The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-07-01
Declares Vertical
Rising Airplane Is
Not Impossibility

Washington, July 1.-The helicop-
tor, or vertica1-rising air machine, is
not an impossibility, and should a
real use for such a type arise success
full ones may be seen before many
years, according to DIR. Albert F.
Zahm aeronautica1 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.
DR.. Zahm is an expert on design
and construction of all manner OF
flying machines For years he has
applied his time to perfection of the
airplane, and is well qualified to pass
upon the capabilities of any.
Much interest has been shown of
late in reports of successful machines
of the helicopter type being perfect
ed, in both Germany and England.
Howev while some flights have been
made, none of any consequence are
reported by a machine equipped with
planes, designed to rise vertically
from a confined space and descend
on the same.
That the helicopter is possible, Dr.
Zahm said, is proved by the German
machine, which, rising several times
to moderate heights, has carried OBJ
servers, remained almost stationery
while in the air, and descended in
safety. The machine. however. has
made no extended flight, such as
would prove its depondability. but
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 parachutes.
The experiments are continuing
? however, with the purpose of perfect
ing a. motor which can be depended
upon to maintain the machine with
out sudden failure, the scientist eN-
sstops the machine cannot glide to the
ground, as does an airplane, but
drops vertically. In proper descent
3the propellors should be whirled
Slowly ts ease the landing.
& When in the air, DR.. Zahm con-
stinued, this machine could maneuver
EXACTLY as does the ordinary plane.
cut figures and do stunts besides
being able to rest motionless in any
desired positfon-vertical with nose
up, if need be.
The best feature. he said. is that
u both planes of the new types are en-
tirely feasible and can be constructed
I at any time. In fact. several Euro
pean inventors and manufacturers
are patenting designs of the second
type, notably the Frenchman Bleriot.
one of the pioneers of aviation.
Experts for the government studied
the second type during the war, it
was explained, but the matter went
no further.
Any of the types advanced, would.
in warware, be of great use in bomb
dropping or for observation. The
main disadva ntage, that of being a
good target for artillery fire while
stationery, could be Offset by quick
ness of movement from point to
point, and short stops while hover
ing.
Still, DR.. Zahm points out in sum-
Mining up, the fact that the War De-
partment was offered such machines
at a times when all resources where
hni in e
ficient implements of warfare and
rejected them, although they are
s completely feasible. is sufficient indi.
cation of their war value. As to theil
3 + being put to comm ercial or socia
uses, the immense expense precIude
the possibility