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SANTA ROSA'S BIRD-MEN SUCCESSFULLY TOUR THE SKY IN THEIR OWN AEROPLANE Triumph of Flight Crowns Many Months of Labor, Experiment and Study by Wiseman and Peters THEY'LL FLY AGAIN in CARNIVAL WEEK Shown to the Crowds that Come to Santa Rosa in the First Week of May ___ Following successful minor tests the Wisemann-Peters bi-plane might be in the big pasture field at the Laughlin ranch at Mark West, several miles from this city, where it has been assembled since the middle of March. Not only was the bi-plane built in Sonoma county, but the genius of Santa Rosa boys has achieved a triumph. They have a machine that "won't stay on the ground," and in the air is perfectly under control of the aviator. As stated Friday night was really the first big test, the others having been principally to tension the mechanism. Twice on Friday night aviators Wiseman and Peters circled the big field, soaring to a height of fifty feet, not attempting to fly high, however. This is but a foretaste of what may be expected. People in the neighborhood saw something Friday night they had never seen before, and are loud in their praise of the achievement of the energetic young men who have done so nobly. [[subheading]]Will Fly at Carnival Time[[/subheading]] Thousands of people will be delighted and interested to know that the Wiseman-Peters bi-plane will fly here at Rose Carnival time, and will be a special feature of entertainment for Sunday afternoon, May 8, the day following the fiesta. In the mean time other tests will be made, and it is especially requested that people refrain from going to the Laughlin ranch to see the machine as in doing so they will only be hindering the finishing touches. Naturally everybody is excited and interested but the aviators and designers say they cannot explain things to the people just now as they have no time. People will have plenty of opportunity to inspect the machine as it will be on public exhibition here during carnival week and all parts will be then explained. [[subheading]Worked Industriously [[/subheading]] It was on October 17, 1909, that Wiseman and Peters got their heads together and commenced the actual construction of the bi-plane, which is now an assured fact, and is claimed by experts to be possibly the most perfect on in existence. At the time both were employed in the automobile business of J. W. Leavitt & Co., of San Francisco, both fearless as auto racers, and both well skilled in mechanical art. From October until January 1, of the present year they worked with automobiles during the day and spent their nights evolving their ideas in connection with the bi-plane and in the manufacture of parts. In January they severed their connection with the automobile business to devote their entire attention to the construction of their airship. They took in the aviation meets in San Francisco and Los Angeles, examined carefully and intelligently the mechanism of the machines used there, [[?]] a comparison of notes deter-[[?]] bi-plane which [[new column]] different patterns on them and own them all, and have applied for patents. The sockets are made of Macadamite, which is stronger and lighter and looks like aluminum. [[subheading]] The Wood Work [[/subheading]] The woodwork is all laminated, two, three and four piece, and is cut tapered to the wind. The ribs of the bi-plane are three lamination, making the ribs about a quarter of an inch thick and half an inch wide. Yet one of these ribs is so strong that a big man can stand on it, and it will not bend. The cloth is the best that can be procured anywhere in the world, and is manufactured specially for the purpose for which it is used. [[subheading]]The Wiring System [[/subheading]] Three different styles of wiring have been employed in the construction of the bi-plane, similar to the network of wires one finds in a piano. In the network of wires in the airship, there are 585 wires. The turnbuckles of different sizes, are made of macadamite. The smallest turn buckle will stand a test of 1,150 pounds pressure; the middle one will not yield at a pressure of 1,940 pounds, and the largest one will not break at 4,000 pounds pressure. Before they got the kind of turn buckle they wanted for their machine Wiseman and Peters made hundreds of them and threw them away. The wheels are manufactured after the most approved style of workmanship for the purpose for which they are intended. In the rear of the bi-plane a light skid is used. The skid is of hickory which on the rear kite acts as wheels. The plane in front works alternately with the plane in the rear kite. In case the driver wishes to rise he raises the plane in front and that drops the one in the rear and the machine ascends. In balancing on a curve or turn or in a current of air he manipulates the controls with his shoulders. The seat is situated in front of the engine. There is an attachment in reach of the foot of the aviator by which he can control the height, area of flight and speed. The total weight of the Wiseman-Peters bi-plane is 670 pounds. Five gallons of gasoline and three gallons of oil are sufficient for a twenty-mile flight. [[subheading]]All California Material [[/subheading]] In the construction of the Wiseman-Peters bi-plane all the material used is California product with the exception of the cloth and propeller. The cloth and propeller were secured in a foreign country. In the selection of the wood used over thirty thousand feet of lumber was gone over and the selection made. Fred Wiseman has had entire charge of the construction work. In conjunction with Mr. Peters, and will the assistance of Don Prentiss they have carried out their design to a triumphant finish and Santa Rosa can well be proud of the fact that a Santa Rosa boy has figured so prominently in the invention. Ben Noonan is the general manager and treasurer of the company; Wiseman and