,the ,curtiss ,aviation ,book ,transcriber's ,note ,this book was transcribed from scans of the original found at the ,internet ,archive4 ,i have rotated some images4 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,the ,pictorial ,news ,co4 ,,curtiss' ,,hudson ,,river ,,flight ,,over ,,the ,,statue ,,of ,,liberty ,,the ,,curtiss ,,aviation ,,book ,,by ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss ,,and ,,augustus ,,post ,,with ,,chapters ,,by ,,captain ,,paul ,w4 ,,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,,lieutenant ,,theodore ,g4 ,,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n4 ,,and ,,hugh ,,robinson ,with ,numerous ,illustrations from ,photographs ,,new ,,york ,,frederick ,a4 ,,stokes ,,company ,,publishers ,copyright1 #aiab1 by ,,frederick ,a4 ,,stokes ,,company ,all rights reserved1 including that of translation into foreign languages1 including the ,scandinavian ,october1 #aiab ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,mabel ,g4 ,,bell ,,who ,,made ,,possible ,,the ,,aerial ,,experiment ,,association ,,this ,,book ,,is ,,dedicated ,,by ,,the ,,authors ,table of ,contents - ,,part ,i ,,boyhood ,,and ,,early ,,experiments ,,of ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss by ,augustus ,post - ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,coming ,,airmen ,,an ,,introductory ,,chapter - ,,chapter ,,ii ,,boyhood ,,days - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,building ,,motors ,,and ,,motorcycle ,,racing - ,,chapter ,,iv ,,baldwin',s ,,balloon - ,,part ,,ii ,,my ,,first ,,flights by ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss - ,,chapter ,i ,,beginning ,,to ,,fly - ,,chapter ,,ii ,,first ,,flights - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,june ,,bug ,,first ,,flights ,,for ,,the ,,scientific ,,american ,,trophy ,,and ,,first ,,experiments ,,with ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane - ,,chapter ,,iv ,,first ,,flights ,,in ,,new ,,york ,,city - ,,part ,,iii ,,my ,,chief ,,flights ,,and ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,to-,,day by ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss - ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,rheims ,,meet ,,first ,,international ,,aeroplane ,,contest - ,,chapter ,,ii ,,hudson-,,fulton ,,celebration ,,first ,,american ,,international ,,meet1 ,,at ,,los ,,angeles - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,flight ,,down ,,the ,,hudson ,,river ,,from ,,albany ,,to ,,new ,,york ,,city - ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane - ,,chapter ,v ,,developing ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane ,,at ,,san ,,diego-,,the ,,hydro ,,of ,,the ,,summer ,,of #aiab - ,,part ,,iv ,,the ,,real ,,future ,,of ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,by ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss ,,with ,,chapters ,,by ,,captain ,,paul ,w4 ,,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 ,,lieutenant ,,theodore ,g4 ,,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n41 ,,and ,,augustus ,,post - ,,chapter ,i ,,aeroplane ,,speed ,,of ,,the ,,future - ,,chapter ,,ii ,,future ,,surprises ,,of ,,the ,,aeroplane-,,hunting1 ,,travel1 ,,mail1 ,,wireless1 ,,life-,,saving1 ,,and ,,other ,,special ,,uses - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,future ,,of ,,the ,,hydro - ,,chapter ,,iv ,,future ,,problems ,,of ,,aviation - ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,as ,,applied ,,to ,,the ,,army 7,by ,captain ,paul ,w4 ,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a47 - ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,for ,,the ,,navy 7,with an ,account of the ,training ,camp at ,san ,diego4 ,by ,lieutenant ,theodore ,g4 ,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n47 - ,,chapter ,,vii ,,gliding ,,and ,,cycle-,,sailing ,a ,,future ,,sport ,,for ,,boys1 ,,the ,,airmen ,,of ,,to-,,morrow 7,by ,augustus ,post47 - ,,part ,v ,,every-,,day ,,flying ,,for ,,professional ,,and ,,amateur ,,by ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss ,,with ,,chapters ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,,and ,,hugh ,,robinson - ,,chapter ,i ,,teaching ,,aviators ,,how ,,an ,,aviator ,,flies - ,,chapter ,,ii ,,aviation ,,for ,,amateurs - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,how ,,it ,,feels ,,to ,,fly 7,by ,augustus ,post47 - ,,chapter ,,iv ,,operating ,a ,,hydroaeroplane 7,by ,hugh ,robinson47 - ,,part ,,vi ,,the ,,curtiss ,,pupils ,,and ,a ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,curtiss ,,aeroplane ,,and ,,motor ,,by ,,augustus ,,post - ,,chapter ,i ,,pupils - ,,chapter ,,ii ,a ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,curtiss ,,biplane - ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,curtiss ,,motor ,,and ,,factory ,,illustrations - ,,curtiss' ,,hudson ,,river ,,flight-,,over ,,the ,,statue ,,of ,,liberty - ,,curtiss ,,the ,,boy ,,and ,,curtiss ,,the ,,man - ,,curtiss ,,winning ,,world',s ,,motorcycle ,,records - ,,the ,,baldwin ,,army ,,dirigible1 ,,with ,,early ,,curtiss ,,motor - ,,wind ,,wagon ,,and ,,ice ,,boat ,,with ,,aerial ,,propeller - ,,the ,,aerial ,,experiment ,,association - ,,starting ,,to ,,fly ,,first ,,public ,,flight ,,in ,,america2 ,,the ,,june ,,bug1 ,,june1 #aijh2 ,,baldwin ,,in ,,glider - ,,the ,,first ,,machines ,,the ,,white ,,wing ,,and ,,red ,,wing - ,,curtiss' ,,first ,,flight ,,for ,,the ,,scientific ,,american ,,trophy - ,,winning ,,the ,,gordon ,,bennett ,,contest ,,in ,,france - ,,president ,,taft ,,watching ,,curtiss ,,fly1 ,,harvard ,,meet1 #aiaj - ,,the ,,albany-,,new ,,york ,,flight-,,start2 ,,over ,,west ,,point - ,,the ,,hudson ,,flight-,,over ,,storm ,,king - ,,the ,,hudson ,,flight-,,stop ,,at ,,poughkeepsie2 ,,finish1 ,,at ,,governor',s ,,island - ,,the ,,evolution ,,of ,,the ,,hydro2-,,the ,,first ,,hydro ,,in ,,the ,,world2 ,,dual ,,control ,,hydro ,,of #aiaa2 ,,landing ,,in ,,hydro ,,at ,,cedar ,,point1 ,,ohio - ,,ely ,,landing ,,on ,,the ,u4 ,s4 ,s4 ,,pennsylvania - ,,curtiss ,,and ,,hydro ,,hoisted ,,on ,u4 ,s4 ,s4 ,,pennsylvania2 - ,,ely ,,leaving ,,pennsylvania - ,,diagram ,,of ,,curtiss ,,flying ,,boat ,,of #aiab - ,,the ,,evolution ,,of ,,the ,,hydro-,,the ,,flying ,,boat ,,of ,,summer #aiab2 ,,the #aiaa ,,hydro - ,,hydro ,,flights-,,curtiss ,,over ,,lake ,,erie2 ,,witmer ,,riding ,,the ,,ground ,,swells - ,,captain ,,beck ,,and ,,postmaster-,,general ,,hitchcock ,,carrying ,,the ,,mail - ,,students ,,of ,,aerial ,,warfare-,,beck1 ,,towers1 ,,ellyson1 ,,mcclaskey2 ,,with ,,curtiss ,,and ,,st4 ,,henry - ,,ellyson ,,launches ,,hydro ,,from ,,wire ,,cable - ,,hugh ,,robinson',s ,,flight ,,down ,,the ,,mississippi - ,,augustus ,,post ,,flying2 ,,aeroplane ,,shipment - ,,curtiss ,,pupils-,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,,mccurdy ,,racing ,,an ,,automobile2 - ,,lieutenant ,,ellyson2 ,,mr4 ,,and ,,mrs4 ,w4 ,b4 ,,atwater - ,,curtiss ,,pupils-,c4 ,c4 ,,witmer1 ,,beckwith ,,havens1 ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,,mccurdy1 ,,cromwell ,,dixon1 ,,chas4 ,k4 ,,hamilton1 ,,chas4 ,f4 ,,walsh1 ,,chas4 ,f4 ,,willard - ,,lincoln ,,beachey ,,flying ,,in ,,gorge ,,at ,,niagara - ,,diagram ,,of ,,curtiss ,,aeroplane1 ,,showing ,,parts - ,,diagram ,,of ,,curtiss ,,motor1 ,,showing ,,parts - ,,curtiss ,,motors1 ,,old ,,and ,,new - ,,at ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,factory1 ,,hammondsport ,,part ,i ,,boyhood ,,and ,,early ,,experiments ,,of ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss by ,augustus ,post ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,coming ,,airmen ,,an ,,introductory ,,chapter ,the time has come when the world is going to need a new type of men-almost a new race4 ,these are the ,flying ,men4 ,the great dream of centuries has come true1 and man now has the key to the sky4 ,every great invention which affects the habits and customs of a people brings about changes in the people themselves4 ,how great1 then1 must be the changes to be brought about by the flying machine1 and how strangely new the type of man that it carries up into a new world1 under absolutely new conditions6 ,each year there will be more need of flying men2 so that in telling this story of a pioneer ,american aviator1 his struggles1 failures1 and successes1 it has been the desire to keep in mind not only the scientific elders who are interested in angles of incidence1 automatic stability and the like1 but also the boys and girls-the air pilots of the future4 ,it is hoped that there will be in these introductory chapters-for whose writing1 be it understood1 ,mr4 ,curtiss is not responsible a plain unvarnished story of an ,american boy who worked his way upward from the making of bicycles to the making of history1 an inspiration for future flights1 whether in imagination or aeroplanes1 and that even the youngest reader will gain courage to meet the obstacles and to overcome the difficulties which ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss met and overcame in his progress to fame4 ,here is a man who is a speed marvel who has beat the world at it4 ,first on land1 riding a motorcycle1 next in a flying machine1 and finally in a machine that was both water and air craft1 which sped over the surface of the sea faster than man had ever travelled on that element1 and which rose into the air and came back to land with the speed of the fastest express train2 a man who traveled at the rate of one hundred and thirty-seven miles an hour on land1 fifty-eight miles an hour on the water and who won the first ,international speed championship in the air4 ,more than that1 they may see what sort of a boy came to be the speed champion and to know some of the traits that go to make the successful airman1 for it is said of the great aviators1 as of the great poets1 they are born flying men1 and not developed4 ,the successful flying man and maker of flying machines1 such as ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss has shown himself to be1 realises how dangerous is failure1 and builds slowly4 ,he builds1 too1 on his experience gained from day to day2 having infinite patience and dogged perseverance4 ,and yet a great aviator must be possessed of such marvelous quickness of thought that he can think faster than the forces of nature can act1 and he must act as fast as he thinks4 ,he must be so completely in harmony with ,nature and her moods that he can tell just when is the right time to attempt a dangerous experiment1 and so thoroughly in control of himself that he can refuse to make the experiment when he knows it should not be made1 even though urged by all those around him to go ahead4 ,he must feel that nothing is impossible1 and yet he must not attempt anything until he is sure that he is ready and every element of danger has been eliminated1 so far as lies in human power4 ,he must realise that he cannot change the forces of nature1 but that he can make them do his work when he understands them4 ,some of these qualities must be inbred in the man1 but the life-story of ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss shows how far energy1 courage1 and tireless perseverance will go toward bringing them out4 ,it is from among the country boys that the best aviators will be found to meet the demands of the coming ,flying ,age4 ,they have been getting ready for it for a long time long before the days of ,darius ,green4 ,does any one now read ,phaeton ,rogers1 that story of the inventive boy back in the eighties1 and recall the wind-wagon which was one of his many inventions8 ,there were many like him then1 and there are more like him now2 always tinkering at something1 trying to make it go1 and go fast4 ,and there are many of these who are building up1 perhaps without knowing it1 the strong body1 the steady brain1 courage1 perseverance1 and the power of quick decision the character of the successful airmen of the future4 ,the history of aviation is very brief1 expressed in years4 ,in effort it covers centuries4 ,first come the inventors1 a calm1 cautious type of men1 holding their ideas so well in trust that they will not risk their lives for mere display and the applause of the crowd4 ,then the exploiters1 eager for money and fame2 men who develop the possibilities of the machines1 always asking more and getting more in the way of achievement with each new model built4 ,though covering a period of less than a half score of years1 aviation already has its second generation of flyers1 pupils trained by the pioneers1 young and ambitious1 eager to explore the new element that has been made possible by their mentors4 ,from the country districts1 where the blood is red1 the brain steady and the heart strong1 will come many an explorer of the regions of the air4 ,just as the city boy in developing the wireless telegraph strings his antennae on the housetops and the roofs of the giant skyscrapers1 so will the country boy develop his glider or his aeroplane in the pasture lands and on the steep hillsides of his own particular territory1 and we shall have a race of flying men to carry on the development of the flying machine until it shall reach that long dreamed-of and sought-for perfection4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,boyhood ,,days ,glenn ,hammond ,curtiss was born at ,hammondsport1 ,new ,york1 ,may #ba1 #ahgh4 ,his middle name shows his connection with the pioneer family for which the town is named4 ,then ,hammondsport was a port for canal boats that came up ,lake ,keuka2 nowadays it is an airport for the craft of the sky4 ,it is a quaint little town1 lying on the shores of a beautiful lake that stretches away to ,penn ,yann1 twenty miles to the north4 ,glenn's old home was called ,castle ,hill4 ,it was nearly surrounded by vineyards and fruit trees4 ,it was once the property of ,judge ,hammond1 who built the first house in ,hammondsport4 ,on this site now stands the ,curtiss factories4 ,all about ,hammondsport are the great vineyards that have made the town famous for its wine1 for ,hammondsport is in the very heart of the grape-growing section of ,new ,york ,state4 ,these vineyards give the boys of ,hammondsport a fine opportunity to earn money each year1 and ,glenn was always among those who spent the vacation time in tying up grape vines1 and in gathering the fruit on ,saturdays and at other odd times4 ,some of the neighbours' children picked wintergreen and flowers1 and sold them to the summer excursionists4 ,one time ,glenn was invited to go with them4 ,he sold six bunches for sixty cents4 ,his mother applied the amount toward a pair of shoes in order to teach him the use and value of money4 ,he was then three years old and wore a fresh white dress and a blue sash4 ,glenn was afterwards taught how to prune and tie vines and gather fruit and at harvest time he was often seen with pony and wagon making a fast run to the station to get the last load of grapes on the train4 ,with the care of his sister and the work on the home vineyard1 life was not all play1 for ,glenn was ,the ,man of the ,house1 after his father's death1 which occurred when he was four years old4 ,at this time1 he went with his mother and sister1 to live with his grandmother who lived on the outskirts of the village4 ,hammondsport is divided by the main street1 and the boys of the two sections1 like the boys in cities1 were always at war4 ,the factional lines were tightly drawn and many were the combats between the up-town boys and the low-town boys4 ,the hill boys had a den in the side of a bank that sloped down from ,grandma ,curtiss' yard1 walled in with stones of a convenient size4 ,this gave them good ammunition and a great advantage in time of battle4 ,among the members of the up-town gang were1 ,fatty ,hastings and ,short ,wheeler1 ,jess ,talmadge and ,cowboy ,wixom and ,curtley1 as the boys called ,curtiss4 ,he was captain of the band1 because he had a sort of ownership of the den4 ,thus the war waged until one day they punctured ,craton ,wheeler's dog ,pickles1 which so infuriated the enemy of the lower village that they were on the point of storming the fort in the hillside from above1 and would no doubt have done so had they not chanced to trample upon ,grandma ,curtiss' flower beds which caused this indignant lady to issue forth and put the entire gang to rout4 ,the cave continued to be a safe refuge for the hillside gang until ,fatty ,hastings grew too big to squeeze through the entrance and sometimes got stuck just as the gang was ready to sally forth against the enemy1 or blocked the whole crew when they were in retreat4 ,during the winter months ,glenn gave his hand to making skate-sails1 and became very proficient at it1 and when summer came and the boys went on bird-nesting excursions in the woods1 he was usually the daring one who allowed himself to be lowered by a rope over the cliff's edge or climbed to the topmost limbs of the big hickory trees4 ,at school1 mathematics was young ,curtiss's strong point1 and when finally he came to pass his final examinations in the high school1 he topped his class in that study with a perfect score of one hundred1 and in ,algebra he stood ninety-nine4 ,it is reassuring1 however1 to find that in spelling he was barely able to squeeze through with a percentage of seventy-five4 ,glenn sometimes slipped up on the figuring1 but the principle was usually right2 he had figured that out beforehand4 ,the boys of ,hammondsport used to say that ,glenn would think half an hour to do fifteen minutes' work4 ,one wonders what they would have said1 if they had been told that in after years he was to think and plan and scheme for a year1 and then when he was all ready1 to wait hour after hour1 day after day1 to accomplish something requiring a little more than two hours' time2 like his flight from ,albany to ,new ,york1 the first great cross-country flight made in ,america4 ,when ,curtiss was twelve years old his family went to live in ,rochester1 ,new ,york1 so that his sister might be able to attend a school for the deaf at that place4 ,he went on working at ,rochester after school hours and during vacation time1 first as a telegraph messenger1 then in the great ,eastman ,kodak works1 assembling cameras4 ,he was one of the very first boys hired by that establishment to replace men at certain kinds of work1 and while the men had received twelve dollars a week1 ,glenn received but four dollars4 ,before long1 however1 he had induced his employers to make his work a piece-work job1 and had improved the process of manufacture and increased the production from two hundred and fifty to twenty-five hundred a day4 ,he was thus able to earn from twelve to fifteen dollars a week4 ,it was while employed in the camera works at ,rochester that ,curtiss saved the life of a companion who had fallen through the ice on the ,erie canal4 ,when praised for his act of bravery he simply remarked3 ,i pulled him out because ,i was the nearest to him4 ,all during the time that ,curtiss was working for others for wages1 he continued to tinker making things and then taking them apart4 ,once he told some of his companions that he could make1 out of a cigar box1 a camera that would take a good picture4 ,of course they laughed at him and bet that he couldn't do it4 ,but ,glenn did do it1 and a picture of his sister with a book was produced and is still unfaded1 and in good condition1 in possession of his family4 ,he constructed a complete telegraph instrument out of spools1 nails1 tin1 and wire and this so impressed the lady with whom the ,curtisses boarded that she remarked to one of her friends that ,glenn ,curtiss will make his mark in the world some day2 you mark my words4 ,this particular lady tells of the time that ,glenn used to talk of airships1 and he was not yet sixteen years old4 ,curtiss was fond of all sorts of sports1 taking part in the games the boys would get up after school and on ,saturdays4 ,he liked to play ball1 to run1 jump1 swim1 and to ride a bicycle4 ,his time was too much taken up1 however1 with more productive efforts1 such as the wiring of dwellings for electric light or telephones1 to permit of much time being given to boyish sports4 ,he was most original and had a keen sense of humour4 ,he was fond of an argument1 and had one striking characteristic2 once he had made up his mind as to the why and wherefore of a thing1 he could never be induced to change it4 ,to illustrate this trait2 one day an argument arose between ,glenn and another boy as to whether or not a whale is a fish1 ,glenn holding that it could be nothing but a fish4 ,the other boy finally reenforced his argument by producing a dictionary to show that a whale is not a fish1 whereupon ,curtiss asserted that the dictionary was wrong and refused to accept it as authority4 ,curtiss was always eager for speed-to get from one place to another in the quickest time with the least amount of effort4 ,he was obsessed with the idea of travelling fast4 ,one of the first things he remembers1 says ,curtiss1 was seeing a sled made by one of his father's workmen for his son beat every other sled that dashed down the steep snow-clad hills around ,hammondsport4 ,he begged his father to let ,gene make him a sled that would go faster than ,linn's4 ,gene made the sled and ,glenn painted it red1 with a picture of a horse on it4 ,furthermore1 he beat every sled in ,hammondsport or thereabouts4 ,the bicycle became all the rage when ,curtiss was growing into his early teens and nothing was more certain than that he should have one as soon as he could earn enough money to buy it4 ,and when he got it he made it serve his purposes in delivering telegrams1 newspapers1 and such like4 ,he developed speed and staying powers as a rider1 and soon thought nothing of making the trip from ,rochester to ,hammondsport to see his grandmother1 who still lived in the old home in that village4 ,the roads of ,new ,york were not as good as they are nowadays1 when the automobile forces improvements of the highways1 but ,curtiss rode fast nevertheless4 ,in fact1 he managed all his regular work this way4 ,his idea was first1 to find out just how to do it1 and then do it4 ,then he would find out how fast a certain task could be performed1 and get through with it at top speed4 ,the surplus time he devoted to tinkering with something new4 ,grandmother ,curtiss finally prevailed upon him to go back to ,hammondsport and live with her4 ,for a time after his return he assisted a local photographer and his experience in photography gained at this time has since proved of great value to him1 and1 incidentally1 to the history of aviation2 for in photographing his experiments ,curtiss' pictures have a distinct value1 as much for being taken just at the right instant1 as for their pictorial detail4 ,following his photographic employment1 ,curtiss took charge of a bicycle repair shop4 ,it was a little shop down by the principal hotel in ,hammondsport1 but ,curtiss foresaw the popularity and later the cheapness of the bicycle1 and he believed the shop would do a good business4 ,james ,smellie owned the shop1 but ,curtiss' mechanical skill soon asserted itself and he became the practical boss4 ,this was in #ahig4 ,george ,lyon1 a local jeweler1 was a competitor of ,smellie's in the bicycle business1 and got up a big race around the valley1 a distance of five miles over the rough country roads4 ,when ,smellie heard of the race he made up his mind that ,curtiss could win it and went about arranging the equipment of his employee4 ,that race has passed into the real history of the town of ,hammondsport4 ,everybody in the town and the valley was there1 and great was the excitement when the riders lined up for the start4 ,they started from a point near the monument in front of the ,episcopal church and within a few moments after the crack of the pistol they were all out of sight1 swallowed up in the dust clouds that marked their progress up the valley4 ,after a long interval of suspense a solitary rider appeared on the home stretch1 hunched down over his handle-bars and riding for dear life1 without a glance to right or left4 ,it was ,curtiss1 who probably has never since felt the same thrill of pride at the shouts of the crowd4 ,the next man was fully half a mile in the rear when ,glenn crossed the finish-line4 ,this was ,curtiss' first bicycle race1 but later he acquired greater speed and experience and rode in many races at county fairs in the southern part of ,new ,york ,state4 ,what's more1 he won all of his races4 ,this was good for his bicycle business1 which thrived in the summer1 but languished in the winter4 ,during the dull period ,curtiss took up electrical work1 wiring houses1 putting in electric bells1 and doing similar work of a mechanical nature4 ,an incident is told of his mechanical skill at this time that illustrates his inquisitive mind4 ,an acetylene gas generator in one of the stores got out of order one day1 and no one in the store could tell just how to repair it4 ,curtiss had never seen a gas generator1 but that did not deter him from going at it4 ,he studied it out in a little while and then put his finger on the trouble4 ,after that the generator worked better than ever4 ,a little later he decided to build a gas generator after his own ideas4 ,he started with two tomato cans and built it4 ,this was the first appearance of ,curtiss' two tomato cans4 ,they played an important part in his subsequent experimental work1 figuring all the way through from this first gas generator to the carburetor of a motorcycle1 and at last to enlarge the water capacity of ,charles ,k4 ,hamilton's engine on his aeroplane so that he might cool his engine better in making the record flight from ,new ,york to ,philadelphia and return in the same day4 ,in this first case the two tomato cans developed into an acetylene gas plant with several improvements1 and his own home and shop were lighted by it4 ,later the plant was enlarged so as to furnish light for several business houses of ,hammondsport4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,building ,,motors ,,and ,,motorcycle ,,racing ,in the spring of #aijj ,curtiss embarked in the bicycle business for himself1 opening a shop near his old place of employment4 ,this shop soon came to be known as the industrial incubator1 because experiments of many kinds were tried there a hatching-place for all sorts of new machines4 ,the first one developed was destined to open up to ,curtiss a new field of action1 one that furnished the opportunity for new speed records1 and