The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-19
j. s. TESTS Of
HEL|COPTER
GIVEN Up
U. s., Leader in Field, Aban-
dons Work on First Sue
cessfuI Machine.
Copyright, 1928. by Cosmopolitan
News Service.)

NSVPyE18uJSs 1875 Dy COSmOpOllJau
News Service)
All work on Americas helicopter,
the only flying machine of this type
which has proved it has stability as
well as maneuver ability, has been
stopped, it became known today.
The work was halted after the
most important results yet achieved
with a machine Of this type, which
has been the dream of inventors
and scientists for q decade
Whether the helicopter invention,
of tremendous. military Importance,
is carried to completion and re-
mains In the hands of the Ameri-
can Government or whether it shall
be lost to some other power, is an
unsolved riddle today.
The machine. built from computa-
tons and plans drawn by DIR.
George de Bothezat, eminent aero
nautical and electrical engineer,
was brought into being at McCook
field, Ohio, after sixteen months
effort, ten of which were required
to get delivery on special type Of
gears which drive the set of four
huge lifting propellers. The first
machine, created at a cost OF $780,
900, OF which some $4,000 Is said
as in the experimental stages, al
though it had made 100 flights
when work was abandoned in April.
At that time the helicopter had
been in flying condition six months.
America Leads.
The American effort to date far
exceeds the attempts of England
and France since the war, and
Austria during the war, to produce
a machine that would rise vertically
and depend only on propellers, in
stead of planes, to carry it through
helicopter operated at the start
much better than the third Pescara
machine built along the helicopter
principle in behalf Of the French
government, or the second Oelm-
ichen machine, built for France in
an effort to solve the helicopter
principle of flying. !.
Since the world war, which gave
such impetus to perfection of the
aeroplane, aviation officials of va
rious nations came to the belief
that the next big step IN fly
ing would be by development
Of a machine that would not re-
quire large take-off and landing
fields. So the American Govern
ment looked about. through the
eyes of it's aviation experts, and
called INTO consultation DIR.
Bothezat. who was the founder Of
the modern propeller theory. He
submitted plans for construction Of
a flying machine to be lifted by
four huge propellers, brought into
motion from one single central
motor by aid of a totally novel set
of gears.
The building of the machine was
done by the special research Sec
ton Of McCook field. the largest
and most complete aviation expert
mental station in the world.
In the last flights made by the
machine these things were demon
strated: Ability to hover, to reach
an altitude of twenty feet, and to
lift four men from the ground.
According to Major General Pat
rick, the reason experiments were
stopped was because no further
funds were available to go ahead
and build a second machine, which
it is now desired to do, Incorporate
ing improv ements learned in flying
the first machine. However, the
present contract with DIR. Bothezat
is terminated, the basic patents are
owned by the scientist. who, 1t is
understood. could negotiate with
some other government.
Discussing the helicopter, Maj.
Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief OF the
air service, said:
Unique Achievement.
"Dr, Dc Bothezat's helicopter is
unique in that it was built in &C.
cordance with his own CALCULATIONS,
full size, and without his having
had a small scale to work by.
ut was the first helicopter in
the world to make a successful
flight.
when the contract with DR.. de
years ago, the helicopter existed
only in his inventive brain and lit
tie was known concerning such ma
chine.
This contract provided for GER
tain tests, outlined according to the
best information available. Now
that the machine has been built and
tried, it has been deemed advisable
to modify certain Of the tests out
lined in the contract and upon their
completion, to terminate the present
contract.
1T was expected and intended to
make another agreement with DR.
Bothezat to carry on his contract
further, and to incorporate his i'm
provements with his experience
with his first machine which would
indicate what was necessary or
advisable. The new agreement with
him has not yet been negotiated.
The chief of the air service was
thoroughly satisfied with the per
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