Peters are aviators, and Don Prentiss is the secretary of the concern. All are deserving of the warmest congratulations. Wiseman and Peters are in San Francisco now selecting lumber for the construction of another bi-plane for use in case of accident. [[end of clipping]] AVIATION ME[[clipped word?]] Auto Racers Figure in the Day's Events ___ In addition to the flight by Fred Wiseman and M. Peters in their own bi-plane on Sunday afternoon at the race track, there will be a great program of entertainment. Fred Wiseman, in autmobile circles, is very popular, and in consequence all the racing automobile men here participating in the races as well as the motor cycle men are going to remain over and will provide many interesting features in the way of races. Even in the great aviation meets delays have occurred and people have often been disappointed. In order to provide against any disappointment, a fine program has been arranged. Here is the card: First and foremost the aviation flight by Fred Wiseman and M. Peters in their own bi-plane: A Gym Kanna for the purpose of testing the ability of the individual drivers. In this event the drivers of cars are compelled to work their way between rows of barrels set at certain distances and width. Different conditions are made for cars of 104-inch wheel base and under and those of 104-inch and over; A tire-changing stunt in front of the grand stand. Contest between the detachable and Continental quick detachable tire on two machines. In addition plans are being made for a race between Charles Collins and his Indian motor cycle and Frank Murray in his Buick. This would a spectacular feature. Another event being considered is a 3-mile free-for-all. The Maxwell and Buick defeated each other yesterday, while Freed with his Winton 6, declares he can win from either, and De Jongh with his Ford is not afraid of any of them. So it is probable there will be hot race _______ NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS [[end of clipping]] Sunday Morning....May 8, 1910 _______ BI-PLANE RIDING AMONG THE BIRDS ____ How It Feels to Get Off the Earth, With Only Empty Air or a Cloud Within Reach ___ (By Tom Gregory) "Now hold your nerve,--guess you have enough for this, only keep it," said Aviator Fred Wiseman as he began to "crank-up" for our jump towards the clouds. I had never been off the earth, but wanted to be,--especially since April 18, 1906. It seems so easy to spread wings, flap, flap a little and up in the void. And it seems so safe, too. Most any kind of a bird can fly. I have seen a buzzard go to sleep with wings spread and not even a wisp of fog to hold him up. I had assured Wiseman that there was no limit to my nerve, but when I saw him monkeying around the engine of his bi-plane, and I looked aloft and saw the emptiness of things up there, I begin to get skreeky. An aeroplane, bi-plane, fly-plane, or whatever class of plane you may choose to call it, is not as safe as a fiat-car; nor does it possess the longevity of an ox-wagon. There is a delicacy about its make-up. You are trusting your previous self to a couple of wings of India grass cloth, 32 feet long and 5 feet wide, hung on piano wire. It is true the cloth and wire are the lightest and strongest that can be procured, but they didn't appear quite strong enough for this sky-stunt. While Fred was going over things in the matter-of-fact way of all machine-people, I was going over it in the way of a person who would like to be somewhere else. Besides the two great planes which cut into the atmosphere at an upward angle calculated to overcome the downward pull of the earth--you know the old globe hates to let us go--there are stuck far out ahead smaller planes of the India grass, called elevating planes. Back in the rear are the steering or vertical planes, and attached to these is another horizontal plane which also assists in the elevation of the airship. On the great side-planes are smaller planes called "balancing tips," and I assure you they are the only things that may be said to stand between the flyer and his own funeral. In fact, during about every second he is a-wing, his vehicle is trying its level best--or unlevel best--to capsize. The space is full of probably millions of air impulses or currents, plunging and twisting in all directions, and the fly-man doesn't find them till he is right among them and he feels himself tilt-[[end of clipping]] [[newspaper clipping]] ARCHIE PRENTISS TAKES FLIGHT WITH WISEMAN The Wiseman-Peters aeroplane II made seven successful flights at Kenworth Park on Sunday, there being a large crowd of spectators present, although the tests had not been made public, says the Argus. The flights were without doubt the best ever made by the machine. At one time Wiseman attained a height of over 100 feet and made several successful turns and showed perfect control. On this occasion the machine for the first time carried a passenger in addition to the aviator. Wiseman had as his passenger Master Archie Prentiss of Santa Rosa, and the youngster can proudly boast of being the youngest Californian who ever made a flight in an airship. The young man was not at all frightened, but seemed to enjoy his experience greatly. The big ship did great work on Sunday and demonstrated the fact that it is about perfect, and that great things may be expected of it when the aviators are ready to do things. All who saw it work on Sunday were delighted and are very enthusiastic over its performances. H.A. Howard of Denver, and an aviator or considerable fame, accompanied by C.J. Sadler of the Overland hotel, Reno, were visitors in Petaluma with the view of inspecting the Wiseman-Peters aeroplane, and making terms with them to visit Reno for an aviation meet which it is proposed to hold in that city. They expressed themselves as greatly pleased with the machine and Wiseman's flight made during a high wind. [/newspaper clipping]]