enlarged the scope of his activities beyond the limits of the little town and the valley1 and spread before him possibilities as wide as the boundaries of the continent4 ,curtiss had ridden a bicycle in races1 and got the utmost speed out of it2 but the bicycle1 as a man-propelled vehicle1 did not travel fast enough to suit him4 ,he therefore set about devising means for increasing its speed possibilities4 ,one day ,smellie1 his old employer1 came into ,curtiss' shop1 tired out and perspiring from his efforts in pedaling his bicycle up the hill4 ,glenn1 he said1 ,i'm going to give the blamed thing up until they get something to push it4 ,that was ,curtiss' cue1 and it promptly became his problem-getting something to push it6 ,he determined to mount a gasoline engine on a bicycle1 and at once began to search for the necessary castings4 ,finally he secured them and began the task of building a motor4 ,unfortunately1 the man who sold him the castings sent no instructions for building a motor1 so the problem was left to ,curtiss and to those who interested themselves in his work4 ,they studied and planned and made experiments1 learning something new about motors all the while4 ,eventually1 with the assistance of local mechanics1 the castings were machined and the motor assembled4 ,curtiss afterward described it as a remarkable contrivance2 but it did the work4 ,this motor had a two-inch bore and a two-an-a-half-inch stroke1 and drove the bicycle wheel by a friction roller pulley4 ,first1 ,curtiss made the pulley of wood1 then of leather1 and finally of rubber4 ,it was tried first on the front wheel and then on the rear one1 and so numerous were the changes in and additions to its equipment1 that the bystanders and there was the usual number of these saw only the humorous side of the thing and declared that it looked like a sort of ,happy ,hooligan bicycle with tin cans hung on wherever there was room4 ,the tomato can again came to the front in ,curtiss' experiments1 and now served to fashion a rough and ready sort of carburetor1 filled with gasoline and covered over with a gauze screen1 which sucked up the liquid by capillary attraction4 ,thus it vaporized and was conducted to the cylinder by a pipe from the top of the can4 ,then came the first demonstration of a bicycle driven by power other than leg muscles1 and it attracted almost as much attention in ,hammondsport as the first bicycle road race which ,curtiss had won some years before4 ,the newfangled machine1 which the village oracle declared could not be made to go unless the rider put his legs to work1 did not promise much of a success on its initial trip4 ,curtiss started off for the post-office1 but had to pedal all the way there1 the motor refusing to do its part4 ,coming from the post-office1 however1 it began popping and shoved the wheels around at an amazing rate1 while ,curtiss sat calmly upright and viewed the excited citizens of ,hammondsport as he sped by4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,evolution ,,of ,,an ,,aviator ,illustration3 7,a7 ,,post ,,card ,,sent ,,by ,,curtiss ,,to ,,his ,,wife1 ,,january #bd1 #aijg 7,b7 ,,curtiss ,,making ,,world',s ,,motorcycle ,,record1 ,,ormond ,that was the beginning of ,curtiss' motorcycle2 but the ambitious inventor did not rest with the first success4 ,work at the incubator went on unceasingly4 ,the young mechanical genius carried on his regular duties during the days but spent most of the nights in his experiments4 ,curtiss would not have said that he worked nights1 but that he spent his evenings in doping out the best way to build something4 ,he has never changed his habits in this respect4 ,he still dopes out something for the next day or the next month while resting from his daylight duties2 though the process would now be expressed in somewhat more scientific terms4 ,in truth1 one may say that ,curtiss worked all the time4 ,in office or shop hours1 like other persons1 he did what he had to do2 while at other times he did what he wanted to do4 ,curtiss was different only in that he wanted to do those things which other people would call labor4 ,experimental work was recreation to ,curtiss1 and because of this mental attitude he was able to stick at a task day and night and keep up steam all the while4 ,curtiss seldom planned on paper4 ,plans seemed to outline themselves in his active mind1 and when1 later1 he became an employer of a number of men1 he simply outlined his ideas1 describing just what he wanted to accomplish1 and left it to their ingenuity4 ,sometimes one of his assistants would ask him a question and after standing for minutes as if he had not heard1 ,curtiss would suddenly reply and outline a task which it would require all day to carry out4 ,once ,curtiss had decided that a certain course of action would bring certain mechanical results1 it usually turned out that way1 and because of this and the further fact that he was as good a workman as he was a designer1 the men he had gathered around him grew to regard his judgment as final and therefore went ahead with absolute confidence as to the results4 ,there was a remarkable spirit of cooperation in the industrial incubator4 ,this spirit continued through the early years of ,curtiss' first business successes1 and it obtains to-day in the big ,curtiss aeroplane and motor factories at ,hammondsport4 ,the alertness of the men around ,curtiss1 and the atmosphere of cooperation may be due1 in some measure1 to the curious interest they always hold as to what he will do next and there is certain to be something happening out of the ordinary4 ,thus1 work with ,curtiss seldom becomes monotonous and without its surprises4 ,to go back to the first motor ,curtiss built2 it was quickly found to be too small1 and he secured another set of castings1 as large as he could get4 ,with these he constructed a motor with a cylinder three and a half by five inches1 and weighing a hundred and ninety pounds4 ,this machine proved to be a terror4 ,it is true that it exploded only occasionally1 but when it did it almost tore itself loose from the frame4 ,but it drove the motorcycle as fast as thirty miles an hour and gained such a remarkable reputation in ,hammondsport that a story is still told in the town of the time ,curtiss made his first trip with it1 when it carried him through the village1 up over the steep hills1 through ,north ,urbana and as far as ,wayne1 where it ran out of gasoline and came to a stop of its own accord4 ,thus ,curtiss went ahead with his work to construct and improve his motors1 and improvement came with each successive one4 ,the third motor was better suited to the needs of the bicycle and furnished better results4 ,meantime1 ,curtiss began to receive inquiries and even some orders1 and business took a decidedly favorable turn4 ,judge ,monroe ,wheeler took a great liking to the young man1 who used to come over to his office to get the judge's stenographer to typewrite his letters1 and helped him to establish credit at the local bank1 and in other ways4 ,half a dozen fellow-townsmen became interested enough in ,curtiss' motorcycle experiments to put money into the business1 and within a short time a little factory was built on the hill back of ,grandma ,curtiss' house4 ,it was an inconvenient place to put up a factory1 and all the heavy material was hauled up to it with some difficulty1 but the light1 finished product1 which in this case could go under its own power1 rolled down the steep grade without trouble4 ,in spite of these little obstacles2 in spite of the fact that ,hammondsport is located at the end of a little branch railroad which seems to the visitor to run only as the spirit moves the engineer in spite of every handicap1 the business grew rapidly4 ,curtiss was1 by this time1 happily married and ,mrs4 ,curtiss helped with the office work at the factory1 which stood then1 as it does to-day1 at the very back door of the old ,curtiss homestead on the hillside4 ,curtiss used to take out his best motorcycle in these days and go off alone to all the motorcycle races held in that section of the ,state4 ,incidentally1 he scooped in all the prizes1 for he had the fastest machine1 and he was a finished rider4 ,on ,memorial ,day in #aijc1 ,curtiss ventured far afield for an event that brought him his first notices in the big newspapers of ,new ,york ,city4 ,he entered and won a hill-climbing contest at ,new ,york ,city1 on ,riverside ,drive1 and immediately afterward mounted his wheel1 rode up the ,hudson to another race1 at ,empire ,city ,track1 and won that also4 ,this gave him the ,american championship4 ,later1 at ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 he established a world's record for a single-cylinder motorcycle1 covering a mile in fifty-six and two-fifths seconds4 ,while this was phenomenal speed1 it was as nothing in comparison with the record he was soon to establish4 ,he built a two-cylinder motor and on ,january #bh1 #aijd1 at ,ormond ,beach1 ,florida1 he rode ten miles in eight minutes fifty-four and two-fifth seconds1 and established a world's record that stood for more than seven years4 ,curtiss was not content even with this4 ,he wanted to travel faster than man had ever traveled before4 ,he had built a forty horse-power1 eight-cylinder motor for a customer who wanted it to put in a flying machine which he was building1 and in order to try out the motor ,curtiss built an especially strong motorcycle1 using an automobile tire on the rear wheel and a motorcycle tire on the front wheel4 ,on a strong frame the big forty horsepower motor was mounted4 ,it was not given a thorough try out at ,hammondsport1 for it was winter and snow lay deep on the roads4 ,with the aid of some of his shopmen1 ,curtiss took the freak machine out on the snow-covered roads1 merely for the purpose of seeing if it could be started as it was geared in the machine4 ,it proved that it would start all right1 and so it was hurriedly boxed and rushed to the train1 which was actually kept waiting several minutes4 ,curtiss was going ,south to make new records1 and even the railroad men on the little branch road from ,hammondsport to ,bath1 felt an interest in his undertaking4 ,this1 by the way1 is typical of the way things are done at ,hammondsport4 ,when there is need for rushing matters1 the men work night and day without complaint4 ,these last-moment rushes are often due to the giving of much thought to the details before commencing to build1 and sometimes because1 in building1 improvements which must be incorporated suggest themselves4 ,curtiss' rule1 as he expresses it1 is3 ,what is the need of racing unless you think you are going to win2 and if you are beaten before you start1 why take a chance8 ,but there are other considerations for the builder of racing machines to take into account4 ,if your competitors know what you are doing1 and they will know1 somehow1 if you give them a little time1 they will go you one better4 ,therefore1 this belated activity at the ,curtiss factory is not always without its motive4 ,take1 for instance1 the first big ,international race for the ,gordon ,bennett aviation trophy1 which ,curtiss won at ,rheims1 ,france1 in #aiji4 ,in spite of the fact that ,curtiss' motor was built in a great hurry1 barely giving the necessary time to finish it and reach ,rheims for the race1 ,bleriot1 the chief ,french builder of the monoplane type1 changed his motor as soon as he had read a description of the one ,curtiss was to use4 ,the motorcycle which ,curtiss had built and mounted with the eight-cylinder motor proved to be a world-beater the fastest vehicle ever built to carry a man4 ,it was taken to ,ormond ,beach1 ,florida1 where it was tried out on the smooth sandy shore1 which stretches for miles1 as level as a billiard table and almost as hard as asphalt4 ,here1 on ,january #bd1 #aijg1 ,curtiss mounted the heavy1 ungainly vehicle and traveled a mile in twenty-six and two-fifth seconds1 at the rate of one hundred and thirty-seven miles an hour6 ,this stands to-day as the speed record for man and machine4 ,curtiss1 without goggles and with no special precautions in the matter of costume1 simply mounted the seat1 took a two-mile running start before crossing the line1 and was off4 ,bending so low over the handle-bars that he almost seemed to be lying flat and merged into a part of the machine itself1 he flashed over the mile course in less time than it takes to read these dozen lines4 ,this speed trial was the culmination of weeks of study1 work1 and experiment4 ,day after day1 and even at night1 ,curtiss had schemed and worked2 now to get the weight properly placed and balanced2 here to strengthen the frame and overcome the danger from the torque1 and the tendency to turn the machine over1 and finally to obtain the right sort of tires and to put them on securely4 ,ordinary tires1 on wheels revolving at such an amazing speed1 would have been cast off the rims like a belt off a pulley1 by the centrifugal force4 ,these and a thousand other details were worked out so thoroughly that the machine1 when ready1 required very little testing out4 ,in describing the trial ,curtiss said that he could see nothing but a streak of grey beach in front of him1 a blur of hills on one side1 and the white ribbon of foaming surf on the other4 ,the great crowd that watched the smoking1 whirring thing that flashed by as if fired from a great gun1 caught but a fleeting glimpse of ,curtiss4 ,the record could not be accepted as official1 because the motor was too big and powerful to be classed as a motorcycle engine4 ,it therefore stands as an absolutely unique performance1 unequalled1 and not even approached as regards speed1 until three years later1 when ,barney ,oldfield1 driving a two hundred horse-power ,benz automobile1 covered a mile over the same course in twenty-seven and thirty-three hundredths seconds4 ,curtiss had developed1 improved1 and exhausted the motorcycle as far as speed possibilities were concerned1 and was soon to give it up for something of far greater potential possibilities-the aeroplane4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,baldwin',s ,,balloon ,thomas ,scott ,baldwin was engaged in building a dirigible balloon in ,california when he chanced to see a new motorcycle1 the motor of which seemed to be exactly what he wanted to propel his new airship4 ,he learned that it was the design and product of a man named ,curtiss1 at ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 with whom he entered into correspondence4 ,the result was that ,captain ,baldwin went to ,hammondsport for a personal interview with the man who had turned out the motor4 ,baldwin expected to find1 as he afterward said1 a big1 important-looking manufacturer1 and great was his surprise to find a quiet1 unassuming young man1 scarcely more than a youth4 ,the jovial ,baldwin and the unobtrusive ,curtiss became great friends at once4 ,they discussed motors of all sorts1 but particularly motors suitable for dirigible balloons1 then in the first stage of development4 ,when ,baldwin asked ,curtiss the price of one of the type then used in the ,curtiss motorcycle1 he was surprised at its cheapness1 and ordered one on the spot4 ,this was built at once and proved successful4 ,later several other motors were built at the ,curtiss factory for ,baldwin1 each one showing some improvement1 and some of them designed to meet the increasing demand for a more powerful motor of light weight for use in dirigible balloons4 ,as a natural consequence of ,baldwin's success with the use of the ,curtiss motor1 it was but a short time until it came to be the best known motor in ,america for aeronautic work4 ,at the ,st4 ,louis ,world's ,fair1 in #aijd1 ,captain ,baldwin's ,california ,arrow1 the only successful airship out of all those which were brought from ,europe and every part of ,america to contest for big prizes1 was equipped with one of ,curtiss' motors4 ,baldwin's success at ,st4 ,louis was a triumph for ,curtiss1 and soon all dirigible balloons operating in this country were driven by ,curtiss motors4 ,hammondsport was now to have a new sensation and to witness an experiment which eventually led to momentous developments4 ,in order to test the power of the motors he was building for ,captain ,baldwin1 and for the purpose of determining the efficiency of his aerial propeller1 ,curtiss constructed a wind-wagon1 a three-wheel vehicle with the motor and propeller mounted in the rear of the driver4 ,when he took this queer contrivance out on the road for its first trial1 the town of ,hammondsport turned out to witness the fun4 ,consternation among the usually mild-eyed work horses spread throughout the little valley as the wind-wagon went scooting up and down the dusty roads1 creating a fearful racket4 ,before the start was made an automobile was sent ahead to clear the way and to warn the drivers of other vehicles4 ,the automobile1 however1 was quickly overhauled1 passed1 and left far in the rear by the whirring1 spluttering1 three-wheeled embryonic flying machine4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,baldwin ,,army ,,dirigible-,,curtiss ,,motor ,curtiss at front1 at motor2 ,captain ,thomas ,s4 ,baldwin at rear ,illustration3 ,,nearly ,,up ,,in ,,the ,,air 7,a7 ,the wind wagon ,curtiss in #aijd4 7,b7 ,ice boat with aerial propeller ,protests by farmers1 business-men and others quickly followed this experiment4 ,they argued that it frightened the horses1 made travel on the roads unsafe1 and was bad for business generally4 ,as the machine had served its purpose with ,curtiss1 and had given ,hammondsport its little diversion1 the famous wind-wagon passed into history1 and1 like so many other of ,curtiss' experiments1 remains only in the memories of those who were directly interested or those who watched in idle curiosity4 ,other airships were built by ,baldwin and ,curtiss from time to time1 and these were used successfully in giving exhibitions throughout the ,united ,states4 ,the work of these two pioneers of the air had attracted the attention of the ,united ,states ,government1 in the meantime1 and great was the elation at ,hammondsport when an order came from the ,war ,department at ,washington for a big dirigible balloon for the use of the ,signal ,corps4 ,baldwin was commissioned to build the balloon and ,curtiss the motor to propel it4 ,this was an important undertaking1 and both ,baldwin and ,curtiss appreciated the fact4 ,it marked the beginning of ,governmental and military interest in aeronautics in this country1 the possibilities of which were already engaging the attention of the military authorities of ,europe4 ,the success of this airship meant much to both men1 and ,baldwin and ,curtiss worked all through the winter of #aijd-je to make it so1 ,baldwin1 meanwhile1 having moved to ,hammondsport in order to be in touch with the ,curtiss factory1 where all the mechanical parts of his airships were being made4 ,in order to meet the specifications drawn up by the ,war ,department1 the big airship was required to make a continuous flight of two hours under the power of the motor1 and be capable of manoeuvring in any direction4 ,curtiss realised that in order to fill these requirements a new type motor would be needed4 ,he designed and set about building1 therefore1 a water-cooled motor1 something which had not been attempted at the ,curtiss factory up to this time1 and the success of which marked a long step in advance4 ,although ,baldwin had built thirteen dirigibles1 all of which had been equipped with motors built by ,curtiss1 and all of which had been operated successfully in exhibitions1 the ,government contract was his most ambitious undertaking4 ,about the balloon itself1 there was never any doubt2 the thing that clung constantly in the minds of these men who were bending every effort to the conquest of the air1 was3 ,will the motor do its work in a two-hours' endurance test1 and will it furnish the necessary power to drive the big airship at a speed of twenty miles an hour8 ,the conditions under which the trial was to be made were entirely unique4 ,the motor had to be suspended on a light but substantial framework beneath the great gas-bag1 and from this framework the pilot and the engineer had to do their work4 ,the ,army dirigible was completed on time and its test took place at ,washington in the summer of #aije4 ,captain ,baldwin acted as pilot and ,curtiss as engineer4 ,the airship met every specification and was accepted by the ,government4 ,a flight of two hours' duration was made over the wooded hills of ,virginia1 and this stands to-day as the longest continuous flight ever made by a dirigible airship in this country4 ,,part ,,ii ,,my ,,first ,,flights by ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss ,,chapter ,i ,,beginning ,,to ,,fly ,in #aije1 while in ,new ,york ,city1 ,i first met ,dr4 ,alexander ,graham ,bell1 the inventor of the telephone4 ,dr4 ,bell had learned of our light-weight motors1 used with success on the ,baldwin dirigibles1 and wanted to secure one for use in his experiments with kites4 ,we had a very interesting talk on these experiments1 and he asked me to visit him at ,bienn ,bhreagh1 his summer home near ,baddeck1 ,nova ,scotia4 ,dr4 ,bell had developed some wonderfully light and strong tetrahedral kites which possessed great inherent stability1 and he wanted a motor to install in one of them for purposes of experimentation4 ,this kite was a very large one4 ,the ,doctor called it an aerodrome4 ,the surfaces not being planes1 it could not properly be described as an aeroplane4 ,he believed that the time would come when the framework of the aeroplane would have to be so large in proportion to its surface that it would be too heavy to fly4 ,consequently1 he evolved the tetrahedral or cellular form of structure1 which would allow of the size being increased indefinitely1 while the weight would be increased only in the same ratio4 ,dr4 ,bell had invited two young ,canadian engineers1 ,f4 ,w4 ,baldwin and ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mc,curdy1 to assist him1 and they were at ,baddeck when ,i first visited there in the summer of #aijg4 ,lieutenant ,thomas ,selfridge1 of the ,united ,states ,army1 was also there4 ,naturally1 there was a wide discussion on the subject of aeronautics1 and so numerous were the suggestions made and so many theories advanced1 that ,mrs4 ,bell suggested the formation of a scientific organisation1 to be known as the ,aerial ,experiment ,association4 ,this met with a prompt and hearty agreement and the association was created very much in the same manner as ,dr4 ,bell had previously formed the ,volta ,association at ,washington for developing the phonograph4 ,mrs4 ,bell1 who was most enthusiastic and helpful1 generously offered to furnish the necessary funds for experimental work1 and the object of the ,association was officially set forth as to build a practical aeroplane which will carry a man and be driven through the air by its own power4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,aerial ,,experiment ,,association ,left to right3 ,f4,w4 ,baldwin1 ,lieutenant ,thomas ,selfridge1 ,glenn ,curtiss1 ,alexander ,graham ,bell1 ,j4,a4,d4 ,mc,curdy1 ,augustus ,post ,illustration3 ,,starting ,,to ,,fly 7,a7 ,f4 ,w4 ,baldwin makes first public flight ,in ,america4 7,b7 ,the ,june ,bug1 ,june1 #aijh4 7,c7 ,baldwin in ,aerial ,association's ,glider ,dr4 ,alexander ,graham ,bell was made chairman2 ,f4 ,w4 ,baldwin1 chief engineer2 ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mc,curdy1 assistant engineer and treasurer2 and ,lieut4 ,thomas ,selfridge1 secretary2 while ,i was honored with the title of ,director of ,experiments and ,chief ,executive ,officer4 ,both ,baldwin and ,mc,curdy were fresh from ,toronto ,university1 where they had graduated as mechanical engineers1 and ,baldwin later earned the distinction of making the first public flight in a motor-driven1 heavier-than-air machine4 ,this was accomplished at ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 ,march #ab1 #aijh1 over the ice on ,lake ,keuka4 ,the machine used was ,number ,one1 built by the ,aerial ,experiment ,association1 designed by ,lieutenant ,selfridge1 and known as ,the ,red ,wing4 ,the experiments carried on at ,baddeck during the summer and fall of #aijg covered a wide range4 ,there were trials and tests with ,dr4 ,bell's tetrahedral kites1 with motors1 and with aerial propellers mounted on boats4 ,finally1 at the suggestion of ,lieutenant ,selfridge1 it was decided to move the scene of further experiments to ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 where my factory is located1 and there to build a glider4 ,i had preceded the other members of the ,association from ,baddeck to ,hammondsport in order to prepare for the continuance of our work4 ,a few days after my return ,i was in my office1 talking to ,mr4 ,augustus ,post1 then the ,secretary of the ,aero ,club of ,america1 when a telegram came from ,dr4 ,bell1 saying3 ,start building4 ,the boys will be down next week4 ,as no plans had been outlined1 and nothing definite settled upon in the way of immediate experiments1 ,i was somewhat undecided as to just what to build4 ,we then discussed the subject of gliders for some time and ,i finally decided that the thing to do was to build a glider at the factory and to take advantage of the very abrupt and convenient hills at ,hammondsport to try it out4 ,we therefore built a double-surface glider of the ,chanute type4 ,as almost every schoolboy knows in this day of advanced information on aviation1 a glider is1 roughly speaking1 an aeroplane without a motor4 ,usually it has practically the same surfaces as a modern aeroplane1 and may be made to support a passenger by launching it from the top of a hill in order to give it sufficient impetus to sustain its own weight and that of a rider4 ,if the hill is steep the glider will descend at a smaller angle than the slope of the hill1 and thus glides of a considerable distance may be made with ease and comparative safety4 ,our first trials of the glider1 which we built on the arrival of the members of the ,experiment ,association1 were made in the dead of winter1 when the snow lay deep over the hillsides4 ,this made very hard work for everybody4 ,it was a case of trudging laboriously up the steep hillsides and hauling or carrying the glider to the top by slow stages4 ,it was easy enough going down1 but slow work going up2 but we continued our trials with varied success until we