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112 1907. June 13. Thursday at [[Baddeck?]] News Baltimore 25-ah-1907 Talks of Aerial Flight Prof R. W. Wood Enlightens Hopkins Students. Dirigible Balloon Not The Answer, But Screw-Lift Machine May Be, He Says. Prof R. W. Wood talked to a group of Johns Hopkins University students this morning on some of the elemental principles of mechanical flight, telling, among other things, of the machine which he is now constructing at Sparrows Point. That dirigible balloons are unpromising and that bird-wing flight is impossible were two of his deductions. "In talking of artificial flight, I shall say nothing of the dirigible balloon," said Professor Wood. "As a matter of fact, no flying machine will be really effective until the heavier-than-air type is perfected, and recent investigators have come to realize this. I shall talk of the machine that raises itself in the air and moves forward by the propulsion of its own motor, for this is the most interesting type today. German and Wing-Flapping. "Lilienthal, a German, was the first man successful to perform artificial flight. Others did it in a fashion before him, but he was the first repeatedly to fly through the air by means of wings. These wings were affixed to a bamboo frame and the operator launched himself from the top of a hill and glided downward several hundred yards to the bottom. The wings or planes were superposed, with the operator hanging beneath them. His task was to maintain his equilibrium, and that is a very difficult feat. It requires about as much skill as riding a bicycle on a tight rope. "The Wright brothers of Dayton, Ohio, have carried on Lilienthal's experiments very successfully. They have succeeded in developing a much more stable machine than his, if we are to accept their reports. "That is the first problem to solve-that of maintaining equilibrium. The next step is to affix a motor to the machine, and that has been done by the Wrights. They have flown a distance of several miles, remaining in the air 15 or 20 minutes or a half hour. Langley's Experiments "Langley's experiments date back seven or eight years. He used steam driving motors and gasoline engines. His models, seven or eight feet long, flew a distance of several hundred yards successfully, but when he built his man-carrying machine, as we all know, it was injured in its launching from the houseboat and dropped at once to the waters of the Potomac. "There are three types of the heavier-than-man machine. One is the bird-wing class, which rises and moves through the air by the flapping of wings. This is not very promising, and few investigators with scientific training are working along that line. It is less promising than the revolving-propeller type, in spite of the fact that birds do well with the former. Birds do not use the revolving propeller, perhaps, because animals do not develop along those lines. "The second type is the aeroplane which consists of a large horizontal surface driven through the air at a high [[image]] Gazette. Schnectady 26 ah-1907 Balloon Ascension ovel Feature at Auction Sale at Greenlawn Heights Today. The auction sale of home sites at Greenlawn plat in Scotia yesterday afternoon was conducted under circumstances that proved favorable to all. Enthusiasm prevailed among those attending and a number of lots were sold. One of the purchasers declared that he would begin work on a dwelling on this plat before the middle of next month, and indications are that the number of dwelling will be in the course of erection before the present season is over. Today will be an eventful one at this plat. The free cars will leave the waiting room at 1:15 and 2 o'clock. One of the big features will be a balloon will be a balloon ascension by Prof. Bush, who is well known in this section. Free presents will be presented to all those attending the sale today. Tribune New York 25-ah-1907 Prize For Airships Rules Governing Contest for Flying Machines at Jamestown. Many entries have been made for the competition at Jamestown for flying machines of the heavier-than-air type, which will begin September 14. A special committee of the Aero Club of America, appointed for the purpose, has formulated provisional rules to govern the contests, for which "The Scientific American" has offered a trophy. This offer is to remain open to the inventors throughout the world. Should it be won by a representative of a foreign aeronautic club, this club, if it is a member of the Federation Aernautique Internationale, may become the custodian of the trophy; but the future competitions, even if held abroad, which is unlikely, must be conducted under the same rules and conditions prescribed by the Aero Club of America in the competitions held here. The rule governing the competition are as follows: This competition will be held annually. The first contest will be held at the Jamestown exposition on September 14, 1907. All entries for this contest must be made in writing and sent to the secretary of the Aero Club of America, No. 12 East 42d street, New York City, prior to September 1, 1907. All heavier-than-air machines of any type whatever (aeroplanes, helicopters, orthopters, etc.) shall be entitled to compete for the trophy; but all machines carrying a balloon or gas containing envelope for purposes of support are excluded from the competition. The machine which accomplishes the required flight in the shortest time, and with the best display of stability and ease of control, shall be declared the winner. If several machines perform equally well, the committee shall have the right to demand further flights to determine which is best. If no machine makes the required flight on the date set for the contest, the one that subsequently first accomplishes such flight shall be declared the winner, and shall not be entitled to make a further flight until the next year, under the changed conditions of the contest. The flights shall be made in calm air, if possible. If a wind of over twenty miles an hour is blowing no trial need to be made. Aeroplanes may start by running along on wheels on the ground under their own power, but no special track of launching device will be permitted. A smooth, level roadway or a reasonably smooth, turfed field will be provided from which to make the start. machines need not fly more than a few feet above the ground or higher than is necessary to avoid obstacles. They should be capable of being steered both horizontally and vertically and of alighting without being damaged. If there is a wind blowing, the flights shall be made in such direction as best suits each operator. The start preferably should be made against the wind. The committee shall make arrangements to accurately time and measure all flights. Complete specifications of the competing machines, giving weight, supporting surface, details of motors and propellers, etc., together with a description of any performance that the machine has made, shall be forwarded to the contest committee with the entry or when application is made for a trial. Any one desirous of making a flight at any subsequent time can arrange for such a test by communicating with the contest committee of the Aero Club of America, at least fourteen days in advance, and asking this committee to appoint a suitable time and place for the trial. If the committee believes the machine to be unpractical, it can require the inventor either to prove the incorrectness of such belief by an informal demonstration with the machine itself, or by demonstration in some other satisfactory way which will show that the machine is operative. The first flight shall be for a distance of one kilometre (3,280 feet) in a straight line. After every competition, the name of the winner will be inscribed upon the trophy. If it is won three times in different years by any competitor, the trophy will then become his personal property.
