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nected. Curtiss made a new 4-cylinder, 30 h.p., water-cooled engine for this ship which drove a 12 foot tractor (in front) propeller at 450 rpm. The mechanic rode well forward near the engine, and the pilot at rear.

One clause in the contract had bothered Baldwin. It called for a type of gastight balloon fabric that would have to be imported, so he proceeded to develop a material of his own to meet the requirements. It consisted of two layers of silk cloth, cemented together by a rubber preparation, which he called "Rubberized Silk." It worked out satisfactorily, and he continued to advertise and sell this material for balloons and airplane covering for a number of years.

The Army airship was built at Hammondsport and following several trial-ascents, the official tests were begun at Fort Myer, Virginia, on August 4, 1908, with Baldwin at the controls and Curtiss as engineer. Tests were completed August 15th, and the craft was formally accepted on the 22nd. 

When the Herring-Curtiss Company was formed at Hammondsport early in 1909 Baldwin became one of the directors, but also continued his private airship operations. He had a ship at the St. Louis Centennial Celebration in October, and there Curtiss made brief airplane flights. Baldwin next exhibited at Hawthorne Race Track, Chicago, Illinois, and Curtiss also had his airplane there. 

By this time, Baldwin was becoming interested in the airplane as a better attraction to replace the airship, so over the winter of 1909-1910 he built his first plane at Hammondsport, assisted by Curtiss workmen. It was a 31-foot-span, headless (no front elevator), tractor biplane with a large biplane tail on outriggers. Power was provided by a 4-cylinder, 25 h.p., Curtiss engine placed ahead of the pilot's seat driving the propeller which was mounted above by chain and sprockets. It had a two-wheel landing gear and a skid under the tail surfaces, Curtiss reportedly made some brief flights with this machine and lent assistance to Baldwin in getting started. Later the plane was changed; a pusher propeller and front elevator were added. Baldwin had this revamped plane and