considered ourselves skilful enough to undertake a motor-driven machine1 which we mounted on runners4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,first ,,flights ,it was my desire to build a machine and install a motor at once1 and thus take advantage of the opportunity furnished by the thick1 smooth ice over ,lake ,keuka at that season of the year4 ,but ,lieutenant ,selfridge1 who had read a great deal about gliders and who had studied them from every angle1 believed we should continue experimenting with the glider4 ,however1 we decided to build a machine which we believed would fly1 and in due time a motor was installed and it was taken down on ,lake ,keuka to be tried out4 ,we called it the ,red ,wing1 and to ,lieutenant ,selfridge belongs the honour of designing it1 though all the members of the ,aerial ,experiment ,association had some hand in its construction4 ,we all had our own ideas about the design of this first machine1 but to ,lieutenant ,selfridge was left the privilege of accepting or rejecting the many suggestions made from time to time1 in order that greater progress might be made4 ,a number of our suggestions were accepted1 and while the machine as completed cannot properly be described as the result of one man's ideas1 the honour of being the final arbiter of all the problems of its design certainly belongs to ,lieutenant ,selfridge4 ,now that the machine was completed and the motor installed1 we waited for favourable weather to make the first trial4 ,winter weather around ,lake ,keuka is a very uncertain element1 and we had a long1 tiresome wait until the wintry gales that blew out of the north gave way to an intensely cold spell4 ,our opportunity came on ,march #ab1 #aijh4 ,there was scarcely a bit of wind1 but it was bitterly cold4 ,unfortunately1 ,lieutenant ,selfridge was absent1 having left ,hammondsport on business1 and ,casey ,baldwin was selected to make the first trial4 ,we were all on edge with eagerness to see what the machine would do4 ,same of us were confident1 others sceptical4 ,baldwin climbed into the seat1 took the control in hand1 and we cranked the motor4 ,when we released our hold of the machine1 it sped over the ice like a scared rabbit for two or three hundred feet1 and then1 much to our joy1 it jumped into the air4 ,this was what we had worked for through many long months1 and naturally we watched the brief and uncertain course of ,baldwin with a good deal of emotion4 ,rising to a height of six or eight feet1 ,baldwin flew the unheard-of distance of three hundred and eighteen feet1 eleven inches6 ,then he came down ingloriously on one wing4 ,as we learned afterward1 the frail framework of the tail had bent and the machine had flopped over on its side and dropped on the wing1 which gave way and caused the machine to turn completely around4 ,but it had been a successful flight and we took no toll of the damage to the machine or the cost4 ,we had succeeded6 that was the main thing4 ,we had actually flown the ,red ,wing three hundred and eighteen feet and eleven inches6 ,we knew now we could build a machine that would fly longer and come down at the direction of the operator with safety to both4 ,it had taken just seven weeks to build the machine and to get it ready for the trial2 it had taken just about twenty seconds to smash it4 ,but a great thing had been accomplished4 ,we had achieved the first public flight of a heavier-than-air machine in ,america6 ,as our original plans provided for the building of one machine designed by each member of the ,association1 with the assistance of all the others1 the building of the next one fell to ,mr4 ,baldwin1 and it was called the ,white ,wing4 ,the design of the ,red ,wing was followed in many details1 but several things were added which we believed would give increased stability and greater flying power4 ,the construction of the ,white ,wing was begun at once1 but before we could complete it the ice on the lake had yielded to the spring winds and we were therefore obliged to transfer our future trials to land4 ,this required wheels for starting and alighting in the place of the ice runners used on the ,red ,wing4 ,an old half-mile race track a short distance up the valley from the ,lake was rented and put in shape for flights4 ,the place was called ,stony ,brook ,farm1 and it was for a long time afterward the scene of our flying exploits at ,hammondsport4 ,it would be tiresome to the reader to be told of all the discouragements we met with2 of the disheartening smashes we suffered2 how almost every time we managed to get the new machine off the ground for brief but encouraging flights1 it would come down so hard that something would give way and we would have to set about the task of building it up again4 ,we soon learned that it was comparatively easy to get the machine up in the air1 but it was most difficult to get it back to earth without smashing something4 ,the fact was1 we had not learned the art of landing an aeroplane with ease and safety-an absolutely necessary art for every successful aviator to know4 ,it seemed one day that the limit of hard luck had been reached1 when1 after a brief flight and a somewhat rough landing1 the machine folded up and sank down on its side1 like a wounded bird1 just as we were feeling pretty good over a successful landing without breakage4 ,changes in the details of the machine were many and frequent1 and after each change there was a flight or an attempted flight4 ,sometimes we managed to make quite a flight1 and others and more numerous merely short jumps that would land the machine in a potato patch or a cornfield1 where1 in the yielding ground1 the wheels would crumple up and let the whole thing down4 ,up to this time we had always used silk to cover the planes1 but this proved very expensive and we decided to try a substitute4 ,an entirely new set of planes were made and the new covering put on them4 ,they looked very pretty and white as we took the rebuilt machine out with every expectation that it would fly4 ,great was our surprise1 however1 when it refused absolutely to make even an encouraging jump4 ,for a time we were at a loss to understand it4 ,then the reason became as plain as day2 we had used cotton to cover the planes1 and1 being porous1 it would not furnish the sustaining power in flight4 ,this was quickly remedied by coating the cotton covering with varnish1 rendering it impervious to the air4 ,after that it flew all right4 ,i believe this was the first instance of the use of a liquid filler to coat the surface cloth4 ,it is now used widely1 both in this country and in ,europe4 ,we had a great many minor misfortunes with the ,white ,wing1 but each one taught us a lesson4 ,we gradually learned where the stresses and strains lay1 and overcame them4 ,thus1 little by little1 the machine was reduced in weight1 simplified in detail1 and finally took on some semblance to the standard ,curtiss aeroplane of today4 ,all the members of the ,aerial ,experiment ,association were in ,hammondsport at this time1 including ,dr4 ,alexander ,graham ,bell4 ,we had established an office in the annex which had been built on the ,curtiss homestead1 and here took place nightly discussions on the work of the day past and the plans for the day to follow4 ,some of the boys named the office the thinkorium4 ,every night the minutes of the previous meeting would be read and discussed4 ,these minutes1 by the way1 were religiously kept by ,lieutenant ,selfridge and later published in the form of a bulletin and sent to each member4 ,marvellous in range were the subjects brought up and talked over at these meetings6 ,dr4 ,bell was the source of the most unusual suggestions for discussion4 ,usually these were things he had given a great deal of thought and time to1 and1 therefore1 his opinions on any of his hobbies were most interesting4 ,for instance1 he had collected a great deal of information on the genealogy of the ,hyde family1 comprising some seven thousand individuals4 ,these he had arranged in his card index system1 in order to determine the proportion of male and female individuals1 their relative length of life1 and other characteristics4 ,or1 perhaps1 the ,doctor would talk about his scheme to influence the sex of sheep by a certain method of feeding2 his early experiences with the telephone1 the phonograph1 the harmonic telegraph1 and multiple telegraphy4 ,at other times we would do a jig-saw puzzle with pictures of aeroplanes1 or listen to lectures on physical culture by ,dr4 ,alden1 of the village4 ,then1 for a change1 we would discuss1 with great interest and sincerity1 the various methods of making sounds to accompany the action of a picture1 behind the curtain of the moving-picture show1 which we all had attended4 ,motorcycle construction and operation were studied at the factory and on the roads around ,hammondsport4 ,mc,curdy used to give us daily demonstrations of how to fall off a motorcycle scientifically4 ,he fell off so often1 in fact1 that we feared he would never make an aviator4 ,in this opinion1 of course1 we were very much in error1 as he became one of the first1 and also one of the best aviators in the country4 ,atmospheric pressure1 the vacuum motor1 ,dr4 ,bell's tetrahedral construction1 and even astronomical subjects all found a place in the nightly discussions at the thinkorium4 ,of course there were many important things that took up our attention1 but we could not always be grave and dignified4 ,i recall one evening somebody started a discussion on the idea of elevating ,trinity ,church1 in ,new ,york ,city1 on the top of a skyscraper1 and using the revenue from the ground rental to convert the heathen4 ,this gave a decided shock to a ministerial visitor who happened to be present4 ,when summer came on there were frequent motorcycle trips when the weather did not permit of flying1 or when the shop was at work repairing one of our frequent smashes4 ,casey ,baldwin and ,mc,curdy furnished a surprise one day by a rather unusual long-distance trip on motorcycles4 ,let's go up to ,hamilton1 ,ontario1 said ,baldwin1 probably choosing ,hamilton as the destination because he was charged with having a sweetheart there4 ,all right1 answered ,mc,curdy4 ,without a moment's hesitation the two mounted their wheels1 not even stopping to get their caps1 and rode through to ,hamilton1 a hundred and fifty miles distant1 buying everything they required along the way4 ,they were gone a week and came back by the same route4 ,a favourite subject of talk at the thinkorium1 at least between ,mc,curdy and ,selfridge1 was on some of the effects of the torque of a propeller and whenever this arose we would expect the argument to keep up until one or the other would fall asleep4 ,after the nightly formal sessions of the members of the ,association the courtesy of the floor was extended to any one who might be present for the discussion of anything he might see fit to bring up4 ,later we would adjourn to ,dr4 ,bell's room1 where he would put himself into a comfortable position1 light his inevitable pipe1 and produce his note books4 ,in these note books ,dr4 ,bell would write down everything his thoughts on every subject imaginable1 his ideas about many things1 sketches1 computations4 ,all these he would sign1 date1 and have witnessed4 ,it was ,dr4 ,bell's custom to work at night when there were no distracting noises1 though there were few of these at ,hammondsport even during the daylight hours2 at night it is quiet enough for the most exacting victim of insomnia4 ,dr4 ,bell often sat up until long after midnight1 but he made up for the lost time by sleeping until noon4 ,no one was allowed to wake him for any reason4 ,the rest of us were up early in order to take advantage of the favourable flying conditions during the early morning hours4 ,dr4 ,bell had a strong aversion to the ringing of the telephone bell the great invention for which he is responsible4 ,i occasionally went into his room and found the bell stuffed with paper1 or wound around with towels4 ,little did ,i think when ,i invented this thing1 said ,dr4 ,bell1 one day when he had been awakened by the jingling of the bell1 that it would rise up to mock and annoy me4 ,while the ,doctor enjoyed his morning sleep we were out on ,stony ,brook ,farm trying to fly4 ,we had put up a tent against the side of an old sheep barn1 and out of this we would haul the machine while the grass was still wet with dew4 ,one never knew what to expect of it4 ,sometimes a short flight would be made2 at others1 something would break4 ,or1 maybe1 the wind would come up and this would force us to abandon all further trials for the day4 ,then it was back to the shop to work on some new device1 or to repair damages until the wind died out with the setting of the sun4 ,early in the morning and late in the evening were the best periods of the day for our experimental work because of the absence of wind4 ,on ,may #bb1 #aijh1 our second machine1 the ,white ,wing1 was brought to such a state of perfection that ,i flew it a distance of one thousand and seventeen feet in nineteen seconds1 and landed without damage in a ploughed field outside the old race track4 ,it was regarded as a remarkable flight at that time1 and naturally1 ,i felt very much elated4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,june ,,bug ,,first ,,flights ,,for ,,the ,,scientific ,,american ,,trophy ,,and ,,first ,,experiments ,,with ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane ,following the success of the ,white ,wing we started in to build another machine1 embodying all that we had learned from our experience with the two previous ones4 ,following our custom of giving each machine a name to distinguish it from the preceding one1 we called this third aeroplane the ,june ,bug4 ,the name was aptly chosen1 for it was a success from the very beginning4 ,indeed1 it flew so well that we soon decided it was good enough to win the trophy which had been offered by ,the ,scientific ,american for the first public flight of one kilometer1 or five-eights of a mile1 straightaway4 ,this trophy1 by the way1 was the first to be offered in this country for an aeroplane flight1 and the conditions specified that it should become the property of the person winning it three years in succession4 ,the ,june ,bug was given a thorough try-out before we made arrangements to fly for the trophy1 and we were confident it would fulfill the requirements4 ,the ,fourth of ,july1 #aijh1 was the day set for the trial4 ,a large delegation of aero-club members came on from ,new ,york and ,washington1 among whom were ,stanley ,y4 ,beach1 ,allan ,e4 ,hawley1 ,augustus ,post1 ,david ,fairchild1 ,chas4 ,m4 ,manley1 ,christopher ,j4 ,lake1 ,a4 ,m4 ,herring1 ,george ,h4 ,guy1 ,e4 ,l4 ,jones1 ,wilbur ,e4 ,kimball1 ,captain ,thomas ,s4 ,baldwin and many other personal friends4 ,the excitement among the citizens of ,hammondsport in general was little less than that existing among the members of the ,aerial ,experiment ,association1 and seldom had the ,fourth of ,july been awaited with greater impatience4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,first ,,machines 7,a7 ,the ,white ,wing1 ,baldwin driving1 #aijh4 7,b7 ,selfridge's ,red ,wing on the ice1 ,lake ,keuka ,illustration3 ,,curtiss' ,,first ,,flight ,,for ,,the ,,scientific ,,american ,,trophy 7,july #d1 #aijh7 ,when ,independence ,day finally dawned it did not look auspicious for the first official aeroplane flight for a trophy4 ,clouds boded rain and there was some wind4 ,this did not deter the entire population of ,hammondsport from gathering on the heights around the flying field1 under the trees in the valley and1 in fact1 at every point of vantage4 ,some were on the scene as early as five o'clock in the morning1 and many brought along baskets of food and made a picnic of it4 ,the rain came along toward noon1 but the crowd hoisted its umbrellas or sought shelter under the trees and stayed on4 ,late in the afternoon the sky cleared and it began to look as if we were to have the chance to fly after all4 ,the ,june ,bug was brought out of its tent and the motor given a try-out4 ,it worked all right4 ,the course was measured and a flag put up to mark the end4 ,everything was ready and about seven o'clock in the evening the motor was started and ,i climbed into the seat4 ,when ,i gave the word to let go the ,june ,bug skimmed along over the old race track for perhaps two hundred feet and then rose gracefully into the air4 ,the crowd set up a hearty cheer1 as ,i was told later for ,i could hear nothing but the roar of the motor and ,i saw nothing except the course and the flag marking a distance of one kilometer4 ,the flag was quickly reached and passed and still ,i kept the aeroplane up1 flying as far as the open fields would permit1 and finally coming down safely in a meadow1 fully a mile from the starting place4 ,i had thus exceeded the requirements and had won the ,scientific ,american ,trophy for the first time4 ,i might have gone a great deal farther1 as the motor was working beautifully and ,i had the machine under perfect control1 but to have prolonged the flight would have meant a turn in the air or passing over a number of large trees4 ,the speed of this first official flight was closely computed at thirty-nine miles an hour4 ,dr4 ,bell had gone to ,nova ,scotia1 unfortunately1 and1 therefore1 did not witness the ,fourth of ,july flight of the ,june ,bug4 ,the other members1 however1 were all present4 ,it was a great day for all of us and we were more confident than ever that we had evolved1 out of our long and costly experiments1 a machine that would fly successfully and with safety to the operator4 ,lieutenant ,selfridge was particularly enthusiastic1 and ,i recall when ,mr4 ,holcomb1 special agent for a life insurance company1 visited the field one day and heard ,selfridge talk about flying4 ,you must be careful1 ,selfridge1 said ,mr4 ,holcomb1 or we will need a bed for you in the hospital of which ,i am a trustee4 ,oh1 ,i am careful1 all right1 replied ,selfridge1 but it was only a few days later when he left ,hammondsport for ,washington1 and was killed while flying as a passenger with ,orville ,wright at ,fort ,meyer4 ,in ,selfridge we lost not only one of the best-posted men in the field of aeronautics1 a student and a man of practical ideas1 but one of our best-loved companions and co-workers1 as well4 ,three machines had thus far been built and flown1 first the ,red ,wing1 designed by ,lieutenant ,selfridge2 next the ,white ,wing1 by ,baldwin1 and last the ,june ,bug1 by me4 ,it was now ,mc,curdy's turn and he designed a machine which he named the ,silver ,dart4 ,while this was building we decided to take the ,june ,bug down to the lake1 equip it with a set of pontoons1 or a boat1 and attempt to fly from the water4 ,it was my idea that if we could design a float that would sustain the aeroplane on an even keel and at the same time furnish a minimum of resistance1 we would be able to get up enough speed to rise from the water4 ,besides1 the lake would afford an ideal flying place1 and1 what was more important still1 a fall or a bad landing would not be nearly so likely to result in injury to the aviator4 ,accordingly1 we mounted the ,june ,bug on two floats1 built something like a catamaran1 and re-named it the ,loon4 ,it required some time to construct light and strong floats and it was not until the beginning of ,november1 #aijh1 that we were ready for the first attempt to fly from the water ever made in this or any other country4 ,the ,loon was hauled down to the lake from the aerodrome on a two-wheeled cart1 there being no wheels for rolling it over the ground4 ,i remember we had to build a platform on the cart and to strengthen the wheels to carry the weight of nearly one thousand pounds which the added equipment had brought the total weight up to4 ,this first experimental hydroaeroplane was a crude affair as compared with the machine in which ,i made the first successful flight from and landing upon the water1 more than three years later at ,san ,diego1 ,cal4 ,the cleaner lines1 the neat1 light-weight boat and the other details of the ,curtiss hydroaeroplane offer as striking a contrast to the ,loon as the modern locomotive offers to the crude1 clumsy affairs that now exist only in the museums4 ,so great is the difference that one is inclined to marvel that we had any success whatever with the first design4 ,we made many attempts to rise from the water in the ,loon1 but owing to the great weight were unable to make any real flights1 although the observers on shore were sure that the pontoons were sometimes clear of the water4 ,by the end of ,november our experiments had convinced every one of us that we needed more power and more time than we had at our disposal just then4 ,the best motor we had at our command was able to deliver only enough power to drive the ,loon at twenty-five miles an hour on the water4 ,this was not enough to get the machine into the air1 unless assisted by a strong head wind1 and we were not anxious to try flying in a strong wind4 ,in the meantime ,mc,curdy's machine1 the ,silver ,dart1 had been completed and mounted on wheels4 ,the first flight was made by ,mc,curdy on ,december #ab1 #aijh1 over the ,stony ,brook flying field4 ,the ,silver ,dart was practically the same as the ,june ,bug4 ,shortly after this it was shipped to ,dr4 ,bell's place at ,baddeck1 ,nova ,scotia1 where ,mc,curdy and ,casey ,baldwin used it all through the winter in practice1 making flights from the ice and covering all the country thereabouts4 ,mc,curdy estimates that in his some two hundred flights in the ,silver ,dart1 he covered more than a thousand miles4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,first ,,flights ,,in ,,new ,,york ,,city ,as a result of the winning of the ,scientific ,american ,trophy1 the ,aeronautical ,society of ,new ,york ,city placed an order in the winter of #aijh-ji for an aeroplane to be demonstrated at ,morris ,park ,track1 ,new ,york ,city1 in the spring4 ,plans were outlined for enlarging the ,hammondsport factory and work commenced on the machine ordered by the ,aeronautical ,society4 ,it was the plan of this ,society to purchase the aeroplane and have one or more of its members taught to fly it4 ,the machine was finished in due time1 thoroughly tried out at ,hammondsport before it was shipped to ,new ,york1 and finally sent to the old ,morris ,park ,race ,track1 where the ,aeronautical ,society had arranged for the first public exhibition ever held in the history of aviation4 ,there1 on ,june #bf1 #aiji1 ,i had the honour of making the first aeroplane flights in ,new ,york ,city1 in the machine bought by the ,aeronautical ,society4 ,the ,society intended to make ,morris ,park the scene of aviation meets and of experiments with gliders1 but the grounds proved too small and ,i recommended a change to some other place in the vicinity of ,new ,york ,city1 where there was plenty of open country and where the danger from unexpected landings would be minimized4 ,i looked over all the suitable places around ,new ,york ,city and finally decided upon ,mineola1 on ,long ,island4 ,the ,hempstead ,plains1 a large1 level tract lying just outside ,mineola1 offered an ideal place for flying and the ,aeronautical ,society machine was brought down there from ,morris ,park4 ,there was such a fine field for flying at ,mineola that ,i decided to make another try for the ,scientific ,american trophy1 which ,i had won on the previous ,fourth of ,july at ,hammondsport with the ,june ,bug4 ,i wanted that trophy very much1 but in order to become possessed of it ,i had to win it three years in succession1 the conditions being changed from year to year to keep pace with the progress and development of aviation4 ,the second year's conditions required a continuous flight of more than twenty-five kilometers 7about sixteen miles7 in order to have the flight taken into account in awarding the prize1 which was to go to the person making the longest official flight during the year4 ,i believed ,i could make a fine showing at ,hempstead ,plains and preparations were made for the attempt4 ,the aeroplane was put together near ,peter ,me,laughlin's hotel and a triangular course of one and a third miles was measured off4 ,after ,i had made a number of trial flights over the course ,i sent formal notice to the ,aero ,club of ,america that all was ready for the official flight1 and the ,club sent ,mr4 ,charles ,m4 ,manley down as official representative to observe the trial for the ,scientific ,american trophy4 ,on ,july #agth1 #aiji1 a little more than a year from the first official flight of the ,june ,bug at ,hammondsport1 we got out on the field at ,mineola at sunrise1 before the heavy dew was off the grass1 and made ready4 ,it was a memorable day for the residents of that particular section of ,long ,island1 who had never seen a flying machine prior to my brief trial flights there a few days before4 ,they turned out in large numbers1 even at that early hour1 and there was a big delegation of newspapermen from the ,new ,york dailies on hand4 ,flying was such a novelty at that time that nine-tenths of the people who came to watch the preparations were sceptical while others declared that that thing won't fly1 so what's the use of waiting 'round4 ,there was much excitement1 therefore1 when1 at a quarter after five o'clock1 on the morning of ,july #ag1 ,i made my first flight4 ,this was for the ,cortlandt ,field ,bishop prize of two hundred and fifty dollars1 offered by the ,aero ,club of ,america to the first four persons who should fly one kilometer4 ,it took just two and a half minutes to win this prize and immediately afterward ,i started for the ,scientific ,american trophy4 ,the weather was perfect and everything worked smoothly4 ,i made twelve circuits of the course1 which completed the twenty-five kilometers1 in thirty-two minutes4 ,the motor was working so nicely and the weather man was so favourable1 that ,i decided to keep right on flying1 until finally ,i had circled the course nineteen times and covered a distance of twenty-four and seven-tenths miles before landing4 ,the average speed was probably about thirty-five miles an hour1 although no official record of the speed was made4 ,great was the enthusiasm of the crowd when the flight ended4 ,i confess that ,i1 too1 was enthusiastic over the way the motor had worked and the ease with which the machine could be handled in flight4 ,best of all1 ,i