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1907 May 31. Sue Mail New York 9 Mar. 1907- Naming Balloons. The Aero Club of France attempts to settle some vexed questions of nomenclature. It declares that "aeronef" describes a flying machine heavier than air; that is, an apparatus having no gas bag. "Aeronefs" are divided into several classes: "Helicoptera," machines depending on screws for flight; "aeroplanes," machines in which equilibrium depends on plane surfaces, and "orthoptera," mechanical birds and machines propelled by the flapping of wings. The expression "aviator," very often incorrectly employed, should be applied only to the pilot of an "aeronef," as "aeronaut" is applied to the pilot of a gas balloon.-Argonaut. [[?]] Post- New York. 9 Mar. 1907. Aerial Navigation Experiments in Lifting Power of Screws at John Hopkins. [Special Correspondence of the Evening Post.] Baltimore, March 8.- A series of experiments in the field of aerial navigation is being made by Dr. Robert W. Wood, professor of experimental physics at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Wood is conducting his investigation in conjunction with Otto Luyties of Baltimore, the experiments being made privately by them and not under the auspices of the university. The purpose of the work is ore to ascertain information concerning the lifting power of screw propellers than to perfect a flying machine of practical benefit, although arrangements are being made for a trial with a large model machine in which a man will make the ascent. Dr. Wood very reluctantly consented to give the following information to your correspondent concerning the experiments, no account of which has yet been published. "We intend shortly to start work on a large machine of the Helicopter type, which will not depend upon aeroplanes,but upon large propellers for its ascent and propulsion through the air. A trial has never, to my knowledge, been made with a machine of this type on so large a scale. Trials have been made abroad with models of much smaller dimensions and it has been found that the Helicopter type has very nearly the efficiency of the aeroplane and has far greater stability, since it can support itself in the air without traveling forward at the high velocity which makes landing difficult. Experiments with small models of different sizes have been in progress under my direction in my laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University to determine the lifting power of different propellers of varied types. The large model machine will be built on the platform scale with propellers of between thirty and forty feet in diameter. Motor power will be supplied by a steam engine of 100 horsepower, the weight of which will not be over 900 pounds. The trials with this machine will be made in one for the suburbs of Baltimore probably some time this spring. "To the end of determining the lifting power of screw propellers, I am certain that the experiments with the large model will give valuable data, since the preliminary trials with the small laboratory models have encouraged me in the belief that the large machine will be more than able to lift its own weight, together with that of an operator. If this proves to be the case, the machine will be equipped with a steering gear, the design of which I am already planning. "these experiments will be interesting, in that trials have never been made in this country with the Helicopter type of machine. I believe that one or two of this type, but on a much smaller scale, are now being experimented on in France." For the benefit of your correspondent, Dr. Wood made a trial with one of the laboratory models. This model consisted simply of one two-blade wooden propeller, its vertically placed axle attached by wires to a one-twelfth horsepower electric motor. When the propeller was set in motion, it lifted a total weight of 2.8 pounds. Friday, at Badd deck. [[?]] New York 9 Mar. 1907. 12 Airship at Johns Hopkins. Prof. Wood is Experimenting with he "Helicopter" Type. Special to The New York Times. Baltimore, March 8.-Prof. Robert Wood of the Physical Department of Johns Hopkins University has begun work on an airship scheme which he says promises to develop valuable information in this field of science. He is assisted by Otto Luyties, a prominent engineer. The work is being conducted in the Hopkins physical laboratory. Dr. Wood's type of machine is known as the "helicopter," distinctly different from the balloon type. It belongs properly in the class with the aeroplane. Dr. Wood, however, hopes to overcome the disadvantage met with in the aeroplane with which Langley experimented. He proposes to overcome the difficulties experienced in landing with the aeroplane. In his style of airship there is to be no stationary supporting surface such as is required in the aeroplane. With only a one-twelfth horse power motor Dr. Wood has made a model ship that will cary two and one-tenth pounds. Scientific American New York. 9 Mar. 1907. An aerial screw propeller working on a novel system has been invented by Major Hoernes, an aeronaut, says the Cologne Gazette. In his new contrivance the inventor takes advantage of the fact that the screw to be used in the air has a wholly different medium to encounter than the ship's propeller, working in water, since air is capable of compression. He has, therefore, made use of a screw which is driven in a series of imputes, and not at one continuous speed, as is usually the case. He effects this by means of a system of screws, which not only revolve round their own axes, but also rotate round a common axis, planet fashion. The screw is thus driven alternately fast and slow. N.Y. Herald Paris 10 March 1907 Old Principle in Ballooning Rediscovered Interesting Statement Made at Dinner of the Aero Club of New York. [By Commercial Cable to the Herald.} New York, Friday.- Announcement was made at the dinner of Aero Club of America a the Hotel St. Regis last night of what was hailed as the discovery of the principle of aerial locomotion, which caused a dirigible balloon to sail under perfect control at a speed of 120 miles an hour, almost half a century ago in Perth Amoby, N.J. Mr. Edgar B. Bronson told the remarkable life story of Dr. Solomon Andrews and produced faded documents to substantiate the account of his final experiment, September 4, 1863, when, after years of labor, Dr. Andrews tried out what he called his "aereon." According to a report of the affair published in the New York Herald on September 8, 1863, the airship, with a rudder lashed to it, was turned loose by Dr. Andrews and executed circles of a mile and a half in circumference at high speed and finally disappeared. Its form was that of three cigars pointed at both ends, secured together at their longitudinal equators, covered by a net supporting by 120 cords a car, 16fr. below and under its centre. Compressed air was the power used, but the method is kept secret by Mr. Bronson. Mr. Cortlandt Field Bishop, president of the Aero Club, presided at the dinner. In front of him on the table were the International Challenge and the Lahm aeronautical cups, Mr. Bishop predicted that the contest next October for the International Cup will be the greatest aeronautical event ever known. He read a letter from the Wright brothers, of Dayton, in which the aeronauts said they expected to fly again this year. Other speakers were Messrs. Harry St. George Tucker, president of the Jamestown Exposition Company: James E. Smith, president of the Business
