The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-07
New Flying Era Promised When
Mystery Craft OF the Air
Reaches Perfection.

Dayton, O.-The helicopter is rated
as the mystery craft of the air. 1t Is
In Its infancy. but will grow into a
carrier of unlimited utility, according
to George de Bothezat, inventor of the
big machine that has been flying here
engineering division Of the government
air service to conduct the Dayton ex-
pertinent because he has made life
study of stability in aeronautics and
Is a world authority on propellors and
lifting screws.
hellcopter is seen to be a framework
Of metal tubing assembled in the shape
OF Maltese cross 60 feet In span, with
p six-bladed propeller, or lifting-screw
at the end of each arm. At the middle
Of the cross high-powered rotary en-
gire is set up on end. Through shaft
Ing extending out along the arms the
engine drives the ring-and-pinion gears
that turn the windmill-like wheels at
the four corners.
These gears. designed by Mr.. De
Bothezat, are exceedingly intricate,
and the first of their kind to be used
In aeronautics. Concerning them Maj.
Thomas III. Bane Of the air service,
who supervised the experiment, has
said, In letter to, the inventor: Il
never believed they would work. 1
think told you expected them to fly
al ,xar tho aarodrona On tho fret at-
tempt to run the machine. l don't be-
heve any one else had much confidence
in the gears. 1t is particularly inter
esting to note this when, after 70 or 80
flights and very severe usage, the gears
have given no trouble OF any sort. In
many ways the successful design Of
the gears is the most remarkable thing
about the helicopter."
One Hundred Successful Flights.
But the helicopter Is more than an
admirable piece of mechanism. 1t has
flown 100 times, lifting its weight Of
4, 400 pounds Off the earth and, on oc-
casion, carrying the extra weight OF
four men. Its greatest height reached
in any flight was between 30 and 40
feet and there 1t lowered, maintaining
Itself In position, for five minutes. In
Its hundred hops and descents 1t has
hot been scratched. According to Its
designer Il is the first machine In his
tory that has ever lowered; and II has
Travelled across its flying field faster
than man could run.
"Too much has been claimed for the
heiicopter by some writer's" said the
inventor. "We do not pretend to have
accomplished great deal yet. We
have simply made a start I'm line en-
tirely new In aeronautics. We do not
ask that the helicopter be compared
with the present-day airplane. II is
eairer to compare II with the first air
plane in which the Wright brothers be-
oan their flying. We have succeeded
IN going up and coming down again
without disaster. We have shown
mat 1t can be done, which is all that
the wrights did when they were at
our stage In their experiment Further
more, we do not claim that the hell
copter will displace the airplane. II
only completes the process Of flying. 1t
Hoes what the swift airplane cannot
do--it hovers motionless in air, and II
needs no great amount Of ground for
taking or and landing. ae
MANY questions are asked by the
ekeptical public ana by the critical
champions Of airplane flight. For ex-
ample, what prevents the helicopter
from side-slipping7 I wosld explain
that our four lifting screws are set at
an inward inclination Of five degrees.
heir axes converging toward the top.
This gives the flying surface a saucer
shape and lends stability to the ma
chine Ifra sfde-siip starts. the ma
chine tends to right itself Instantly.
II hns inherent stability. HtA
For safetys Sake.
'The enormous size and apparent
fiui,ness Of the propeller blades are