had the sense of satisfaction that the confidence imposed in me by my friends had been justified4 ,as the machine built for the ,aeronautical ,society had thus met every requirement1 ,i agreed to teach two members to fly at ,hempstead ,plains4 ,mr4 ,charles ,f4 ,willard and ,mr4 ,williams were the two chosen to take up instruction1 and the work began at once4 ,mr4 ,willard proved an apt pupil and after a few lessons mastered the machine and flew with confidence and success1 circling about the country around ,mineola4 ,these flights at ,mineola gave that place a start as the headquarters for aviators1 and it soon became the popular resort for everyone interested in aviation in and near the city of ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,,scientific ,,american ,,trophy ,,part ,,iii ,,my ,,chief ,,flights ,,and ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,to-,,day by ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,rheims ,,meet ,,first ,,international ,,aeroplane ,,contest ,prior to the first flights in ,new ,york ,city ,i had formulated plans for an improved machine1 designed for greater speed and equipped with a more powerful motor4 ,i wanted to take part in the first contest for the ,gordon ,bennett ,aviation cup at ,rheims1 ,france1 ,august #bb to #bi1 #aiji4 ,this was the first ,international ,aviation ,meet held1 and much was expected of the ,french machines of the monoplane type4 ,great was my gratification1 therefore1 when ,i received word from the ,aero ,club of ,america1 through ,mr4 ,cortlandt ,field ,bishop1 who was then president1 that ,i had been chosen to represent ,america at ,rheims4#a ,without allowing my plans to become known to the public ,i began at once to build an eight-cylinder1 ,v-shaped1 fifty horse-power motor4 ,this was practically double the horse-power ,i had been using4 ,work on the motor was pushed day and night at ,hammondsport1 as ,i had not an hour to spare4 ,i had kept pretty close watch on everything that had been printed about the preparations of the ,frenchmen for the ,gordon ,bennett race and although it was reported that ,bleriot1 in his own monoplane1 and ,hubert ,latham1 in an ,antoinette monoplane1 had flown as fast as sixty miles an hour1 ,i still felt confident4 ,the speed of aeroplanes is so often exaggerated in press accounts that ,i did not believe all ,i read about ,bleriot's and ,latham's trial flights4 ,the motor was finished1 but there was no time to put it in the new machine and try it out before sailing4 ,it was1 therefore1 given a short run on the block1 or testing-frame1 hurriedly packed1 and the entire equipment rushed to ,new ,york barely in time to catch the steamer for ,france4 ,the time was so short between the arrival of our steamer and the opening of the meet that in order to get to ,rheims in time to qualify1 we had to take the aeroplane with us on the train as personal baggage4 ,thanks to the kindness of the ,french railway officials1 who realised our situation1 and evidently had imbibed some of the prevailing aviation enthusiasm1 we arrived at ,rheims in quick time4 ,in those early days of aviation there was not the keen partisanship for monoplane or biplane that one finds everywhere to-day2 nor was there the strong popular feeling in ,france in favor of the monoplane that exists today4 ,an aeroplane was simply an aeroplane at that time1 and interesting as such1 but naturally all ,frenchmen favored their compatriots who were entered in the race1 particularly ,bleriot1 who had just earned world-wide fame by his flight across the ,english channel4 ,the ,frenchmen1 as well as ,europeans in general1 fully expected ,bleriot to win with his fast monoplane4 ,my own personal hopes lay in my motor4 ,judge of my surprise1 therefore1 upon arriving at ,rheims1 to learn that ,bleriot1 who had probably heard through newspaper reports that ,i was bringing over an eight-cylinder motor1 had himself installed an eight-cylinder motor of eighty horse-power in one of his light monoplanes4 ,when ,i learned this1 ,i believed my chances were very slim indeed1 if in fact they had not entirely disappeared4 ,the monoplane is generally believed to be faster than the biplane with equal power4 ,i had just one aeroplane and one motor2 if ,i smashed either of these it would be all over with ,america's chances in the first ,international ,cup ,race4 ,i had not the reserve equipment to bring out a new machine as fast as one was smashed1 as ,bleriot and other ,frenchmen had4 ,incidentally1 there were many of them smashed during the big meet on the ,plain of ,bethany4 ,at one time1 while flying1 ,i saw as many as twelve machines strewn about the field1 some wrecked and some disabled and being hauled slowly back to the hangars1 by hand or by horses4 ,for obvious reasons1 therefore1 ,i kept out of the duration contests and other events1 flying only in such events as were for speed1 and of a distance not to exceed twenty kilometers1 which was the course for the ,gordon ,bennett contest in #aiji4 ,it is hard enough for any one to map out a course of action and stick to it1 particularly in the face of the desires of one's friends2 but it is doubly hard for an aviator to stay on the ground waiting for just the right time to get into the air4 ,it was particularly hard for me to keep out of many events at ,rheims held from day to day1 especially as there were many patriotic ,americans there who would have liked to see ,america's only representative take part in everything on the programme4 ,i was urged by many of these to go out and contest the ,frenchmen for the rich prizes offered and it was hard to refuse to do this4 ,these good friends did not realise the situation4 ,america's chances could not be imperilled for the sake of gratifying one's curiosity1 or national pride4 ,on top of the urgings of my ,american friends to go out and fly and take chances of having a whole machine when the day for the ,gordon ,bennett should arrive1 ,i was penalised for not starting in the speed race1 the ,prix de la ,vitesse1 the penalty being one-twentieth of the time made when ,i should start in this event4 ,however1 ,i made a number of trial flights and ten official ones1 during the meet1 without mishap1 except a sprained ankle4 ,this was the result of running through growing grain at the time of landing and being thrown out of the machine4 ,i was also fortunate in being the only aviator who took part in this first big meet to land at the hangar after each flight4 ,during this period of waiting1 and making explanations to enthusiastic ,americans who could not understand why ,i did not fly all the time1 my mechanician1 ,tod ,shriver1#b attracted a tremendous amount of attention from the throngs that visited the hangars because he worked in his shirt sleeves4 ,they thought ,tod picturesque because he did not wear the ,french workman's blouse4 ,shriver used to say that if he were picturesque in shirt sleeves there were about fifty million perfectly good ,americans across the ,atlantic who formed probably the most picturesque crowd on earth4 ,in the try-outs it became evident to the ,frenchmen that my aeroplane was very fast and it was conceded that the race for the ,gordon ,bennett ,cup would lie between ,bleriot and myself1 barring accidents4 ,after a carefully timed trial circuit of the course1 which1 much to my surprise1 ,i made in a few seconds less than ,m4 ,bleriot's time1 and that1 too1 with my motor throttled down slightly1 ,i gained more confidence4 ,i removed the large gasoline tank from my machine and put on a smaller one in order to lessen the weight and the head-resistance4 ,i then selected the best of my three propellers1 which1 by the way1 were objects of curiosity to the ,french aviators1 who were familiar only with the metal blades used on the ,antoinette machine1 and the ,chauviere1 which was being used by ,m4 ,bleriot4 ,m4 ,chauviere was kind enough to make a propeller especially fitted to my aeroplane1 notwithstanding the fact that a better propeller on my machine would lessen the chances of the ,french flyers for the cup4 ,however1 ,i decided later to use my own propeller1 and did use it and won4 ,august #bi dawned clear and hot4 ,it was agreed at a meeting of the ,committee1 at which all the contestants were present1 that each contestant should be allowed to make one trial flight over the course and that he might choose his own time for making it1 between the hours of ten o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the evening4 ,the other starters were ,bleriot1 ,lefebre1 and ,latham for ,france1 and ,cockburn for ,england4 ,as ,i have already stated1 ,bleriot was the favourite because of his trip across the ,english channel and because of his records made in flights at various places prior to the ,rheims meet4 ,as conditions were apparently good1 ,i decided to make my trial flight shortly after ten o'clock4 ,the machine was brought out1 the engine given a preliminary run1 and at half past ten ,i was in the air4 ,everything had looked good from the ground1 but after the first turn of the course ,i began to pitch violently4 ,this was caused by the heat waves rising and falling as the cooler air rushed in4 ,the up and down motion was not at all pleasant and ,i confess that ,i eased off on the throttle several times on the first circuit4 ,i had not then become accustomed to the feeling an aviator gets when the machine takes a sudden drop4 ,on the second round ,i got my nerve back and pulled the throttle wide open and kept it open4 ,this accounts for the fact that the second lap was made in faster time than the first4 ,the two circuits were made safely and ,i crossed the finish line in seven minutes1 fifty-five seconds1 a new record for the course4 ,now was my chance6 ,i felt that the time to make the start for the ,cup was then1 in spite of the boiling air conditions1 which ,i had found existed all over the course and made flying difficult if not actually dangerous4 ,we hurriedly refilled the gasoline tank1 sent official notice to the judges1 carefully tested the wiring of the machine by lifting it at the corners1 spun the propeller1 and the official trial was on4 ,i climbed as high as ,i thought ,i might without protest1 before crossing the starting line probably five hundred feet so that ,i might take advantage of a gradual descent throughout the race1 and thus gain additional speed4 ,the sun was hot and the air rough1 but ,i had resolved to keep the throttle wide open4 ,i cut the corner as close as ,i dared and banked the machine high on the turns4 ,i remember ,i caused great commotion among a big flock of birds which did not seem to be able to get out of the wash of my propeller4 ,in front of the tribunes the machine flew steadily1 but when ,i got around on the back stretch1 as we would call it1 ,i found remarkable air conditions4 ,there was no wind1 but the air seemed fairly to boil4 ,the machine pitched considerably1 and when ,i passed above the graveyard1 where so many machines had gone down and were smashed during the previous days of the meet1 the air seemed literally to drop from under me4 ,it was so bad at one spot that ,i made up my mind that if ,i got over it safely ,i would avoid that particular spot thereafter4 ,finally1 however1 ,i finished the twenty kilometers in safety and crossed the line in fifteen minutes1 fifty seconds1 having averaged forty-six and one-half miles an hour4 ,when the time was announced there was great enthusiasm among the ,americans present1 and every one rushed over to offer congratulations4 ,some of them thought that ,i would surely be the winner1 but of this ,i was by no means certain4 ,i had great respect for ,bleriot's ability1 and besides1 ,latham and his ,antoinette might be able to make better speed than they had thus far shown4 ,in a contest of this sort it is never safe to cheer until all the returns are in4 ,i confess that ,i felt a good deal like a prisoner awaiting the decision of a jury4 ,i had done my best1 and had got the limit of speed out of the machine2 still ,i felt that if ,i could do it all over again ,i would be able to improve on the time4 ,meantime ,cockburn1 for ,england1 had made a start but had come down and run into a haystack4 ,he was only able to finish the course in twenty minutes1 forty-seven and three-fifth seconds4 ,this put him out of the contest4 ,latham made his trial during the afternoon but his speed was five or six miles an hour slower than my record4 ,the other contestants were flying about thirty-five miles an hour1 and were1 therefore1 not really serious factors in the race4 ,it was all up to ,m4 ,bleriot4 ,all day long he tinkered and tested1 first with one machine and then another2 trying different propellers and making changes here and there4 ,it was not until late in the afternoon that he brought out his big machine1 ,number #bb1 equipped with an eight-cylinder water-cooled motor1 mounted beneath the planes1 and driving by chain a four-bladed propeller1 geared to run at a speed somewhat less than that of the engine4 ,he started off at what seemed to be a terrific burst of speed4 ,it looked to me just then as if he must be going twice as fast as my machine had flown2 but it must be remembered that ,i was very anxious to have him go slow4 ,the fear that he was beating me was father to the belief4 ,as soon as ,bleriot was off ,mr4 ,cortlandt ,field ,bishop and ,mr4 ,david ,wolfe ,bishop1 his brother1 took me in their automobile over to the judges' stand4 ,bleriot made the first lap in faster time than ,i had made it1 and our hearts sank4 ,then and there ,i resolved that if we lost the cup ,i would build a faster aeroplane and come back next year to win it4 ,illustration3 ,,winning ,,the ,,gordon ,,bennet ,,contest ,,in ,,france 7,a7 ,curtiss flying at ,rheims1 7,b7 ,the welcome home to ,hammondsport ,illustration3 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,photo ,news ,co4 ,a ,,position ,,higher ,,than ,,the ,,president',s ,president ,taft watching ,curtiss fly1 ,harvard ,meet1 #aiaj ,again ,bleriot dashed past the stand and it seemed to me that he was going even faster than the first time4 ,great was my surprise1 therefore1 when1 as he landed1 there was no outburst of cheers from the great crowd4 ,i had expected a scene of wild enthusiasm1 but there was nothing of the sort4 ,i sat in ,mr4 ,bishop's automobile a short distance from the judges' stand1 wondering why there was no shouting1 when ,i was startled by a shout of joy from my friend1 ,mr4 ,bishop1 who had gone over to the judges' stand4 ,you win6 ,you win6 he cried1 all excitement as he ran toward the automobile4 ,bleriot is beaten by six seconds6 ,a few moments later1 just at half past five o'clock1 the ,stars and ,stripes were slowly hoisted to the top of the flagpole and we stood uncovered while the flag went up4 ,there was scarcely a response from the crowded grand stands2 no true ,frenchman had the heart to cheer4 ,a good1 hearty cheer requires more than mere politeness4 ,but every ,american there made enough noise for ten ordinary people1 so that numbers really counted for very little in the deep feeling of satisfaction at the result of the first great contest in the history of aviation4 ,mr4 ,andrew ,d4 ,white1 accompanied by ,mrs4 ,roosevelt and ,miss ,ethel ,roosevelt1 came over to our car and congratulated me4 ,quentin ,roosevelt1 who had been in a state of excitement throughout the day1 declared it bully1 while his brother ,archie wanted to be shown all about the working of the machine4 ,m4 ,bleriot himself1 good sportsman that he is1 was among the first to extend congratulations to ,america and to me personally4 ,there was a reason beyond the mere patriotism why the ,americans felt so happy over the result2 it meant that the next international race would be held in the ,united ,states1 and that the best foreign machines would have to come across the ocean to make a try for the cup the following year4 ,in commenting upon the result the ,paris ,edition of the ,new ,york ,herald said that the race had rehabilitated the biplane2 that while the lightness and bird-like lines of the monoplane had appealed to the crowd as the ideal representation of artificial flight1 the ,american aviator proved that the biplane not only possessed qualities of carrying weight and undoubtedly of superior stability1 but that1 if need be1 it can develop speed equal to1 if not superior to1 its smaller rival4 ,offers of engagements to fly in ,germany and ,italy came pouring in4 ,to accept these meant a good deal of money in prizes1 for it had been proven that ,i had the fastest aeroplane in the world4 ,i accepted some of them1 as ,i had learned that the conditions for flying at the big meets in ,europe were almost ideal and that there was a tremendous amount of interest everywhere1 among all classes4 ,a big meet was organized at ,brescia1 ,italy1 and ,i went there from ,rheims4 ,here ,i carried my first passenger1 the celebrated ,italian poet and author1 ,gabriele ,d',annunzio4 ,he was wildly enthusiastic over his experience1 and upon being brought back to earth said with all the emotion of his people3 ,until now ,i have never really lived6 ,life on earth is a creeping1 crawling business4 ,it is in the air that one feels the glory of being a man and of conquering the elements4 ,there is the exquisite smoothness of motion and the joy of gliding through space-,it is wonderful6 ,can ,i not express it in poetry8 ,i might try4 ,and he did express it in poetry1 a beautiful work published sometime later4 ,after winning the ,grand ,prize at ,brescia and taking a wonderful motor trip over the ,alps with ,mr4 ,bishop1 ,i hurried home to ,america to look after my business affairs1 about which ,i had not had time even to think during the ,rheims and ,brescia meets4 ,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,delegations of enthusiastic friends met ,mr4 ,curtiss in ,new ,york1 among them members of the ,aero ,club of ,america and other representative organisations4 ,there followed a series of luncheons and dinners which seemed without end4 ,among all these the luncheon given by the ,aero ,club of ,america at the ,lawyers' ,club was notable because every one present showed such a warm interest in the success of ,american aeronautics1 and such a firm determination not only to keep the trophy in this country1 but to defend it the next year in an aviation meet that should be even greater than that with which ,rheims had led the way4 ,but the real celebration took place in the little village of ,hammondsport1 the place where ,mr4 ,curtiss was born and reared1 and where he knew every man1 woman1 and child4 ,the men in the factory and all his other warm friends got together and decided that there must be something out of the ordinary when he got back to town4 ,they planned a procession all the way from ,bath to ,hammondsport1 a distance of ten miles1 with fireworks along the route4 ,but a heavy rain came on just in time to spoil the fireworks plan1 so they engaged a special train and this passed through a glow of red fire all the way home from ,bath4 ,at the ,hammondsport station there was a carriage to draw him up the hill to his home1 and fifty men furnished the motive power4 ,there were arches with ,welcome in electric lights1 banners1 fireworks1 and speeches4 ,through the pouring rain there was a continuous procession of his friends and acquaintances-townspeople who had always given him their loyal support and the men from the shop who had made his success possible4 ,it was after eleven o'clock when the crowd dispersed-an almost unholy hour for ,hammondsport4-,,augustus ,,post4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,hudson-,,fulton ,,celebration ,,first ,,american ,,international ,,meet1 ,,at ,,los ,,angeles ,i was not permitted to remain long in ,hammondsport1 although there was much work for me to do there in the way of planning improvements in the factory1 as well as on my aeroplane1 which had now come to be known throughout the world by reason of winning the ,gordon ,bennett ,cup4 ,there were tempting offers from all quarters to give exhibitions with the flying machine1 which up to that time had been seen in but few places in this country4 ,some of these offers were accepted because ,i could not afford to reject them4 ,moreover1 it required a great deal of money to run the shop1 and there was no commercial demand for aeroplanes4 ,they were1 as yet1 valuable only as show machines1 to see which the public was willing to pay goodly sums4 ,for a long time preparations had been going on at ,new ,york ,city to celebrate the tri-centenary of the discovery of the ,hudson river1 and the centenary of the first steamboat trip on that stream by ,fulton in the ,clermont4 ,it had been the idea of the originators of the ,hudson-,fulton celebration-an idea that was expressed in the tentative plans published long before the celebration itself-that the new conquest of the air should be recognised1 in some way1 at the same time4 ,at first it was intended that some sort of airship should accompany the naval parade the entire length of the ,hudson1 with a replica of ,hendrik ,hudson's ,half ,moon leading the way1 ,robert ,fulton's old steamboat ,clermont following1 and the airship hovering above them thus furnishing a striking illustration of the wonderful advancement in the means of locomotion in a hundred years1 and signalising the new science of air navigation4 ,with this end in view the ,celebration ,committee engaged the ,wright ,brothers and myself to bring aeroplanes to ,new ,york1 furnishing us with every facility on ,governor's ,island1 in the ,lower ,bay1 from which point all flights were to be made4 ,but aerial navigation in the fall of #aiji was not such a sure and certain thing as all that4 ,much depended upon the wind and weather1 and it was soon demonstrated that the best that could be hoped for at the time of the celebration would be flights made at such times as the wind would permit4 ,day after day the public waited anxiously for flights to be made up the ,hudson from ,governor's ,island1 but day after day the wind blew up or down the ,hudson in such blasts that it was not deemed safe to attempt a trip4 ,for it must be remembered that there is scarcely a more difficult course anywhere in the country than over the ,hudson river in the vicinity of ,new ,york4 ,on both sides of the river1 which is a swift-running stream1 rise lofty hills1 and at some places precipitous cliffs called the ,palisades4 ,on the ,new ,york side are miles upon miles of lofty apartment houses along ,riverside ,drive4 ,if the wind blows across the river1 either from the east or west1 dangerous currents and eddies suck down through the canon-like streets1 or over the steep ,palisades1 making flying extremely hazardous4 ,for this reason there has never1 even up to this time 7,august1 #aiab71 been any flying to speak of over the ,hudson1 and for these reasons1 the great river will not become a popular flying course for aeroplanes until they are so constructed as to be able to defy the treacherous1 puffy wind currents4 ,the hydroaeroplane1 however1 may navigate the course with safety1 as it is perfectly safe in one of these machines to fly within a few feet of the water where there is the least danger from contrary air currents4 ,so much was printed in the ,new ,york newspapers while we were waiting for propitious weather that the public was keyed up to expect great things from the aeroplanes-far greater than the aeroplane could accomplish4 ,bulletins were posted by the newspapers from day to day1 informing the public that flights would surely be made to-day provided the wind abated4 ,in the meantime interest was doubly stimulated by the announcement of a ten-thousand-dollar prize for the first air-flight over ,fulton's course1 from ,new ,york to ,albany1 or from ,albany to ,new ,york4 ,one of the paintings made at the time as an advance notice1 ,i remember1 showed so many aerial dreadnaughts in the sky1 passing down the river by the ,palisades at the same time1 that one was forced to wonder how all of them were going to find room to navigate4 ,however1 the atmosphere had cleared long before the actual flight was made down the ,hudson1 the following summer4 ,in spite of the disappointment felt by the public at not seeing a fleet of aeroplanes sporting over the ,hudson daily during the ,hudson-,fulton celebration1 there were many other things to divert the attention of ,new ,york's five millions and some few hundred thousands of visitors from this and other countries4 ,the week of pomp and pageantry culminated in the most wonderful marine and land parades ever staged in this country1 and seldom1 if ever1 excelled in the ,old ,world4 ,the marine parade extended all the way up to ,albany1 and at every stopping place there was a repetition1 on a smaller scale1 of the scenes of enthusiasm and general holiday spirit that had prevailed in the ,metropolis4 ,new ,york ,city was decorated as no one had ever seen it decorated before1 and the great fleet of over a hundred warships that swung at anchor in the ,hudson were visited by thousands by day and were outlined in myriads of electric lights at night1 disguising their ominous guns in soft shadow and giving them a peaceful and almost fairy-like appearance4 ,then there were the dirigible balloons to command the attention of the crowds that thronged ,riverside ,drive waiting for the aeroplanes4 ,they1 too1 were after the rich prize offered by the ,new ,york ,world4 ,they furnished the only real contest during the ,hudson-,fulton celebration4 ,there were two of them1 one entered by the intrepid ,captain ,thomas ,baldwin1 and the other by a ,mr4 ,tomlinson4 ,these were housed in great tents raised within an enclosure at ,riverside ,drive and ,one ,hundred and ,nineteenth street1 behind a high fence1 on which was painted ,hudson-,fulton ,flights4 ,this was the center of interest for great crowds for days during the period of waiting4 ,captain ,baldwin1 always popular with the people wherever he goes1 was the centre of interest with the crowds that stood around the sheds1 watching the mild1 blunt noses of the big dirigibles as they bobbed and swayed with the gusts that swept around ,grant's ,tomb1 reminding one of the ceaseless weaving of a restless elephant4 ,but the elements seemed to be as much against the dirigibles as against the aeroplanes4 ,tomlinson made a start1 after a long wait1 but came to grief almost at once1 while ,captain ,baldwin fared but little better4 ,his trip extended