly upon the
,ndeavors of Emil Berliner, Washing
on inventor, whose experiments with
he helicopter have extended over a
ong time; and of Louis Brennan of
london, whose newest machine is re-
ported as nearing completion. He is |
working to win the $4,000 prize Of
uccessful flight.
The helicopters upon which most ex-
has been made consist
lainly of two or more propeller screws
counted horizontally on a vertical
haft bearing engines, fuel and pas
engers. Equal numbers of propeller
ladies' must revolve in opposite direc
ons, that the body of the machine
Jay not spin like top.
Whether or not this type of machine
brought to actual use, Doctor Zahn
ated, at least two other types Of
lanes that may fly vertically have
zen offered to the government This
let is not widely known.
One of these, of which DR.. Zahm OBJ
)served experiments with a working
odel. was almost identical with the {
resent type of plane, except that {
Ounted behind the body were two {
is of air vanes, in groups, tilted at
/ adjustable angle like those of We
titan blinds.
When the power was turned on, he
id, the ''wash' of the air stream !;
ON the propellers, pushing against z
csc groups of vanes, caused the d
)del to rise gently vertically. The s
odel was held in midair by the 2
ton, and when the power dimin- e
led it returned gently to earth. A
Il-size machine Of the type, he said, .
'uld be equipped with engines Of
power in order to furnish
iicient air pressure, and when
ven to sufficient altitude the
hes would be so adjusted that fhori-il !