The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-25
L|NDY'S PLANE
WITH GASLESS
MOTOR FLIES
Mystery Ship Uses Electro
Magnets for Power
in Tests.
LEAVES FOR N. Y. TODAY
viii Confer With BackerS
Relative to Promotion
of AeronautiCS.
LEAVES FOR N. Y. TODAY
EU [ Lnited Press

E9t Lmted Press
MT. CLEMENS, Mich, Feb. 25.--
Col. Charles a. Lindbergh was eX-
pccted to leave Selfridge Field to-
day, either for Mitchell Field, N. Y,
or Washington. He was to be ac-
Companied by his host, Maj. Thomas
G. Lanphier and the four hackers
of his Paris flight, who accompanied
him here from ST. Louis earlier this
week.
Lindbergh and Major Lanphier
spent much of Friday testing a
mystery airplane which has been
stored in the majors private ga
rage. In conference with them were
Lester j. Hendershot, said to have
originated the idea of the new
motor, and D. Barr Peat, his bust
ness partner, both of Pittsburgh.
The motor was said to be revolu
tionary in character, using the elec-
tro magnetism principle. Although
details we're guarded closely, it was
understood the motor developed
1900 revolutions minute and has
a life of 1000 hours without fuel.
Major Lanphier and Lindbergh we're
reported highly optimistic of it.
Confer In New York
Lndbergh and Lanphier were 10
confer in New York with officials
of the Guggenheim Foundation for
the Promotion of Aeronautics, it was
understood, If they went to New
York. They were expected to leave
before noon.
Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh, Char
lies mother, may leave today also,
going to Boston in an army trans
port plane. Her plans were secret,
however.
The idea of motor literally with
out fuel was SO fantastic that the
area of speculation and runlors was
infinite.
Deny Repeated Motion
Perpetual motion was said not to
be involved. The magnetic of the
mystery motor was reputed to be so
designed that it used the earth's
revolutions for its charging. Pat
enCS already have been applied for
at Washington. it was understood.
None of those interested would
divulge any information regarding
the tests, motor or plans: it was
understood, however, the the mo-
tor SO far was only practicable on
airplanes.
The United Press obtained the
most authoritative description of the
mystery motor from one of the best
motor experts in America, who had
seen HenderShot's model in Pitts
burgh. He asked that his name not
be used.
TIenderShot claimed to have dis
covered a certain way to wind a
magnet. which with secret materials
he used, tapped a heretofore un-
used wave of current from the
earth, recharging itself, the expert
said.
Similar to Radio
The working of the radio tube
was the best smile of how it
worked he said. The magnetic
picked up earth currents as it ran,
much as the radio tube picks up
sound waves.
The expert said he sincerely be-
lieved that he could have quickly
discovered fraud, had there been
any connected with the motor
The question in his mind was,
whether the range of the current
discovered would be powerful
enough to run large horsepower
engine. The model shown him was
small.
For instance, he explained, an
eight horsepower motor, similar to
one used in a vacuum cleaner,
might be operated successfully, but
would the power operate fifty
horsepower engine?
If the principle is proved a sue
cess it will be the finish of gasoline
and steam engines, this expert be-