but a few miles up the river1 when he was forced to come down1 thus ending the chances of the dirigibles4 ,the aeroplanes were scarcely more fortunate4 ,october winds around ,new ,york are most unruly things1 and at that particular period seemed worse than usual4 ,weather-wise folk learned after awhile to look out at the flags on the high buildings2 if they stood out straight from the staff1 the people went about their business1 knowing there would be no flying that day4 ,but every one kept an ear cocked for the firing of a big cannon on ,governor's ,island1 the signal that a flight was about to be made4 ,even these were deceiving1 for there were so many salutes being fired by the great fleets in the river and bay1 that no one could tell when to give heed to gun signals4 ,so the crowds sat along ,riverside ,drive1 or depended upon the unhappy and over-worked policemen for word of the aeroplanes4 ,some people were disposed to hold the policemen personally responsible for the failure of the airships to fly4 ,you'd think1 said one of the blue-coated guardians on ,riverside ,drive1 that ,i was keepin' 'em back1 the way these people go at me4 ,they blame me and not the wind6 ,the wind held out and the week of festivities ended2 still there had been no flying4 ,i could not remain in ,new ,york any longer1 as ,i had accepted an engagement some time before to fly at ,st4 ,louis4 ,i was obliged therefore1 much to my chagrin1 and the disappointment of the crowds1 to leave the city without making a flight up the river1 although ,i did make a short flight over ,governor's ,island4 ,mr4 ,wilbur ,wright1 however1 remained in ,new ,york1 and during the following week made a magnificent flight up the river from ,governor's ,island to ,grant's ,tomb and return1 a distance of about twenty miles4 ,this gave the larger part of ,new ,york's millions their first glimpse of an aeroplane in flight4 ,at ,st4 ,louis we gave a very successful meet4 ,there were flights by ,captain ,baldwin1 ,lincoln ,beachey1 and ,roy ,knabenshue1 in their dirigible balloons1 and myself in my aeroplane4 ,the weather conditions were favourable1 and ,st4 ,louis turned out enthusiastic throngs to witness the exhibitions4 ,the ,pacific ,coast1 always progressive and quick to seize upon every innovation1 no matter where it may be developed1 had been clamoring for some time for an aviation meet4 ,the enterprising citizens of ,los ,angeles got together and put up a large sum of money to bring out from ,europe and the eastern part of the ,united ,states1 a number of representative aviators for an international meet1 the first ever given in this country4 ,louis ,paulhan1 one of the most celebrated ,french aviators1 was brought over with a biplane and a monoplane1 and there were a number of ,american entries1 including ,charles ,f4 ,willard and myself4 ,los ,angeles furnished the first opportunity for a real contest in this country between the ,french and ,american machines1 and these contests aroused immense interest throughout the country4 ,the importance of the ,los ,angeles meet to the aviation industry in this country was very great4 ,the favourable climatic conditions gave opportunities for every one to fly in all the events1 and the wide publicity given to the achievements of ,paulhan and others1 especially to the new world's altitude record established by the ,french aviator1 stimulated interest throughout the country4 ,there was cross-country flying such as had not been seen in this country1 brilliant exhibitions of altitude flying1 and speed contests of the hair-raising variety4 ,sometimes it takes just such a public demonstration as the ,los ,angeles meet not only to spread the news of the general progress of mechanical flight1 but to show the builders of aeroplanes themselves just what their machines are capable of4 ,it was at the ,los ,angeles meet1 by the way1 that ,charles ,f4 ,willard coined that apt and picturesque phrase which soon was used the world over in describing air conditions4 ,willard had made a short flight and on coming down declared the air was as full of holes as a ,swiss cheese4 ,this made a great hit with the newspapermen1 who featured it1 using it day after day in their stories until it went the rounds of the press of the world4 ,there were special articles written on holes in the air1 and interviews of prominent aviators to determine how it feels to fall into a hole in the air4 ,the expression was more picturesque than accurate1 for it is not necessary to explain1 in this advanced stage of aviation1 that there are no holes in the atmosphere4 ,if there were a hole in the atmosphere1 a clap of thunder would result1 caused by the rushing in of the surrounding air to fill the vacuum4 ,the only holes in the air are the streaks that follow a rifle bullet or a flash of lightning4 ,the real cause of the conditions described by ,willard1 and which has since probably been responsible for the death of several well known aviators1 is a swift1 downward current of air1 rushing in to fill a vacuum that follows a rising current from a heated area4 ,the hot air rises and the cool air rushes down to take its place4 ,an aeroplane striking one of these descending currents drops as if the entire atmospheric support had been suddenly removed1 and if it be not high enough1 may strike the ground with fatal results to the aviator4 ,every experienced airman has met these conditions4 ,they are especially noticeable over water1 streaks of calm water showing where the up-currents are just starting1 and waves or ripples where the down-currents strike the surface4 ,the representative of the ,aero ,club of ,america at the ,los ,angeles meet was ,mr4 ,cortlandt ,field ,bishop1 of ,new ,york1 who had been at ,rheims the previous summer when ,i won the ,gordon ,bennett ,cup and who had been of inestimable assistance to me at that time4 ,mr4 ,bishop had his oft-expressed wish to fly gratified at ,los ,angeles4 ,he was taken up by ,louis ,paulhan several times1 and ,paulhan also took ,mrs4 ,bishop for her first aerial ride4 ,great crowds came out at the ,los ,angeles meet1 and they for the first time in the history of aviation in this country expected the aviator to fly and not to fall4 ,paulhan did some wonderful cross-country flying1 and as a climax to the week of aerial wonders1 he established a world's altitude record by ascending #d1afe feet4 ,this was regarded as marvellous at that time4 ,since then the mark has been successively raised by ,brookins1 ,hoxsey1 ,le ,blanc1 ,beachey1 ,garros and others4 ,legagneux now 7,september1 #aiab7 holds the record at #ah1gfj feet4 ,interest in aviation was keen following the ,los ,angeles meet and ,i decided to try for the ,new ,york ,world's ten-thousand-dollar prize1 which was still open1 for a flight down the ,hudson from ,albany to ,new ,york ,city4 ,notwithstanding all the natural obstacles in the way of the accomplishment of the undertaking1 the conditions were so fair as to stops1 time-limit1 etc41 and it was so obviously a prize offered to be won1 that ,i considered it worth a serious effort4 ,i fully realised that the flight was much greater than anything ,i had yet attempted1 and even more difficult than ,bleriot's great flight across the ,english channel from ,france to ,england1 news of which was still ringing throughout the world1 and even greater than the projected flight from ,london to ,manchester1 ,england1 and for which a prize of fifty thousand dollars had been offered4 ,although the course covered about the same distance as the ,london-,manchester route1 there was not the difficulty of landing safely over the ,english route4 ,the ,hudson flight meant one hundred and fifty-two miles over a broad1 swift stream1 flowing between high hills or rugged mountains the entire distance and with seldom a place to land2 it meant a fight against treacherous and varying wind currents rushing out unawares through clefts in the mountains1 and possible motor trouble that would land both machine and aviator in the water with not much chance of escape from drowning1 even if uninjured in alighting4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,flight ,,down ,,the ,,hudson ,,river ,,from ,,albany ,,to ,,new ,,york ,,city ,to fly from ,albany to ,new ,york ,city was quite an undertaking in the summer of #aiaj4 ,i realised that success would depend upon a dependable motor and a reliable aeroplane4 ,in preparation for the task1 therefore1 ,i set the factory at ,hammondsport to work to build a new machine4 ,while awaiting the completion of the machine1 ,i took a trip up the ,hudson from ,new ,york to ,albany to look over the course and to select a place about half way between the two cities where a landing for gasoline and oil might be made1 should it become necessary4 ,there are very few places for an aeroplane to land with safety around ,new ,york ,city4 ,the official final landing place1 stipulated in the conditions drawn up by the ,new ,york ,world1 was to be ,governor's ,island1 but ,i wanted to know of another place on the upper edge of the city where ,i might come down if it should prove necessary4 ,i looked all over the upper end of ,manhattan ,island1 and at last found a little meadow on a side hill just at the junction of the ,hudson and ,harlem rivers1 at a place called ,inwood4 ,it was small and sloping1 but had the advantage of being within the limits of ,new ,york ,city4 ,it proved fortunate for me that ,i had selected this place1 for it later served to a mighty good advantage4 ,there was quite a party of us aboard the ,hudson river boat leaving ,new ,york ,city one day in ,may for the trip to ,albany4 ,as an illustration of the scepticism among the steamboat men1 ,i remember that ,i approached an officer and asked several questions about the weather conditions on the river1 and particularly as to the prevailing winds at that period of the year4 ,incidentally1 ,i remarked that ,i was contemplating a trip up the river from ,new ,york to ,albany in an aeroplane and wanted to collect all the reliable data possible on atmospheric conditions4 ,this officer1 whom ,i afterward learned was the first mate1 answered all my questions courteously1 but it was evident to all of us that he believed ,i was crazy4 ,he took me to the captain of the big river boat and introduced me1 saying3 ,captain1 this is ,mr4 ,curtiss1 the flying machine man2 that's all ,i know1 in a tone that clearly indicated that he disclaimed all responsibility as to anything ,i might do or say4 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,the ,pictorial ,news ,co4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,albany-,,new ,,york ,,hudson ,,flight 7,a7 ,start of the flight at ,albany4 ,mrs4 ,curtiss and ,augustus ,post standing by ,curtiss4 7,b7 ,over ,west ,point ,military ,academy-,the new kind of invader4 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,the ,pictorial ,news ,co4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hudson ,,flight ,over ,storm ,king ,the captain was very kind and courteous1 asking us to remain in the pilot house1 where we might get a better view of the country along the way1 and displaying the keenest interest in the project4 ,he answered all our questions about the winds along the ,hudson and seemed to enter heartily in the spirit of the thing until we approached the great bridge at ,poughkeepsie and ,i began to deliberate whether it would be better to pass over or beneath it in the aeroplane4 ,then it seemed really to dawn upon the captain for the first time that ,i was actually going to fly down the river in an aeroplane4 ,he apparently failed to grasp the situation1 and thereafter his answers were vague and given without interest4 ,it was ,oh1 yes1 ,i guess so1 and similar doubtful expressions1 but when we finally left the boat at ,albany he very kindly wished me a safe trip and promised to blow the whistle if ,i should pass his boat4 ,albany afforded a better starting place than ,new ,york1 because there were convenient spots where one might land before getting well under way1 should it become necessary4 ,this was not true of the situation at ,new ,york ,city4 ,as to the advantage of prevailing winds1 it seemed to be in favour of ,albany as the starting place1 and ,i finally decided to have everything sent up to the capital city4 ,on my way up ,i had stopped at ,poughkeepsie1 in order to select a landing place1 as at least one stop was deemed necessary to take on gasoline and to look over the motor4 ,we visited the ,state ,hospital for the ,insane1 which stands on the hill just above ,poughkeepsie1 and which seemed to be a good place to land4 ,dr4 ,taylor1 the superintendent1 showed us about the grounds1 and when told that ,i intended stopping there on my way down the river in a flying machine1 said with much cordiality3 ,why1 certainly1 ,mr4 ,curtiss1 come right in here2 here's where all the flying machine inventors land4 ,notwithstanding the ,doctor's cordial invitation to drop in on him1 we went to the other side of ,poughkeepsie1 and there found a fine open field at a place called ,camelot4 ,i looked over the ground carefully1 locating the ditches and furrows1 and selected the very best place to make a safe landing4 ,arrangements were made for a supply of gasoline1 water1 and oil to be brought to the field and held in readiness4 ,it was fortunate that ,i looked over the ,camelot field1 for a few days later ,i landed within a few feet of the place ,i had selected as the most favoured spot near ,poughkeepsie4 ,this is but one thing that illustrates how the whole trip was outlined before the start was made1 and how this plan was followed out according to arrangement4 ,i shall always remember ,albany as the starting place of my first long cross-country flight4 ,my machine was brought over from ,hammondsport and set up2 the ,aero ,club sent up its official representatives1 ,mr4 ,augustus ,post and ,mr4 ,jacob ,l4 ,ten ,eyck1 and the newspapers of ,new ,york ,city sent a horde of reporters4 ,a special train was engaged to start from ,albany as soon as ,i got under way1 carrying the newspapermen and the ,aero ,club representatives1 as well as several invited guests4 ,it was the purpose to have this train keep even with me along the entire trip of one hundred and fifty-two miles1 but as it turned out1 it had some trouble in living up to the schedule4 ,the aeroplane1 christened the ,hudson ,flier1 was set up on ,rensselaer ,island4 ,it was now up to the weather man to furnish conditions ,i considered suitable4 ,this proved a hard task1 and for three days ,i got up at daybreak1 when there is normally the least wind1 ready to make an early start4 ,on these days the newspapermen and officials1 not to mention crowds of curious spectators1 rubbed the sleep out of their eyes before the sun got up and went out to ,rensselaer ,island4 ,but the wind was there ahead of us and it blew all day long4 ,the weather bureau promised repeatedly1 fair weather1 with light winds1 but couldn't live up to promises4 ,i put in some of the time in going over every nut1 bolt1 and turnbuckle on the machine with shellac4 ,nothing was overlooked2 everything was made secure4 ,i had confidence in the machine4 ,i knew ,i could land on the water if it became necessary1 as ,i had affixed two light pontoons to the lower plane1 one on either end1 and a hydro-surface under the front wheel of the landing-gear4 ,this would keep me afloat some time should ,i come down in the river4 ,we bothered the life out of the weather observer at ,albany1 but he was always very kind and took pains to get weather reports from every point along the river4 ,but the newspapermen lost faith2 they were tired of the delay4 ,i have always observed that newspapermen1 who work at a high tension1 cannot endure delay when there is a good piece of news in prospect4 ,one of those at ,albany during the wait1 offered to lay odds with the others that ,i would not make a start4 ,others among the journalists believed ,i was looking for free advertising1 and when another of the advertised starters for the ,world prize reached ,albany he was greeted with3 ,hello1 old man1 are you up here to get some free advertising1 too8 ,one of the ,poughkeepsie papers printed an editorial about this time1 in which it said3 ,curtiss gives us a pain in the neck4 ,all those who are waiting to see him go down the river are wasting their time4 ,this was a fair sample of the lack of faith in the undertaking4 ,the machine was the centre of interest at ,albany during the wait4 ,it seemed to hold a fascination for the crowds that came over to the island4 ,one young fellow gazed at it so long and so intently that he finally fell over backwards insensible and it was some time before he was restored to consciousness4 ,then one of the newspapermen dashed a pail of water over him and at once sent his paper a column about it4 ,they had to find something to write about and the countryman1 the flying machine1 and the fit made a combination good enough for almost any newspaper-man to weave an interesting yarn about4 ,our period of waiting almost ended on ,saturday morning1 ,may #cjth4 ,the ,hudson ,flier was brought out of its tent1 groomed and fit2 the special train provided by the ,new ,york ,times to follow me over the ,new ,york ,central1 stood ready1 with steam up and the engineer holding a right-of-way order through to ,new ,york4 ,the newspapermen1 always on the job1 and the guests were watching eagerly for the aeroplane to start and set out on its long and hazardous flight4 ,then something happened-the wind came up4 ,at first it did not seem to be more than a breeze1 but it grew stronger and reports from down the river told of a strong wind blowing up the river4 ,this would have meant a head gale all the way to ,new ,york1 should ,i make a start then4 ,everything was called off for the day and we all went over and visited the ,state ,capitol4 ,the newspapermen swallowed their disappointment and hoped for better things on the morrow4 ,sunday proved to be the day4 ,the delay had got somewhat on my nerves and ,i had determined to make a start if there was half a chance4 ,the morning was calm and bright-a perfect summer day4 ,news from down the river was all favourable4 ,i determined it was now or never4 ,i sent ,mrs4 ,curtiss to the special train and informed the ,world representative and the ,aero ,club officials that ,i was ready to go4 ,shortly after eight o'clock the motor was turned over and ,i was off6 ,it was plain sailing after ,i got up and away from ,rensselaer ,island4 ,the air was calm and ,i felt an immense sense of relief4 ,the motor sounded like music and the machine handled perfectly4 ,i was soon over the river and when ,i looked down ,i could see deep down beneath the surface4 ,this is one of the peculiar things about flying over the water4 ,when high up a person is able to see farther beneath the surface4 ,i kept a close lookout for the special train1 which could not get under way as quickly as ,i had1 and pretty soon ,i caught sight of it whirling along on the tracks next to the river bank4 ,i veered over toward the train and flew along even with the locomotive for miles4 ,i could see the people with their heads out the windows1 some of them waving their hats or hands1 while the ladies shook their handkerchiefs or veils frantically4 ,it was no effort at all to keep up with the train1 which was making fifty miles an hour4 ,it was like a real race and ,i enjoyed the contest more than anything else during the flight4 ,at times ,i would gain as the train swung around a short curve and thus lost ground1 while ,i continued on in an air line4 ,all along the river1 wherever there was a village or town1 and even along the roads and in boats on the river1 ,i caught glimpses of crowds or groups of people with their faces turned skyward1 their attitudes betokening the amazement which could not be read in their faces at that distance4 ,boatmen on the river swung their caps in mute greeting1 while now and then a river tug with a long line of scows in tow1 sent greetings in a blast of white steam1 indicating there was the sound of a whistle behind4 ,but ,i heard nothing but the steady1 even roar of the motor in perfect rhythm1 and the whirr of the propeller4 ,not even the noise of the speeding special train only a few hundred feet below reached me1 although ,i could see every turn of the great drive-wheels on the engine4 ,on we sped1 the train and the aeroplane1 representing a century of the history of transportation1 keeping abreast until ,hudson had been past4 ,here the aeroplane began to gain1 and as the train took a wide sweeping curve away from the bank of the river1 ,i increased the lead perceptibly1 and soon lost sight of the special4 ,it seemed but a few minutes until the great bridge spanning the ,hudson at ,poughkeepsie1 came into view4 ,it was a welcome landmark1 for ,i knew that ,i had covered more than half the journey from ,albany to ,new ,york1 and that ,i must stop to replenish the gasoline4 ,i might have gone on and taken a chance on having enough fuel1 but this was not the time for taking chances4 ,there was too much at stake4 ,i steered straight for the centre of the ,poughkeepsie bridge1 and passed a hundred and fifty feet above it4 ,the entire population of ,poughkeepsie had turned out1 apparently1 and resembled swarms of busy ants1 running here and there1 waving their hats and hands4 ,i kept close watch for the place where ,i had planned to turn off the river course and make a landing4 ,a small pier jutting out into the river was the mark ,i had chosen beforehand and it soon came into view4 ,i made a wide circle and turned inland1 over a clump of trees1 and landed on the spot ,i had chosen on my way up to ,albany4 ,but the gasoline and oil which ,i had expected to find waiting for me1 were not there4 ,i saw no one for a time1 but soon a number of men came running across the fields and a number of automobiles turned off the road and raced toward the aeroplane4 ,i asked for some gasoline and an automobile hurried away to bring it4 ,i could scarcely hear and there was a continual ringing in my ears4 ,this was the effect of the roaring motor1 and strange to say1 this did not cease until the motor was started again4 ,from that time on there was no disagreeable sensation4 ,the special train reached the ,camelot field shortly after ,i landed and soon the newspaper-men1 the ,aero ,club officials1 and the guests came climbing up the hill from the river1 all eager to extend their congratulations4 ,henry ,kleckler1 acting as my mechanic1 who had come along on the special train1 looked over the machine carefully1 testing every wire1 testing the motor out1 and taking every precaution to make the remainder of the journey as successful as the first half4 ,the gasoline having arrived1 and the tank being refilled1 the special train got under way2 once more ,i rose into the air1 and the final lap of the journey was on4 ,out over the trees to the river ,i set my course1 and when ,i was about midstream1 turned south4 ,at the start ,i climbed high above the river1 and then dropped down close to the water4 ,i wanted to feel out the air currents1 believing that ,i would be more likely to find steady air conditions near the water4 ,i was mistaken in this1 however1 and soon got up several hundred feet and maintained about an even altitude of from five hundred to seven hundred feet4 ,everything went along smoothly until ,i came within sight of ,west ,point4 ,here the wind was nasty and shook me up considerably4 ,gusts shot out from the rifts between the mountains and made extremely rough riding4 ,the worst spot was encountered between ,storm ,king and ,dunderberg1 where the river is narrow and the mountains rise abruptly from the water's edge to more than a thousand feet on either side4 ,here ,i ran into a downward suction that dropped me in what seemed an interminable fall straight down1 but which as a matter of fact was not more than a hundred feet or perhaps less4 ,it was one of ,willard's famous holes in the air4 ,the atmosphere seemed to tumble about like water rushing through a narrow gorge4 ,at another point1 a little farther along1 and after ,i had dropped down close to the water1 one blast tipped a wing dangerously high1 and ,i almost touched the water4 ,i thought for an instant that my trip was about to end1 and made a quick mental calculation as to the length of time it would take a boat to reach me after ,i should drop into the water4 ,the danger passed as quickly as it had come1 however1 and the machine righted itself and kept on4 ,down by the ,palisades we soared1 rising above the steep cliffs that wall the stream on the west side4 ,whenever ,i could give my attention to things other than the machine1 ,i kept watch for the special train4 ,now and then ,i caught glimpses of it whirling along the bank of the river1 but for the greater part of the way ,i out-distanced it4 ,soon ,i caught sight of some of the sky-scrapers that make the sky-line of ,new ,york ,city the most wonderful in the world4 ,first ,i saw the tall frame of the ,metropolitan ,tower1 and then the lofty ,singer building4 ,these landmarks looked mighty good to me1 for ,i knew that1 given a few more minutes' time1 ,i would finish the flight4 ,approaching ,spuyten ,duyvil1 just above the ,harlem river1 ,i looked at my oil gauge and discovered that the supply was almost exhausted4 ,i dared not risk going on to ,governor's ,island1 some fifteen miles farther1 for once past the ,harlem river there would be no place to land short of the island4 ,so ,i took a wide sweep across to the ,jersey side of the river1 circled around toward the ,new ,york side1 and put in over the ,harlem river1 looking for the little meadow at ,inwood which ,i had picked out as a possible landing place some two weeks before4 ,there ,i landed on the sloping hillside1 and went immediately to a telephone to call up the ,new ,york ,world4 ,i told them ,i had landed within the city limits and was coming down the river to ,governor's ,island soon4 ,i got more oil1 some one among the crowd1 that gathered as if by magic1 turned my propeller1 and ,i got away safely on the last leg of the flight4 ,while ,i had complied with the conditions governing the flight by landing in the city limits1 ,i wanted to go on to ,governor's ,island and give the people the chance to see the machine in flight4 ,from the extreme northern limits of ,new ,york to ,governor's ,island1 at the southern limits1 was the most inspiring part of the trip4 ,news of the approach