Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-08-29
New Flying Era Promised When
Mystery Craft of the Air
Reaches Perfection.

Dayton, O.-The helicopter is rated
Gs the mystery craft of the air. 1t is
In its infancy, but will grow into
carrier of unlimited utility, according
70 George de Bothezat, inventor of the
dig machine that has been flying here.
DIR. de BotheZat was selected by the
engineering division of the government
air service to conduct the Dayton ex-
pertinent because he has made life
study Of stability in aeronautics and
5S a world authority on propellors and
Afting screws.
Viewed from above, the De Bothezat
helicopter is seen to be a framework
of metal tubing assembled in the shape
oF a Maltese cross 60 feet in span, with
a six-bladed propeller, or lifting-screw
at the end of each arm. At the middle
or the cross high-powered rotary en-
gine is set up on end. Through shaft
ang extending out along the arms the
sngtne drives the ring-and-pinion gears
Fhat turn the windmill-like wheels at
che four corners.
These gears, designed by Mr.. De
Bothezat, are exceedingly intricate,
and the first of their kind to be used
Ia aeronautics. Concerning them Maj.
Thomas H. Bane of the air service,
who supervised the experiment, has
said, in a letter to the inventor: 81
never believed they would work.
think I told you expected them to fly
all over the aerodrome on the first at
tempt to run the machine. 1 don't be-
heve any one else had much confidence
In the gears. 1t is particularly inter-
esting to note this when, after 20 or so
flights and very severe usage, the gears
have given no trouble Of any sort. In
many ways the successful design of
khe gears is the most remarkable thing
about the helicopter."
5 One Hundred Successful Flights.
But the helicopter is more than an
admirable piece Of mechanism. 1t has
flown 100 times, lifting its weight of
3y400 pounds off the earth and, on oc-
casion, carrying the extra weight of
four men. It's greatest height reached
ia any flight was between 80 and 40
Geet and there 1t lowered, maintaining
Itself in position, for five minutes. In
hts hundred hops and descents it has
not been scratched. According to its
designer it Is the first machine in his
tory that has ever hovered and it has
Travelled across it's flying field faster
khan man could run.
''Too much has been claimed for the
Nv ~,
Inventor. eve do not pretend to have
accomplished a great deal yet We
have simply made a start in a line en-
tirely new in aeronautics. We do not
ask that the helicopter be compared
with the present-day airplane It is
eairer to compare it with the first air
plane in which the Wright brothers be-
gan their flying. We have succeeded
In going up and coming down again
without disaster. We have shown
that it 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
eopter will displace the airplane 1t
only completes the process of flying. 1t
dot hovers motionless in air. and it
needs no great amount of ground for
baking off and landing.
Many questions are asked by the
Ekeptical public and by the critical
champions of airplane flight. For ex-
ample, what prevents the helicopter
from side-slipping? would explain
that our four lifting screws are set at
an inward inclination of five degrees,
their axes converging toward the top.
This gives the flying surface a saucer
shape and lends stability to the ma
chine. If a side-slip starts, the ma
chine tends to right itself instantly.
1t has inherent stability.
For Safety's Sake.
'The enormous size and apparent
eraiinesS of the propeller blades are