The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-07-05
Taking the Air

The largest airplane the world has
known, with Widespread of 100 feet
half again as wide as the great Mar
tin Bombers of the Army Air Service
will take to the air for the first time
at Dayton some time this month.
The new monster of the skies, in
tended solely for use as a bomber, and
said to be capable of carrying a guam
tity~of explosives sufficient to destroy
large portion of a modern city, is
being assembled at McCook Field, the
army air station, under direction Of
Walter H. Darling, its designer.
( With its great width and other
measurements in proportion, the plane
will dwarf the largest ships now used.
The height of the new plane will be %
feet, while it's length from nose to tail
will be IS feet.
Driven by six Liberty engines, the
new ship will require minimum crew
of four men and contain provisions for
a working force of eight men to be
used when the occasion requires. Elk
elusive of the crew, it will weigh more
than 100000 pounds.
With the idea of obtaining maxi
mum of lifting power, stability and
safety, Mr.. Darling designed the ship
as tri-plane of modified type. The
upper and neither wings will be of
practically the same dimensions, while
that in the center will be narrower
Along its length will run the control
devices giving them protection and
adding feature of safety.
Describing the value of the new
plane as a machine of war, Mr.. Bar
ling, who during the war did much ex-
perimental work for the British Royal
Flying Corps, says that it's maximum
load of several tons of explosives could
do untold damage. One bomb of the
size which the ship can carry would
be capable of sinking the largest and
newest type of naval vessel, he be-
lieves.
likewise, a single bomb from the
machine, he declares, could demoralize
an entire community. Should such a
projectile be dropped in the center of
city, he says, a ffty-foot crater would
be dug, all buildings in the vicinity
completely destroyed and structures
for half mile or more around would
be greatly damaged.
The plane will have no passenger
carrying facilities and its value would
rest entirely in its ability to transport
large projectiles great distances.
\ Flivver Balloon.
novy4op Tbroo TIr;4oJ
censed balloon pilots here wanted d
balloon of their own to play with. They
decided big commercial balloon was
too expensive, so they built their own
outfit and are having a good time with
it.
It's the worlds only one-man bal
loon. It has capacity of 5000 cubic
feet of gas, is % feet in diameter and
costs about $40 to fill. Frequently it
costs nothing.
1t will carry but one passenger and,
can be raised or lowered by means of
propeller, hung just between the bal
loon cables and the basket or harness
clamp.
At the point where the basket is at
tached are three pulleys, through.
which an endless rope belt passes.
This belt causes the propeller to re-
volve.
If the pilot wishes to go up, all he
has to do is to keep the propeller turn
ing in given direction. The pro-
peller exerts four-pound thrust,
which causes the balloon to rise.
Coming down, the operation of the
propeller is reversed, which exerts the
same pressure in the opposite direc-
ton.
The balloon and it's passenger are
balanced to within four-pound limit
by increasing or decreasing sand bal
last.
The balloon, propeller and basket,
or harness, combined, only weigh 125
pounds and can be folded up and car
ried by one man if necessary.
c. F. Adams, w. E. Huffman and
Matt Corbett are the government en-
ployes who constructed this unique
hand propelled aircraft.
The new ship is fully protected by
patents, obtained through government