of the aeroplane had spread throughout the city1 and ,i could see crowds everywhere4 ,new ,york can turn out a million people probably quicker than any other place on earth1 and it certainly looked as though half of the population was along ,riverside ,drive or on top of the thousands of apartment houses that stretch for miles along the river4 ,every craft on the river turned on its siren and faint sounds of the clamour reached me even above the roar of my motor4 ,it seemed but a moment until the ,statue of ,liberty came into view4 ,i turned westward1 circled the ,lady with the ,torch and alighted safely on the parade ground on ,governor's ,island4 ,general ,frederick ,grant1 commanding the ,department of the ,east1 was one of the first officers who came up to extend congratulations and to compliment me on the success of the undertaking4 ,from that moment ,i had little chance for anything except the luncheons and dinners to which ,i was invited4 ,first came the luncheon at the ,astor ,house given by the ,new ,york ,world1 and then the big banquet at the ,hotel ,astor1 presided over by ,mayor ,gaynor and attended by many prominent men interested in aviation4 ,the speeches were all highly laudatory1 of course1 and there were many predictions by the orators that the ,hudson river would become a highway for aerial craft1 as it had for steam craft when ,fulton first steered the old ,clermont from ,new ,york to ,albany4 ,on the trip down from ,albany ,i carried a letter from the mayor of that city to ,mayor ,gaynor1 and delivered it in less time than it would have taken the fastest mail train4 ,my actual flying time was two hours1 fifty-one minutes1 the distance one hundred and fifty-two miles1 and the average speed fifty-two miles an hour4 ,from ,albany to ,poughkeepsie is eighty-seven miles1 and by making this in a continuous flight ,i had1 incidentally1 won the ,scientific ,american trophy for the third time4 ,it now became my personal property1 and its formal presentation was made at the annual dinner of the ,aero ,club of ,america for that year4 ,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,the newspapers made much of ,mr4 ,curtiss' flight1 drawing comparisons between the ,hudson river course and the flight made by ,bleriot across the ,english channel1 and the trip of ,paulhan from ,london to ,manchester1 which he had just accomplished a flight of about the same distance1 for which he received fifty thousand dollars from the ,london ,daily ,mail4 ,the ,new ,york ,times offered a large prize for a flight from ,new ,york to ,philadelphia and return1 immediately afterward1 which ,charles ,k4 ,hamilton won1 and also offered a prize of twenty-five thousand dollars for a flight between ,new ,york and ,chicago1 which was never won4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,e4 ,hearst was also moved to offer fifty thousand dollars for a flight between ,new ,york and a point on the ,pacific ,coast1 the offer standing open for one year4 ,this flight was accomplished by ,calbraith ,p4 ,rodgers1 but was not concluded within the time limit4 ,there was1 naturally1 an outburst of editorial comment from newspapers all over the ,united ,states1 not only long and scholarly leaders1 but brief1 snappy paragraphs that make the press of this country an interesting record of public feeling and sentiment on all extraordinary achievements4 ,for instance1 the ,st4 ,louis ,times spoke of the passing of the new aerial menace over ,west ,point where cadets were studying the history of military science along ancient lines1 and the ,chicago ,inter-,ocean chuckled over how this latest achievement would jar old ,hendrik ,hudson4 ,copyright1 #aiaj1 by ,the ,pictorial ,news ,co4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hudson ,,flight 7,a7 ,stop at ,poughkeepsie4 7,b7 ,finish1 at ,governor's ,island ,illustration3 ,,the ,,evolution ,,of ,,the ,,hydro 7,a7 ,the first hydro in the world-the ,june ,bug on pontoons1 ,hammondsport1 ,november #e1 #aijh4 7,b7 ,developing ,hydro at ,san ,diego ,curtiss and ,ellyson in hydro of winter1 #aiaa2 dual control-either of two military aviators may steer4 7,c7 ,curtiss ,landing in hydro at ,cedar ,point1 ,ohio4 ,the ,newark ,news declared that the ,indian canoe1 the ,half moon1 the ,clermont and the ,curtiss biplane each represented a human achievement that marked an epoch1 while the ,providence ,news believed that valuable as was astronomer ,halley's naming of a comet1 ,mr4 ,curtiss has accomplished something of more practical value to the world and the ,york ,gazette compared the flight down the ,hudson ,valley by the aeroplane to the conquest of the ,north ,pole4 ,there were other interesting points of view taken by the press1 the ,birmingham ,news1 for instance1 expressing the opinion that the ,new ,york ,world was extravagant1 as it had paid #aj1jjj4jj for ,curtiss' ticket from ,albany to ,new ,york1 when it might have brought him down by train for #d4fe4 ,the ,battle ,creek ,enquirer said that ,mr4 ,curtiss ought to go into politics1 for a man who can soar as high1 stay up as long1 travel as far1 light as safely1 all on wind1 would have the rest of them tied to the post4 ,but the ,savannah ,news intimated that nobody could blame ,mr4 ,curtiss from flying away from the ,albany ,legislature at the rate of a mile a minute4 ,the ,birmingham ,age-,herald declared that the way was paved for other and greater flights1 even across the ,atlantic ocean1 and indeed1 the ocean flight now seemed to the press a not far distant possibility4 ,the ,rochester ,chronicle-,democrat argued that the bench and bar would now have an opportunity for the exercise of all their legal ability to settle the question who owns the air6 ,but it was left to the ,houston ,post to break into poetry in the following outburst of local pride3 ,the wonder is that ,curtiss did ,not pass ,new ,york and onward whiz ,southwest by south1 half south1 until ,he got where ,houston1 ,texas1 is4 ,but perhaps the most characteristic comments were those like that of the ,new ,york ,evening ,mail3 ,in every newspaper that you picked up yesterday you read a thrilling account of the great achievement of ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss4 ,the detailed description of his wonderful flight stirred every emotion in you4 ,chills ran up your spine and tears of joy came to your eyes as you read on and on of the courage of the man who propelled his airship at a speed of fifty-three miles an hour at a height of a thousand feet above the earth4 ,he realised all of the time that a broken bolt or some little thing gone wrong might dash him to death4 ,it is of course quite impossible to give even a small proportion of the bright comments that were made by the newspapers not only of this country1 but even by the foreign press4 ,the ,new ,york ,times sent a special train to follow the flight1 on which ,i rode as the representative of the ,aero ,club of ,america4 ,here is my report in the ,times3 #g3jb-;,a4 ,m4 ,mr4 ,curtiss started from ,van ,rensselaer ,island1 ,albany4 ,jacob ,l4 ,ten ,eyck official starter for ,aero ,club of ,america4 #g3jc-,passed over the city limits of ,albany4 #g3bj-,new ,baltimore4 #g3bf-,twenty-one miles4 ,the ,times special train caught up with aeroplane4 #g3bg-,milton ,hook brick yards4 ,wind still4 ,aeroplane flying about #de miles per hour4 ,passed lighthouse on west side of ,hudson ,river4 #g3cb-,stockport4 ,twenty-four miles4 #g3ce-;,hudson4 ,twenty-nine miles4 ,aeroplane flying high4 ,catskill ,mountain houses could be seen in the distance4 ,machine flying steady1 water was calm1 small ripples along the surface4 #g3cf-,thirty miles4 ,the ,times special train passed through tunnel parallel with 'plane4 #g3dj-b ,tower #ha1 ,new ,york ,central ,railroad4 ,greensdale ferry4 #g3da-;,catskill on west shore of ,hudson ,river4 ,flying high4 #g3dd-,water trough in centre of track4 ,train equal with 'plane4 ,linlithgo ,station4 #g3df-;,germantown steamer dock4 ,aeroplane flying well4 #g3dh-,passed old steamboat on west side of the river4 ,germantown ,station4 ,aeroplane pitched when foot oil pump was used4 ,slight ripples on the water4 #g3ea-99,the ,times99 special train running parallel with aeroplane4 #g3ec-,tivoli4 ,forty-four miles4 ,aeroplane #a1jjj feet high4 ,wind slightly from the west4 #g3eh-;,barrytown4 ,forty-nine miles4 ,aeroplane about #hjj feet high1 descending a little lower until about #djj feet high4 #h3jc-,kingston4 ,brick yards on west shore of river4 ,mr4 ,curtiss is flying very near ,the ,times special train1 within perhaps #ajj yards4 #h3jd-;,aeroplane turns toward west4 ,heads a little more into the wind and crosses to the west side of the river at high speed4 #h3je-,private yacht dock on east side of river4 ,aeroplane flying high again4 #h3jf-,rhinecliff3 ,ferry4 ,fifty-four miles4 ,aeroplane has been flying one hour and four minutes4 ,seems to be flying well4 #h3jh-,passing ,tower #fg1 ,new ,york ,central ,railroad4 #h3jh-99,the ,times99 special train passed through tunnel4 ,mr4 ,curtiss goes back to west side of river1 flying over ice-houses4 #h3aa-,passed lighthouse in middle of river4 ,the aeroplane seems to be rising and falling slowly on the varying currents of air4 ,river is very wide at this point4 ,there are large stone crushers on the west shore1 and a large stone building of an institution on the bank of the river4 #h3ab-,staatsburg4 ,sixty miles4 #h3af-;,aeroplane now is passing over a large white house1 some private residence on the west shore of the river4 ,aeroplane is flying past freight train on the ,west ,shore ,railroad4 #h3ah-;,hyde ,park ,station4 ,sixty-four miles4 ,the ,times special train passing water trough in centre of railway track4 ,passing ,insane ,asylum at ,poughkeepsie4 #h3bj-,passing upper portion of ,poughkeepsie4 ',plane over river4 #h3bd-,passing ,poughkeepsie ,bridge4 ,aeroplane about #bjj feet above it4 #h3be #a_/b-99,the ,times99 special train goes through ,poughkeepsie ,station4 #h3cj-99,the ,times99 special train arrives at ,gill's ,mill ,dock1 opposite landing place of ,mr4 ,curtiss4 ,aeroplane landed according to ,mr4 ,curtiss's watch on his machine at #h3bf4 ,i left special train and went to the field where ,mr4 ,curtiss had landed1 arriving a few minutes later4 ,the tanks of the machine were filled with eight gallons of gasoline and one gallon and a half of oil4 ,the machine was examined carefully and found to be in good order1 one wire being stayed to prevent vibration4 ,george ,collingwood took ,the ,times special train party to ,new ,hamburg ,station4 #i3bf-,mr4 ,curtiss started for ,new ,york from field on property of ,mr4 ,gill4 #i3ca-;,camelot4 #aj3jb-,west ,point4 ,aeroplane passed over ,constitution ,island at an altitude of about #djj feet above the land4 #aj3jf-,manitou4 #aj3ae-,ossining4 ,aeroplane flying on west side of the river4 #aj3be-;,dobbs ,ferry4 #aj3cj-,yonkers4 ,aeroplane flying about level with top of ,palisades4 #aj3ce-,landed #badth ,street4 ,inwood4 ,after passing down river to ,dyckman ,street and returning to ,spuyten ,duyvil and passing over drawbridge the aeroplane landed upon the property of the ,isham estate4 #aa3db-,mr4 ,curtiss left his landing place1 flying again over the drawbridge1 out over the ,hudson ,river1 turned south4 #ab3jj-,m4 ,passed ,new ,york ,city and landed at ,governor's ,island at noon4 ,mr4 ,curtiss also entered for the ,scientific ,american trophy and the first flight from ,albany to the landing place at ,poughkeepsie1 the exact distance of which is to be determined later1 will count as a record for this event1 and if not exceeded in the year will stand as ,mr4 ,curtiss's trial for this trophy4 ,the figures as finally corrected show that ,mr4 ,curtiss was in the air on the first leg of his flight from ,albany to the ,gill farm near ,poughkeepsie #a hour and #bd minutes2 from the ,gill farm to the ,isham estate at #badth ,street #a hour and nine minutes1 and from #badth ,street to ,governor's ,island #ah minutes1 making a total flying time for the #aej miles of #b hours and #ea minutes4 ,figured on the basis of #aej miles for the entire flight1 ,mr4 ,curtiss is shown to have maintained an average speed of #eb4fc miles per hour4-,a4 ,p4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane ,the ,albany ,flight was a great stimulus to aeronautics in this country4 ,prizes were at once offered in several different places by several different newspapers1 and a great many cities wanted to have public flights made and particularly wanted flights to be made over water4 ,at ,atlantic ,city ,i flew over the ocean1 making a record for fifty miles over water on a measured course4 ,it was here at the same time that ,walter ,brookins made a world's altitude record of over six thousand feet in a standard ,wright machine4 ,later ,i flew from ,cleveland to ,cedar ,point1 near ,sandusky1 ,ohio1 a distance of sixty miles over the waters of ,lake ,erie1 and returned next day in a rain storm4 ,after making flights in ,pittsburgh1 ,pa41 ,i thought that a successful meet could be held in ,new ,york ,city1 so ,i arranged to have all of our forces gathered together at ,sheepshead ,bay race track1 near ,brighton ,beach1 ,n4 ,y41 and during the week of ,august #bf1 #aiaj1 we had an aeroplane meet at which ,messrs4 ,j4 ,c4 ,mars1 ,charles ,f4 ,willard1 ,eugene ,b4 ,ely1 ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mc,curdy1 and ,augustus ,post made flights and this meet was so successful that it was continued for a second week4 ,mr4 ,ely flew to ,brighton ,beach and took dinner and then flew back4 ,mr4 ,mars flew out over the ,lower ,bay and we had all five of the machines in the air at one time on several occasions a record for ,new ,york at that time4 ,it was here that ,mr4 ,post made a ,bronco ,busting ,flight over the hurdles at the ,sheepshead ,bay track1 landing safely after putting his machine through all manner of thrilling manoeuvres4 ,the ,harvard ,aeronautical ,society had arranged a meet at ,boston1 ,mass41 which followed directly after this one1 and ,claude ,grahame-,white1 the famous ,english aviator1 who was later to win the ,gordon ,bennett cup at ,belmont ,park1 came over from ,england1 bringing his fast ,bleriot monoplane with him4 ,a special race was arranged between ,mr4 ,white in his ,bleriot and my racing biplane4 ,the meet was a great success1 and but a very small margin separated ,mr4 ,white's ,bleriot and my machine when we tried out our best speeds4 ,then came a meet at ,chicago1#c after which it was arranged that three machines should start to fly from ,chicago to ,new ,york for the ,new ,york ,times' prize of #be1jjj4 ,a team was made up and ,mr4 ,ely was chosen to make the attempt to fly to ,new ,york4 ,this was a very ambitious undertaking for this period in the history of aviation in ,america1 for the longest flight that up to this time had been made in this country was between ,new ,york and ,philadelphia1 one hundred and eighty miles2 while the distance between ,chicago and ,new ,york was fully one thousand miles and landings were very difficult to accomplish in the broken country along the way4 ,mr4 ,ely made a good attempt1 but there was not sufficient time to complete the trip as flights had already been arranged at ,cleveland1 ,ohio1 and in order to go there1 this attempt was given up4 ,the ,gordon ,bennett ,aviation ,cup race was the next thing to arouse the interest of patriotic ,americans and the ,aero ,club of ,america had been busy with arrangements for a big meet to be held at ,belmont ,park1 near ,new ,york4 ,this was the largest undertaking that the club had up to this time attempted and they taxed every possible resource1 with the splendid result of securing all the foremost fliers of ,europe1 as well as of ,america1 to participate4 ,i had built a machine for the trials which ,i thought would be very fast and had constructed it as a type of monoplane in order to cut down the head resistance to the very least possible point4 ,america was represented by ,anthony ,drexel1 ,jr41 in a ,bleriot2 by the ,wright ,brothers1 who had constructed a racing machine by putting a powerful motor in a small machine which was about one-half the size of their regular model1 and by ,mr4 ,charles ,k4 ,hamilton1 who flew a ,curtiss type machine1 but with a large power motor of another make4 ,mr4 ,grahame-,white won the race in his ,bleriot1 although ,mr4 ,alfred ,leblanc1 representing ,france1 made remarkable time1 but on the last lap ran into a telegraph pole on one of the turns and smashed his machine and had a most miraculous escape from being killed4 ,i did not try out my monoplane1 although my regular type was the speediest standard biplane at the meet and was very well handled by ,ely1 ,mars1 ,willard1 and ,mc,curdy who flew in the contests4 ,i had given up public flying in contests at this time4 ,a new line of thought or to express it more accurately1 the following out of a very old one was taking my interest and a great part of my time4 ,the experiments ,i had in mind involved the problem of flying from the water and alighting on the water4 ,the season of #aiaj was now far advanced and it was time to make plans for the winter4 ,flying meets were to be held at ,los ,angeles again1 and also at ,san ,francisco1 and ,california seemed the best place to go1 for the weather there would be most favourable not only for winter flying1 but also for carrying on the experiments which ,i had in mind4 ,meantime1 when it seemed as if all the paths were open to the aeroplane over the land1 and it was only a question of development1 not of pioneering1 it was suggested to me by the ,new ,york ,world to launch an aeroplane from the deck of a ship at sea and have it fly back to shore carrying messages4 ,the ,hamburg ,american ,steamship ,company offered their ocean liner ,pennsylvania for this test1 and ,i sent a standard ,curtiss biplane to be operated by ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mc,curdy4 ,the ship was fitted with a large platform1 erected on the stern1 a platform sloping downward1 and wide enough to allow an aeroplane set up on it to run down so that it could gather headway for its flight4 ,the plan was to take ,mc,curdy and the aeroplane fifty miles out to sea on the outward voyage from ,new ,york1 and then launch them from the platform4 ,a mishap at the last moment upset all the well-laid plans4 ,in trying out the motor just as the ,pennsylvania was about to leave her dock at ,hoboken1 an oil can1 carelessly left on one of the planes by a mechanic1 was knocked off and fell into the whirling propeller4 ,the result was a broken propeller1 and as the ship could not delay its sailing long enough for us to get another1 the attempt was abandoned4 ,in the meantime1 however1 the ,navy became interested in the sea experiments and offered the armoured cruiser ,birmingham1 then at ,hampton ,roads1 to be fitted up with a similar platform for launching an aeroplane4 ,this was accepted and ,eugene ,ely1 who was flying in a meet at ,baltimore and already in the vicinity of ,norfolk1 took his ,curtiss biplane over to the ,birmingham for the test1 fired with enthusiasm by ,mc,curdy's attempt4 ,on ,november #ad the ,birmingham1 equipped with a platform for starting the aeroplane1 awaited good weather for the flight4 ,the good weather did not come and after waiting impatiently on board for some time1 ,ely determined to risk a start1 even though there was a strong wind coming off shore carrying a heavy mist that made it almost impossible to see more than half a mile4 ,the ship was at anchor1 but starting up his motor he flew off with the greatest ease1 slightly touching the water with the wheels of his machine1 but quickly rising and flying straight to shore1 where he landed without difficulty4 ,this flight attracted world-wide attention1 especially among the officers of the navies of the world4 ,it was the first demonstration of the claims of the aeronautical enthusiasts of the navy that an aeroplane could be made that would be adaptable to the uses of the service1 and it appeared to substantiate some of the things claimed for it4 ,when ,i found that business would bring me to ,california during the winter1 and probably would keep me there for several months1 ,i decided to grasp the opportunity to do the development work ,i had long wanted to do1 and at the same time to request the honour of instructing representative officers of the ,army and ,navy in the operation of the aeroplane4 ,i believed the time had arrived when the ,government would be interested in any phase of aviation that promised to increase the usefulness of the aeroplane for military service4 ,so1 on ,november #bi1 #aiaj1 ,i sent letters to both ,secretary ,dickinson of the ,war ,department and to ,secretary ,meyer of the ,navy ,department1 inviting them to send one or more officers of their respective departments to ,southern ,california1 where ,i would undertake to instruct them in aviation4 ,i made no conditions4 ,i asked for and received no remuneration whatsoever for this service4 ,i consider it an honour to be able to tender my services in this connection4 ,other governments had already organised their aeronautical military branches and instructed men to fly1 and it seemed to me that our own ,government would do likewise were the opportunity afforded the officers to familiarise themselves with the aeroplane4 ,the invitations to the ,war and ,navy ,departments were written just prior to my departure for the ,pacific ,coast1 and three weeks later ,i was notified that the ,secretary of the ,navy had accepted1 and that they would detail officers for instruction4 ,it began to look1 even to the doubters1 as if an aeroplane could be made adaptable to the uses of the ,navy1 as the aeronautic enthusiasts of the service had claimed4 ,the experiment begun would have to be completed1 however1 by flying from shore to the vessel1 and for this opportunity we were eager4 ,the chance came when we were all at ,san ,francisco and another ,pennsylvania1 this time the big armoured cruiser1 was in the bay4 ,rear ,admiral ,thomas1 and ,captain ,pond1 in command of the ,pennsylvania1 readily consented to assist in these further experiments4 ,the ,pennsylvania went to ,mare ,island to be outfitted1 ,ely and ,i going there to tell the ,navy officials at the station just what would be required for such a hazardous test4 ,the platform was like that built on the ,birmingham1 but in the case of a flight to1 instead of from1 a ship the serious problem is to land the aeroplane on the deck and to stop it quickly before it runs into the masts of the ship1 or other obstructions4 ,the platform was built over the quarterdeck1 about one hundred and twenty-five feet long by thirty feet wide1 with a slope toward the stern of some twelve feet4 ,across this runway we stretched ropes every few feet with a sand bag on each end4 ,these ropes were raised high enough so they could catch in grab-hooks which we placed under the main centrepiece of the aeroplane1 so that catching in the ropes the heavy sand bags attached would drag until they brought the machine to a stop4 ,to protect the aviator and to catch him in case he should be pitched out of his seat in landing1 heavy awnings were stretched on either side of the runway and at the upper end of it4 ,illustration3 ,,ely ,,landing ,,on ,u4,s4,s4 ,,pennsylvania ,illustration3 ,,two ,,famous ,,military ,,test ,,flights 7,a7 ,curtiss and hydro hoisted on ,u4 ,s4 ,s4 ,pennsylvania1 at ,san ,diego4 7,b7 ,ely leaving ,pennsylvania1 ,san ,francisco harbor ,when all arrangements had been completed1 and only favourable weather was needed to carry out the experiment1 ,i was obliged to leave for ,san ,diego1 and1 therefore1 was unable to witness the flight4 ,i regarded the thing as most difficult of accomplishment4 ,of course1 ,i had every faith in ,ely as an aviator1 and knew that he would arrive at the ship without trouble1 but ,i must confess that ,i had misgivings about his being able to come down on a platform but four feet wider than the width of the planes of the aeroplane1 and to bring it to a stop within the hundred feet available for the run4 ,ely rose from the ,presidio parade grounds1 flew out over the bay1 hovered above the ship for an instant1 and then swooped down1 cutting off his power and running lightly up the platform1 when the drag of the sand bags brought him to a stop exactly in the centre1 probably one of the greatest feats in accurate landing ever performed by an aviator4 ,as ,i have said1 the platform was only four feet wider than the planes of the ,curtiss biplane that ,ely used1 yet the photograph taken from the fighting top of the ship shows the machine touching the platform squarely in the centre4 ,when one stops to think that the aeroplane was travelling about forty miles an hour when it touched the deck and was brought to a stop within a hundred feet1 the remarkable precision of the aviator will be appreciated4 ,not only was there not the least mishap to himself or to the machine in landing1 but as soon as he had received a few of the many excited congratulations awaiting him1 he started off again and flew back the ten miles to the camp of the #cjth ,infantry on the ,aviation ,field1 where wild cheers greeted the man and the machine that had for the first time linked the ,army and the ,navy4 ,for this is what1 in the wars of the future1 or even in the preservation of the future's peace1 the aeroplane is certainly going to do1 joining as nothing else can the two branches of the service4 ,i don't think there has ever been so remarkable a landing made with an aeroplane as ,ely's1 and probably never so much store put by the mere act of coming down in the right place4 ,a few feet either way1 a sudden puff of wind to lift the aeroplane when it should descend1 or any one of a dozen other things1 might have spelled disaster for the whole undertaking1 deprived the daring aviator of a well earned success1 and the world of a remarkable spectacular demonstration of practical aviation4 ,on the day of the test ,i was in ,san ,diego and awaited news from ,san ,francisco with a good deal of impatience4 ,when at last the ,associated ,press bulletin announced that ,ely had landed without mishap ,i first felt a great relief that there had been no accident to mar the success of the thing1 and then a sense of elation that we had taken another long step in the advancement of aviation4 ,early in ,january ,i went to ,southern ,california to establish an experimental station1 and at the same time to instruct the officers of the ,army and ,navy whom ,i had invited the ,war and ,navy ,departments to assign for that purpose4 ,a part of our experiments were along the line of a new amphibious machine that had been on my mind ever since my first experiments in ,hammondsport4 ,i believed that with the proper equipment for floating and attaining a high speed on the water1 an aeroplane could be made to rise as easily as it could from the land4#d ,i had carried these experiments just far enough in ,hammondsport to convince me that the thing was feasible1 when ,i was obliged to discontinue them to take up other business4 ,i knew it would be safer to land on the water than on land with the proper appliances1 and that it would be easier to find a suitable landing place on water1 for the reason that it always affords an open space1 while it is often difficult to pick a landing place on the land4 ,so1 when ,i made preparations for my flight from ,albany to ,new ,york ,city1 ,i fitted pontoons beneath the chassis of my machine and a hydro-surface under the front wheel4 ,i wanted to be prepared for alighting on the water should anything go amiss4 ,as a matter of fact1 the river course was the only feasible one for this flight1 as there were mountains and hills for almost the entire distance4 ,it was while on that trip that ,i decided to build an aeroplane that would be available for starting or landing on the water4 ,i don't know that ,i had the idea of its military value when ,i first planned it2 but it came to me later that such a machine would be of great service should the ,navy adopt the aeroplane as a part of its equipment4 ,i thought the next step from pontoons1 to float an aeroplane safely on the water1 would be a permanent boat so shaped that it could get up speed enough so the whole machine could rise clear of the water and fly in the air4 ,it was important to find a location where it would be possible to work along the lines ,i had mapped out a place where ,i might be free from the pressing calls of business and the hampering influence of uncertain climatic conditions4 ,in short ,i wanted a place with the best climate to be found in this country1 with a field large enough and level enough for practice land flights by beginners1 and with a convenient body of smooth water for experiments with a machine that would start from or land upon water4 ,above all1 ,i wanted a place not easy of access to the curious crowds that gather wherever there is anything novel to be attempted2 for a flying machine never loses its attraction to the curious4 ,mankind has been looking for it ever since the beginning of the world1 and now that it is actually here he can't get away from it1 once it is in sight4 ,a machine that has actually carried a man through the air takes on a sort of individuality all its own that acts as a magnet for the inquiring mind4 ,once people have really seen an aeroplane fly1 they want to know what makes it fly and to come into personal contact with the machine and the man who operates it4 ,san ,diego was brought to my attention as affording every advantage for experimental work in aviation4 ,a study of the weather bureau records here showed a minimum of wind and a maximum of sunshine the year round4 ,i visited that city in ,january1 #aiaa1 and after a thorough inspection of the grounds offered as an aviation field1 decided to make that city the headquarters for the winter and to carry on the experimental and instructional work there4 ,north ,island1 lying in ,san ,diego ,bay1 a mile across from the city1 was turned over to me by its owners1 the ,spreckels ,company4 ,it is a flat1 sandy island1 about four miles long and two miles wide1 with a number of good fields for land flights4 ,the beaches on both the ocean and bay sides are good1 affording level stretches for starting or landing an aeroplane4 ,besides1 the beaches were necessary to the water experiments ,i wished to make4 ,north ,island is uninhabited except by hundreds of jack rabbits1 cottontails1 snipe1 and quail4 ,it joins ,coronado ,island by a narrow sand spit on the south side1 which is often washed by the high tides4 ,otherwise the two islands are separated by a strip of shallow water a mile long and a couple of hundred yards wide1 called ,spanish ,bight4 ,thus the island on which we were to do our experimenting and training was accessible only by boat and it was a comparatively easy matter to exclude the curious visitor whenever we desired to do so4 ,there was no particular reason for excluding the public other than the desire to work unhampered by crowds1 which is always a distracting influence4 ,in the meantime ,lieutenant ,theodore ,g4 ,ellyson of the submarine service1 then stationed at ,newport ,news1 ,virginia1 had been detailed by the ,navy ,department to report to me in ,california for instruction in aviation4 ,he had joined me in ,los ,angeles1 where1 though there are all the climatic requirements1 and good fields for practice flights1 the ideal body of smooth water for experiments on that element was lacking4 ,the ,war ,department responded later1 instructing ,general ,bliss1 commanding the ,department of ,california at ,san ,francisco1 to detail as many officers as could be spared to go to ,san ,diego for instruction in the art of flying4 ,there was much eagerness among the officers of the ,department of ,california and ,i was informed that some thirty applications were made for the detail4 ,lieutenant 7now ,captain7 ,paul ,w4 ,beck1 of the ,signal ,corps1 located at the ,presidio1 ,san ,francisco1 and ,lieutenant ,john ,c4 ,walker1 ,jr41 of the #hth ,infantry1 ,monterey1 ,cal41 were named at once1 and later ,lieutenant ,c4 ,e4 ,m4 ,kelly1 #cjth ,infantry1 ,san ,francisco1 was added to the ,army's representation4 ,this made a list of four officers1 three from the ,army and one from the ,navy1 and with these ,i began work4 ,in ,february1 however1 the ,navy ,department designated ,ensign ,charles ,pousland of the destroyer ,preble1 at ,san ,diego1 to join ,lieutenant ,ellyson as a ,navy pupil in aviation4 ,there are a dozen good landing or starting fields on ,north ,island1 but we chose the one on the south side1 which gave us easy access to the smooth shallow water of ,spanish ,bight4 ,a field was cleared of weeds and sagebrush1 half a mile long by three or four hundred yards wide4 ,sheds to house the machines were built by the ,aero ,club of ,san ,diego1 and landings put in for the small boats that carried us to and from the city4 ,the ,spreckels ,company gave us every assistance in fitting the place up1 and the people of ,san ,diego1 anxious to make the island the permanent home of an aviation experimental station and school1 were prompt to lend a hand and to impress upon us the climatic advantages of their city4 ,i have asked ,lieutenant ,ellyson to write his own story of the work on ,north ,island1 and it is to be found in another part of this book4 ,,chapter ,v ,,developing ,,the ,,hydroaeroplane ,,at ,,san ,,diego-,,the ,,hydro ,,of ,,the ,,summer ,,of #aiab ,january had nearly passed before the first machine was ready4 ,although this proved unsuccessful1 ,i was not discouraged and learned a good deal about what sort of a float was necessary to support the aeroplane and how it acted when under way over the water4 ,nearly every day for over two weeks we dragged the machine down to the edge of the water1 launched it on the smooth surface of ,san ,diego ,bay1 and drew it out again after testing out some new arrangement of floats and surfaces4 ,we kept it in a hangar1 or shed1 on the beach1 and there we would sit and study and change and plan how to improve the float4 ,we were in the water almost all day long2 no thought was given to wet clothing and cold feet4 ,we virtually lived in our bathing suits4 ,the warm climate aided us1 but there were some chilly days4 ,discomfort and failure did not deter the ,army and ,navy officers1 who watched and worked like beavers1 half in and half out of the water4 ,on the #bfth of ,january the first success came4 ,that day the aeroplane first rose from the water and succeeded in alighting gently and without accident after the flight4 ,a page was added to aviation history1 which extended its domain and opened the lakes1 rivers1 and seas to the hitherto land-locked flying machine4 ,it was no more a land bird1 but a water fowl as well4 ,the machine was crude1 and there remained many things to be improved1 but the principle was correct4 ,we kept adjusting the equipment1 adding things and taking them off again to make some improvement2 perhaps the float was too heavy1 or leaked1 or the spray would fly up and chips would be knocked out of the whirling propeller1 which the drops of water would strike like shot out of a gun4 ,the least projection on the floats would send up spray while travelling at such high speed as was made through the water4 ,the balance of the machine was as troublesome as anything1 because the push of the propeller would give it a tendency to dive if the floats were not properly adjusted4 ,when we brought the machine out on the #bfth day of ,january ,i felt that we ought to get some results4 ,there were no crowds of people present and there was no announcement of what was about to happen4 ,i had not expected to make a flight1 but climbed into the aviator's seat with a feeling that the machine would surely rise into the air when ,i wished1 but that ,i would only try it on the water to see how the new float acted4 ,lieutenant ,ellyson spun the propeller and ,i turned the machine into the wind4 ,it ploughed through the water deeply at first1 but gathered speed and rose higher and higher in the water and skipped more and more lightly until the float barely skimmed the surface of the bay4 ,so intent was ,i in watching the water that ,i did not notice that ,i was approaching the shore and to avoid running aground ,i tilted the horizontal control and the machine seemed to leap into the air like a frightened gull4 ,so suddenly did it rise that it quite took me by surprise4 ,but ,i kept the machine up for perhaps half a mile1 then turned and dropped lightly down on the water1 turned around and headed back to the starting point4 ,the effect of that first flight on the men who had worked1 waited1 and watched for it was magical4 ,they ran up and down the beach1 throwing their hats up into the air and shouting in their enthusiasm4 ,i now headed about into the bay1 in the direction of ,san ,diego1 and rose up into the air again even more easily than the first time4 ,i flew for half a mile and turned twice to see how the machine would act in the air with the clumsy-looking float below it4 ,the naval repair ship ,iris caught sight of me as ,i went flying by and sent its siren blast far out over the water1 and all the other craft blew their whistles1 until it seemed as if all ,san ,diego knew of the achievement4 ,satisfied that it was all right1 ,i landed within a few yards of the shore1 near the hangar4 ,we made flights nearly every day after this1 taking the ,army and ,navy officers as passengers4 ,i found the machine well adapted for passenger work and it became very popular4 ,while experimenting we kept changing things from day to day1 adding and taking off1 lightening the machine1 or adding more surface4 ,we tried putting on an extra surface1 making a triplane1 and got remarkable lifting power4 ,we changed the floats and finally made one long1 flat-bottomed1 scow-shaped float1 twelve feet long1 two feet wide1 and twelve inches deep4 ,it was made of wood1 the bow being curved upward the full width of the boat and at the stern being curved downward in a similar manner4 ,this single float was placed under the aeroplane so that the weight was slightly to the rear of the centre of the float1 causing it to slant upward1 giving it the necessary angle for hydroplaning on the surface of the water4 ,i will confess that ,i got more pleasure out of flying the new machine over water than ,i ever got flying over land1 and the danger1 too1 was greatly lessened4 ,i then decided upon a test which ,i had been informed the ,navy regarded as very important4 ,in fact1 ,i had been told that the ,secretary of the ,navy regarded the adaptability of the aeroplane to navy uses as depending very largely on its ability to alight on the water and be hoisted aboard a warship4 ,with the hydroaeroplane ,i had developed1 ,i had no doubts about being able to do this1 without any platform or preparation on board the vessel4 ,so1 on ,february #ag1 at ,san ,diego1 ,i sent word over to ,captain ,charles ,f4 ,pond1 commanding the armoured cruiser ,pennsylvania1 then in the harbour1 that ,i would be pleased to fly over and be hoisted aboard whenever it was convenient to him4 ,he replied immediately1 come on over4 ,the ,pennsylvania is the ship that ,ely landed on at ,san ,francisco in his memorable flight1 and it was ,captain ,pond who at that time gave over his ship and lent every assistance in his power to make the experiment the success it was4 ,he lent his aid to this second experiment as willingly as he did to the first4 ,there were no special arrangements necessary for this test4 ,all that would be needed to get the aeroplane and its operator on board would be to use one of the big hoisting cranes1 just as they are used for handling the ship's launches4 ,the hydroaeroplane was launched on ,spanish ,bight1 and in five minutes ,i was on the way4 ,the machine skimmed over the water for a hundred yards and then rose into the air4 ,in two or three minutes ,i was alongside the cruiser1 just off the starboard quarter4 ,there was a strong tide running and when ,i shut off the propeller the aeroplane drifted until a rope thrown from the ship was made fast to one of the planes by ,lieutenant ,ellyson of the ,navy4 ,it was drawn in close to the side of the ship1 where a boat crane was lowered and ,i hooked it in a wire sling attached to the top of the planes4 ,i then climbed up on top of the aeroplane and slipped my leg through the big hook of the crane1 not caring to trust too much weight to the untested sling4 ,in five minutes from the time ,i landed on the water alongside the ship1 the hydroaeroplane reposed easily on the superstructure deck of the big cruiser1 just forward of the boat crane4 ,it had been the easiest sort of work to land it there1 and thus one more of the problems that stood in the way of a successful naval aeroplane was overcome4 ,the rest of the experiment was performed with equal promptness and ease4 ,after a stay of ten minutes on the cruiser1 the aeroplane was dropped overboard by the big boat crane1 the propeller was cranked by one of the military pupils in aviation1 and ,i got under way for the return trip to the island4 ,two minutes later ,i brought the hydroaeroplane to a stop a few yards away from the hangar on the beach4 ,the entire time taken from the moment ,i left ,north ,island for the cruiser to the moment ,i landed on the water at the hangar on my return was less than half an hour1 and yet within this brief space had been written one of the most interesting chapters in the history of naval aviation4 ,i regard this experiment as one of the most interesting1 from my idea of a military experiment1 that had been attempted up to that time1 for the reason that no special equipment was needed on board the ship4 ,obviously the objections to the landing of an aeroplane on deck from a flight had to be overcome1 and this could be done with a machine that could land on the water and be picked up4 ,for a flight from the ship1 all that was necessary was to drop it over the side and watch it rise from the water into the air4 ,such a machine could be knocked down and stored in a very small space when not in use2 and when wanted for a flight1 it could be brought out and set up in a short time on deck4 ,an aeroplane sent from a scout ship on a scouting flight must1 to be efficient1 be able to carry a passenger1 especially if it be sent for any purpose other than as a messenger1 where speed would be the first consideration4 ,but if sent to seek information as to an enemy's position1 to take observations and make maps of the surrounding country1 or with any of a dozen other objects in view where a trained observer would be necessary1 it seems to me it should be equipped to carry at least two1 and possibly three1 persons the aviator and two passengers4 ,there were many machines capable of carrying one or more passengers on land flights1 so ,i set about equipping one to carry passengers on water flights4 ,this ,i first succeeded in doing on ,february #bc1 when ,i took up ,lieutenant ,t4 ,g4 ,ellyson of the ,navy1 in the hydroaeroplane4 ,we rose from the water without difficulty1 flew over ,san ,diego ,bay and returning1 alighted on the water with perfect ease4 ,this was all very well and good where a flight was to be made from the water and back to the water2 but ,i believed we should go further and provide a machine that would be able to go from one to the other from water to land and land back to water before it could be said that all the difficulties of making the aeroplane adaptable to both ,army and ,navy uses had been overcome4 ,this was of comparatively easy accomplishment1 and on ,sunday1 ,february #bf1 ,i made the first flight from water to land and from land back to water4 ,starting from ,north ,island1 on the waters of ,spanish ,bight1 ,i flew out over the ocean and down the beach to a point near ,coronado ,hotel1 where ,i came down on the smooth sand of the beach4 ,returning1 the machine started from the beach and came back to the water on ,spanish ,bight whence ,i had started4 ,with these achievements it seems to me the aeroplane has reached the point of utility for military purposes either for the ,army or ,navy4 ,it now seems possible to use it to establish communication between the ,navy and ,army1 when there are no other means of communication4 ,that is1 a warship could launch an aeroplane that can fly over sea and land and come to earth on whichever element affords the best landing4 ,having fulfilled its mission on shore it could start from the land1 and1 returning to the home ship1 land at its side and be picked up1 as ,i was picked up and hoisted aboard the ,pennsylvania at ,san ,diego4 ,here let me call attention to the splendid field that ,california offers for the development of aviation1 with its climate1 permitting aviation to be pursued all the year1 and its large winter tourist population with wealth and leisure to devote to furthering the art of flight4 ,in ,california even the legislature recognises the increasing popularity of flying1 and it has given careful attention to the formation of laws to protect the aeroplane and the aviator4 ,there remained one thing further to accomplish complete success with the hydroaeroplane1 and that was to devise a method of successfully launching the machine from a ship without touching the water and without resorting to any cumbersome platform or any other launching apparatus that would interfere with the ship's ordinary working4 ,to accomplish this would solve the principal obstacle that stood in the way of using the hydroaeroplane at sea4 ,lieutenant ,theodore ,g4 ,ellyson1 of the ,united ,states ,navy1 had been working out a plan for doing this and it was not until ,september1 #aiaa1 that the experiment was finally completed at ,hammondsport1 where operations were continued after breaking up the camp at ,san ,diego1 late in the spring4 ,a platform sixteen feet high was erected on the shore of ,lake ,keuka and a wire cable two hundred and fifty feet long was stretched from the platform to a spile under water out in the lake4 ,the hydroaeroplane was set on this wire cable near the platform on which the men stood to start the propeller4 ,a groove was made along the bottom of the boat in which the cable fitted loosely1 to guide it as it slid down1 until sufficient headway was obtained to enable the wings of the aeroplane to support the weight of the machine4 ,a trial of this method of launching was entirely successful4 ,the machine started down the cable gathering headway and we all watched it gracefully rise into the air and fly out over the lake4 ,this launching from a wire is the last step in the development of handling the aeroplane and it is hardly possible to foresee all the many important applications which will be made in the future of this type of machine1 since a cable can be easily stretched from the bow of any vessel1 which can then steam into the wind1 easily enabling an aeroplane to be launched in almost any weather1 while it can without difficulty land under the lea of the vessel and be hoisted on board again4 ,as the wireless has almost revolutionised ocean navigation by furnishing a means of constant communication between steamers1 perhaps the hydroaeroplane will be able to bring passengers back to shore or take them from shore to a ship on the high sea1 or enable visits to be made between ships that pass on the ocean4 ,great1 powerful hydroaeroplanes may be able to cross the ocean itself at high speed1 and they will no doubt add greatly to the safety of ocean travel1 as well as furnish the ,navy with an arm of destruction much more far-reaching than its most effective guns or torpedoes4 ,frank ,coffyn in ,may1 #aiab1 took a belated passenger from the ,battery1 ,new ,york ,city1 out to a steamer as it was steaming out of the lower bay and landed him safely aboard a hint of future possibilities4 ,we had a curious opportunity to prove how the hydroaeroplane can be an arm of preservation as well as destruction1 when at the ,chicago meet of #aiaa4 ,simon1 dashing over the lake1 dropped in his machine4 ,hugh ,robinson had been putting a hydroaeroplane through its evolutions1 to the great interest of the crowd1 who evidently thought it a sort of freak machine1 but when ,simon fell ,robinson was after him instantly1 and for the first time in the history of the world1 a man flew through the air from dry land1 alighted on the water beside a man in distress1 and before anything else could get there1 invited him to fly back to shore with him4 ,as there were boats close at hand1 the offer was not needed1 but the value of the land-air-water machine had been proved1 for it had left its hangar and flown a mile from shore in a little more than a minute4 ,the hydroaeroplane can already fly sixty miles an hour1 skim the water at fifty miles1 and run over the earth at thirty-five miles4 ,driven over the surface of the water the new machine can pass the fastest motor boat ever built and will respond to its rudder more quickly than any water craft afloat4 ,its appeal will be as strong to the aquatic as to the aerial enthusiast4 ,flying an aeroplane is thrilling sport1 but flying a hydroaeroplane is something to arouse the jaded senses of the most blase4 ,it fascinates1 exhilarates1 vivifies4 ,it is like a yacht with horizontal sails that support it on the breezes4 ,to see it skim the water like a swooping gull and then rise into the air1 circle and soar to great heights1 and finally drop gracefully down upon the water again1 furnishes a thrill and inspires a wonder that does not come with any other sport on earth4 ,the hydroaeroplane is safer than the ordinary aeroplane1 and for this reason is bound to become the most popular of aerial craft4 ,the beginner can take it out on his neighboring lake or river1 or even the great bays1 and skim it over the water until he is sure of himself and sure that he can control it in the air4 ,he can fly it six feet above the water for any distance1 with the feeling that even if something should happen to cause a fall1 he will not be dashed to pieces4 ,the worst he will get is a cold bath4 ,the hydroaeroplane may compete with motor boats as a water craft1 or in the air with the fastest aeroplane4 ,it can start from the land on its wheels1 but launch itself on the water where there is lack of room for rising from the land4 ,its double qualities as a water and air craft make possible flights that could not be attempted with the aeroplane4 ,at ,cedar ,point1 ,ohio1 ,i had to fly the new machine when a strong gale was blowing across ,lake ,erie1 kicking up a heavy surf4 ,however1 ,i determined to make the attempt under what were extremely trying conditions1 and so started it on the beach and under the power of the aerial propeller1 launched it through a heavy surf4 ,beyond the surf ,i found very rough water1 but turning the machine into the wind1 ,i arose from the water without the least difficulty1 and circled and soared over the lake for fifteen minutes4 ,i landed without trouble on the choppy water a few hundred yards off shore1 and after guiding the hydroaeroplane up and down the beach for the inspection of the great crowd1 made a second flight of ten minutes' duration1 and landed safely upon the sandy beach4 ,that was the hardest test ,i have ever given the hydroaeroplane1 and ,i think a very severe one4 ,i am satisfied that it can be used in more than ordinarily rough water1 if it is properly handled4 ,there is no question that in this particular line of aeronautics1 ,america is now leading the world2 but the hydroaeroplane contests recently held at ,monte ,carlo and the experiments made in ,france by the ,voisin ,brothers' ,canard1 which was erroneously hailed by the ,french press as being the first occasion when a machine had risen from the water with two men1 show that the ,french are not far behind us4 ,other experiments have been made in ,europe by ,fabre1 who was the first to achieve any degree of success in this line1 and by the ,duf aux ,brothers on the ,lake of ,geneva1 to say nothing of the flights made by ,herbster1 the old ,farman pilot1 on an ,astra-,wright at ,lucerne1 and if the ,american aeronautic industry does not awaken to the immediate possibilities along this line1 it will once more be overtaken by ,europeans4 ,there are thousands of men throughout the country who would gladly take up a new mechanical sport as a successor to motor boating and motoring if they felt they could do so with a reasonable degree of safety to themselves1 and adequate assurance that the life of their machine would be commensurate to the price paid for it4 ,followers of the sport of motor boating1 which has made thousands of converts during the past few years1 are already turning to the hydroplane1 which skims over the water at much greater speed and less power4 ,the next step will be the hydroaeroplane1 which can skim over the water in exactly the same way and has the further enormous advantage of rising into the air whenever the driver so desires4 ,the sport should develop rapidly next summer and be in full swing in a few years4 ,several improvements of detail will have to be made4 ,ways of housing the craft-of stopping the engine-of muffling the roar of the motor1 will be devised2 while more comfort for the pilot and passengers will be arranged4 ,if a cross-country flight is too dangerous to attempt because of the rough character of the land1 the hydroaeroplane can follow a river course with perfect safety4 ,or1 if there is no water course and the country is level1 it can take the land course with equal safety4 ,in short1 it matters little whether an aerial course takes one over land or water1 the hydroaeroplane is the safest machine for flight4 ,with the ,triad1 as we called the machine from its triple field-air1 land1 and water-the ,great ,lakes offer no impassable obstacle to a long flight1 and it is within the vision of him who watches the trend of things1 that an over-sea flight is not far in the future4 ,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,,the ,,flying ,,boat ,at ,san ,diego1 on ,jan4 #aj1 #aiab1 a new type of ,curtiss hydroaeroplane1 or flying boat1 was given its first trial on the bay4 ,it had been designed and constructed under strict secrecy at ,hammondsport4 ,the public knew nothing as to the details of this craft until it was taken out on the bay in order to test its balance and speed on the water4 ,this craft1 which was equipped to carry a passenger1 was driven by a sixty horse-power motor4 ,in contact with the water1 it went at over fifty miles an hour2 and lifted off the water1 it travelled at more than sixty miles an hour in the air4 ,it differs in many respects from the hydroaeroplane now in use by the ,united ,states ,navy officers who1 by the way1 were present and witnessed the test4 ,there were two propellers instead of one and these were driven by clutch and chain transmission4 ,they were really tractors1 being in front of the planes2 the motor had a new automatic starter1 and there was also a fuel gauge and bilge pump4 ,the transmission has since been changed to direct drive4 ,the boat1 or hydro equipment1 contained a bulkhead fore and aft1 was twenty feet long1 with an upward slope in front and a downward slope in the rear4 ,the hydro equipment1 which was more like a boat than anything yet designed1 was able to withstand any wind or wave that a motor boat of similar size could weather4 ,the aviator sat comfortably in the hull with the engine not behind him1 but forward in the hull in this model4 ,,the ,,flying ,,fish ,a ,no4 #b flying boat1 just built by ,mr4 ,curtiss1 and successfully tested on ,lake ,keuka1 ,hammondsport1 in ,july1 #aiab1 is the last word in aviation so far4 ,an illustration in this book1 made from photographs taken in mid-,july1 #aiab1 shows fully the bullet-shape of the flying fish4 ,it is a real boat1 built with a fish-shaped body containing two comfortable seats for the pilot and passenger or observer1 either of whom can operate the machine by a system of dual control1 making it also available for teaching the art of flying4 ,all the controls are fastened to the rear of the boat's hull1 which makes them very rigid and strong1 while the boat itself1 made in stream-line form1 offers the least possible resistance to the air1 even less than that offered by the landing gear upon a standard land machine4 ,above the boat are mounted the wings and aeroplane surface4 ,in the centre of this standard biplane construction is situated the eighty horse-power motor with its propeller in the rear1 thus returning to the original practice1 as in the standard ,curtiss machines1 of having a single propeller attached direct to the motor1 thus doing away with all chains and transmission gearing which might give trouble1 and differing from the earlier model flying boat built in ,san ,diego1 ,california1 last winter 7#aiaa-ab71 which was equipped with tractor propellors propellers in front driven by chains4 ,the new flying boat is twenty-six feet long and three feet wide4 ,the planes are five and a half feet deep and thirty feet wide4 ,it runs on the water at a speed of fifty miles an hour1 and is driven by an eighty horse-power ,curtiss motor4 ,at a greater speed than this it cannot be kept on the water1 but rises in the air and flies at from fifty to sixty miles per hour4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,of ,,the ,,curtiss ,,flying ,,boat ,,no4 #b4 ,the boat itself is provided with water-tight compartments so that if any one compartment should be damaged the flotation afforded by the other would be sufficient to keep the craft afloat4 ,it is also provided with wheels for making a landing on the shore2 these wheels fold up1 thus not interfering in the slightest with its manoeuvres over the water4 ,the boat is so strongly built that it can be readily beached even through a high surf and handled the same as a fisherman would handle his dory1 or it may be housed afloat like a motor boat or anchored to a buoy like a yacht4 ,in rough water the spray-hood with which this type of boat is provided protects the navigators from getting wet and enables the craft to be used very much as you might use a high speed motor boat1 with the added excitement of being able to rise above other crafts or fly over them if they get in the way4 ,it looks very much like a flying fish in the air and although designed to skim close to the surface of the water at high speed it can rise to as high an altitude as the standard land machine4 ,mr4 ,curtiss states3 ,my idea was to provide a machine especially adapted for the requirements of the sportsman1 one that would be simple to operate and absolutely safe4 ,during the tests which we have made with this flying boat it carried three people with ease and the boat rose without difficulty with the extra passenger1 although it is only designed to accommodate two people4 ,with the hydroaeroplane a safe landing can always be made1 and if1 through inexperience or carelessness of the driver1 a bad landing is made1 no injury to the operator or passenger can occur other than what may result from a ducking4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,evolution ,,of ,,the ,,hydro 7,a7 7,b7 ,the flying boat of summer1 #aiab-on land and in the air4 7,c7 ,a contrast-the hydroaeroplane of winter1 #aiaa4 ,illustration3 ,,hydroaeroplane ,,flights 7,a7 ,curtiss driving the ,triad over ,lake ,erie1 ground-swells at ,atlantic ,city4 7,b7 ,witmer riding the ground-swells at ,atlantic ,city4 ,this boat shows how directly aeroplane-builders are turning to air craft available for amateur sport-not for exhibition stunts4 ,such boats will have ample protection for the passenger and be able to carry a large quantity of fuel together with wireless apparatus and provisions1 so that long overwater journeys may be made in comparative comfort1 and also well within the radius of communication by wireless4 ,and most of all they are safe6-,a4 ,p4 ,,the ,,navy ,,on ,,the ,,hydro 7,,augustus ,,post7 ,captain ,washington ,irving ,chambers1 head of the ,aeronautical ,bureau1 ,united ,states ,navy1 in a speech delivered at the ,aeronautical ,society's banquet in ,new ,york1 said3 ,the hydroaeroplane is the coming machine so far as the navy is concerned2 in fact1 it has already come4#e ,the navy machine built by ,glenn ,curtiss has had several tryouts and has proved itself a success4 ,i recently had a flight with ,mr4 ,curtiss in this machine1 the ',triad1' at ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y4 ,with two passengers seated side by side1 the control can be shifted from one to the other easily while in the air4 ,when we had gone a mile ,curtiss yelled to me to take the control4 ,the levers had been explained to me on the ground1 but ,i had not familiarised myself with them for the purpose of handling the machine under way4 ,i turned on a notch and the front plane tilted up1 bringing the machine off the water to a level of four feet in the air4 ,we kept this level for another mile or two1 when ,curtiss took the control again4 ,he turned the plane lever another notch and we rose to a ten-foot level and encircled the lake several times without changing from this level more than a foot or two1 lower or higher4 ,as a justification of ,captain ,chambers' remarks1 the ,aero ,club of ,america1 at their annual banquet held on ,january #bg1 #aiab1 awarded the ,collier ,trophy to ,mr4 ,curtiss for his successful development and thorough demonstration of the hydroaeroplane1 the terms of the deed of gift stating that it shall be awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aviation in ,america1 the value of which has been demonstrated by use during the preceding year4 ,the trophy is a group in bronze by ,ernest ,wise ,keyser of ,new ,york1 representing the triumph of man over gravity and other forces of nature4 ,the trophy was donated by ,robert ,j4 ,collier1 president of the ,aero ,club of ,america4-,a4 ,p4 ,,part ,,iv ,,the ,,real ,,future ,,of ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,by ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss ,,with ,,chapters ,,by ,,captain ,,paul ,w4 ,,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 ,,lieutenant ,,theodore ,g4 ,,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n41 ,,and ,,augustus ,,post ,,chapter ,i ,,aeroplane ,,speed ,,of ,,the ,,future ,if you look over the books on aviation that were published even a comparatively short time ago1 you will see how much of them is given to prophecies and how little to records of performance4 ,because1 of course1 as soon as the aeroplane came into existence every one with eyesight and a little imagination could see that here was a new factor in the world's work that would change the course of things in almost every way1 and naturally every one began to forecast the possibilities of aerial flight4 ,and at first1 when the machine was really so little known1 even to the inventor1 that aviators hesitated to push it to the extreme of its possibilities1 writers had more to say about what the aeroplane would probably do than what it had actually done4 ,but the aeroplane1 which is bound to break all speed-records1 has made history at the fastest rate yet4 ,day by day we move things over from the prophecy department to the history chapter1 and as the days slip by on their rush to join the future1 hardly one but leaves a record of accomplishment and achievement to justify the aeroplane prophets4 ,at first1 as ,i have just said1 aviators could not believe in the powers of the machine2 we used to trim down our garments to the lightest point1 to avoid extra weight1 whereas now we bundle up in heavy furs1 or wear two suits1 one over the other1 to meet the intense cold of the upper air2 and a great surplus of weight can be carried by almost all machines4 ,we used to wait for a calm almost absolute before going up it used to be a regular thing to see aviators wetting their fingers and holding them up to see from which direction the faint breezes were coming or dropping bits of paper to see if the air was in that complete stillness we used to think necessary for successful flight4 ,when ,i was waiting for just the right moment in ,albany to begin the ,hudson ,flight which1 because of the unusual and absolutely unknown atmospheric conditions over a river flowing between precipitous and irregular hills1 had to be timed with unusual care the ,poughkeepsie paper in an editorial said the ,curtiss gives us a pain in the neck4 ,even after ,i had made the flight the ,paterson ,call made the wait a reason for denying the use of aeroplanes in time of war1 pointing out how amusing it would be to see in the newspaper reports of the wars of the future1 ,battle postponed on account of the weather6 ,whereas now we go up without hesitation into what is actually a gale of wind1 and under weather conditions that would have made the first flyers think it absolute suicide4 ,this discussion of the future of the aeroplane will have more of a basis of solid fact for its prophecy than if it had been written a couple of years ago4 ,some ideas the world has as to the future of the machine we have had reluctantly to abandon or at least indefinitely to postpone1 but so many new fields of activity have opened that one may only sketch the principal lines along which it is reasonable to expect the aeroplane and the art and science of mechanical flight to develop4 ,the most practical present and future uses of the aeroplane in the order of relative importance which it seems to me that these uses will naturally take1 are3 for sport1 war1 and special purposes which the aeroplane itself will create4 ,,speed-,,present ,,and ,,future ,in saying for sport ,i mean both for the aviator himself and for the spectators interested in watching his aerial evolutions and enthusiastic over results2 over sporting competitions1 speed races1 and record flights of all kinds4 ,such flights provide as much fun for the fellow who looks on as the fellow who flies and gives an opportunity for those who take pleasure in acting in an official capacity to exercise authority to their hearts' content6 ,speed will always be a most important factor in the development of the sporting side of aviation4 ,almost all races depend upon speed and activity2 and the aeroplane1 the material embodiment and symbol of speed1 equals and in many cases surpasses the speed of the wind4 ,speed will have no bounds in the future4 ,as ,i have already said briefly in passing1 aeroplanes will soon be going considerably over one hundred miles per hour4 ,a motorcycle has gone at the rate of one hundred and thirty-seven miles per hour and an aeroplane should be able to go even faster4 ,with the help of a strong wind blowing in the direction of flight1 two hundred miles an hour ought to be possible of attainment4 ,machines for high speed1 however1 must have some means of contracting the wing area or flattening out the curve in the planes so that when we want to go fast1 we can reduce the amount of surface of the machine to lessen friction and so that when we want to go more slowly and land1 we can increase the size of the wing surface4 ,the ,etrich machine built in ,austria has been constructed so that the curvature of the planes can be changed by operating a lever near the pilot2 this enables the machine to attain high speed in flight and to fly more slowly in starting and landing4 ,the record is one hundred and eight miles an hour now 7,september1 #aiab7 and we will not be surprised to see it climb up in proportion as rapidly as the altitude record did in #aiaa4 ,there is no wonder that an aeroplane race should create such absorbing interest1 almost amounting to a craze1 in the mind of the public directly interested4 ,speed is the one thing about the aeroplane that appeals both to the practical and to the imaginative man2 the man of business1 to whom saving time means saving money1 and the poet1 or the man of leisure1 to whom the words make a bee-line-that is1 an air line-have always stood for speed and directness4 ,now in earth or rail friction-machines1 the limit of speed has almost been reached1 except in the case of monorail vehicles1 and there seems to be little progress in this direction4 ,with the aeroplane1 on the contrary1 speed is only in its infancy4 ,none of the difficulties that check the development of speed in the automobile or locomotive attend the aeroplane4 ,what means speed now-ninety or ninety-five miles an hour-merely marks a stage in the machine's development2 a hundred and fifty an hour is even now within its possibilities1 and a much greater speed is by no means beyond the vision of the present generation4 ,what the boys of to-day are going to see when they grow up no one can foretell4 ,it is largely a question of motive power that and the reduction of resistance4 ,in the latter respect ,i have already materially cut down the resistance of the newest type of ,curtiss machine1 in order to increase the speed4 ,i was able1 as ,i have said1 to win the ,international ,cup at ,rheims in #aiji with a speed of forty-seven and one-half miles an hour4 ,at ,los ,angeles during the past winter my latest type was able to fly more than seventy miles an hour1 and the same type of engine1 an eight-cylinder1 has also been made more powerful1 thus the increased speed is due to the improvements in the lines of the machine1 the reduction of surface1 and the controls1 and the increase of the power of the motor4 ,there is still room for reduction of surfaces1 minor improvements in the general outlines and in the control2 but the largest element in any increase of speed must rest with the development of the motor4 ,increased power is the tendency1 with as much reduction in weight as possible4 ,personally1 ,i can't see much room for reduction in weight4 ,at present ,i am using a motor of my own manufacture that weighs but three pounds to the horse-power4 ,this ,i consider extremely light as compared1 for instance1 with the engines used in submarines of the ,navy1 which weigh from sixty to seventy pounds to the horse-power4 ,still1 there will be some reduction in weight per horse-power4 ,with the great speed that will undoubtedly mark the aeroplane flights even of the near future1 the physical endurance of the operator will count for a great deal in long flights4 ,by the time we can fly much over a hundred miles an hour there will have to be some means of protection devised for the operator1 for anyone who has travelled sixty or seventy miles an hour in an automobile knows how uncomfortable such a trip becomes if it keeps up over long distances4 ,the driver of an aeroplane sitting out in front unprotected causes far more head-resistance4 ,it will be an easy matter to arrange some sort of protection for him4 ,how strong this head-resistance can be1 ,i realised in a curious experience while racing with ,ely at ,los ,angeles1 going at probably sixty-five miles an hour4 ,i looked upward to see just where ,ely was flying1 and as ,i raised my head the wind got under my eyelids and puffed them out like toy balloons4 ,for a moment ,i was confused and could scarcely see1 but as soon as ,i turned my gaze on the ground the wind pressure forced the lids back into their normal position4 ,,safer ,,than ,,automobile ,,races ,i believe there are fewer dangers in racing aeroplanes than in racing automobiles4 ,races run over the ground have to contend against obstructions to the course1 tire troubles1 and skidding on a wet track1 or in making sharp turns4 ,none of these exist in the race in the air4 ,the course is always clear1 there is no track1 wet or dry1 and as for the turns that look so desperate to the inexperienced observer on the ground1 the operator1 far from slipping out of his seat as he banks sharply1 sits tight and feels as if he were going on an even keel4 ,if you can imagine how the water in a pail would feel as you swing the pail around your head so fast that not a drop spills1 you can realise the sense of stability that the aviator feels as he whirls around a circular course at a tremendous rate of speed1 in fact1 once an aeroplane is up in the air1 it is often safer to travel fast than it is to travel slow4 ,,accidents ,of course it would be folly1 in view of the list of accidents1 fatal and otherwise1 that the newspapers print and reprint every time a noted aviator falls1 to assert that there is no danger in flying4 ,i doubt if the ,american man1 especially the ,american young man1 would take to the aeroplane so enthusiastically if the sport were as safe as parlour croquet4 ,there is1 of course1 always danger of something going wrong with an aeroplane in flight that may bring it down too quickly for safety1 but unless the derangement is vital1 an expert aviator can make a safe landing1 even with a dead motor4 ,and the dangers of flight are growing less and less every year as the machine is improved and as the aviator becomes more skilful and more experienced in air conditions4 ,the report of the ,french ,government for #aiaa shows that there have been only one-tenth as many fatal accidents in proportion to the number of flights made1 as in the first year of aviation1 but each accident has made ten times as much stir4 ,,increase ,,in ,,skill ,perhaps the greatest advancement in aviation during the past year has been due to the increased skill of the aviators4 ,men like ,beachey1 ,mc,curdy1 ,willard1 ,brookins1 ,parmelee1 ,latham1 ,radley1 and others who have made flights in this country1 have shown remarkable strides in the art of flying4 ,this advancement has been in experience-in knowing what to do in all sorts of weather-in taking advantage of air currents and in knowing how to make safe landings when trouble occurs4 ,a year ago it would have looked like a desire to commit suicide to attempt some of the stunts these men now perform as a part of their daily exhibitions4 ,at the same time1 ,i want to make it plain that1 personally1 ,i do not now1 nor ever have encouraged so-called fancy flying4 ,i regard some of the spectacular gyrations performed by any of half a dozen flyers ,i know as foolhardy and as taking unnecessary chances4 ,i do not believe fancy or trick flying demonstrates anything except an unlimited amount of nerve and skill and1 perhaps1 the possibilities of aerial acrobatics4 ,,cross-,,country ,,races ,the year #aiab in ,america is the year of great cross-country flights4 ,we have already seen the foreshadowing of this development in the great flights of ,atwood from ,st4 ,louis to ,new ,york and ,rodgers from coast to coast4 ,rodgers' trip was a great feat4 ,just think6 ,clear across the ,united ,states and so many smashes that only a man with indomitable will and pluck would have kept on to success4 ,rodgers became an expert at landing and made landings almost anywhere4 ,soon we shall see1 instead of men flying alone as in the case of these trips1 double flights with two pilots relieving each other so that the distance covered in flights may be increased1 and the capabilities of machines for endurance can be fully shown4 ,the ,gordon ,bennett ,international ,cup race at ,chicago this year brought to this country two of the best racing machines in the world and has stimulated interest in aviation to a higher pitch than it has ever had in the ,united ,states4 ,at the next ,gordon ,bennett1 ,i hope to see an ,american surpass even ,vedrines' speed of one hundred and five miles an hour for one hundred twenty-four and eight-tenths miles4 ,,racing ,,types ,,of ,,to-,,morrow ,there have been many meets since ,rheims1 some international1 some of local importance2 indeed almost every citizen of a civilised country has had a chance to attend some one of them without too great a journey1 but what ,i have said of one meet is true to some degree of all3 that racing and contests in general1 especially between different makes of machines1 is of the greatest use to the development of the aeroplane1 just as competition among automobile manufacturers1 in putting out racing machines1 helped the development of that vehicle4 ,there are at the present time a number of types and makes of aeroplanes1 each claiming some especial advantage over the others1 and trying to demonstrate it4 ,some of these will drop out-some of them have dropped already-some will develop toward the aeroplane of the future1 which we can only infer from the machines of to-day4 ,the way to bring about this survival of the fittest is by speed contests and endurance races1 where the ,american manufacturer pits his machine against the foreign-made article and the biplane contends against the monoplane4 ,the public believed1 when these two types came into being1 that there would be a sharp division of uses between them2 that the biplane would excel in just certain directions1 the monoplane in others1 and the public has watched the various records of speed1 of endurance1 of distance1 as they changed back and forth between the two types1 and has found that deciding their relative merits and assigning their special uses was by no means the simple and summary process they thought it would be4 ,the contests will have to evolve new rules and regulations2 for instance1 there will have to be some means of handicapping machines with very high-power engines and small plane surface as in the case of monoplanes1 which1 with a minimum of plane surface and high power engines1 have a speed advantage over the biplanes1 that with equal engine power have much larger plane surface4 ,perhaps the method of handicapping now used in certain races of stock automobiles1 that is cubic displacement of the engine1 will be adopted4 ,,public ,,interest ,,in ,,meets ,the aviation meet at ,los ,angeles1 ,california1 in #aiaa1 was a good indication of what great and deep interest the public have in contests in the air1 and will have in the great races of the future4 ,aeroplane flights called thirty thousand people through the gates the second day of the ten days' meet4 ,this is the biggest crowd1 ,i believe1 that ever paid admission to an aviation meet1 in this country1 and probably the largest that has ever attended any outdoor attraction except the world's series baseball games and the few big football games4 ,in addition1 there was a considerable crowd on the outside who did not pay admission1 but the actual paid admissions on ,sunday were more than thirty thousand4 ,this third annual meet did better than either of those held during the two previous years1 and this1 ,i am convinced1 proves that aviation is a standard and lasting attraction4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,future ,,surprises ,,of ,,the ,,aeroplane-,,hunting1 ,,travel1 ,,mail1 ,,wireless1 ,,life-,,saving1 ,,and ,,other ,,special ,,uses ,many will be the future uses of the aeroplane2 special uses not necessarily dependent on speed4 ,sportsmen are likely to find in the aeroplane1 especially in the hydro1 an admirable vehicle for hunting1 aside from their interest in its racing capacity4 ,already there is pending in the ,california legislature a bill designed to regulate shooting from an aeroplane1 intended as an addition to the ,california aeroplane traffic regulations1 described later4 ,while this bill is probably intended as more or less of a joke1 it has been thoroughly demonstrated that it is possible to shoot wild ducks from an aeroplane4 ,hubert ,latham proved this fact in his ,antoinette monoplane at ,los ,angeles4 ,latham flew from ,dominguez ,field to the ,bolsa ,chica ,gun ,club on the shore of the ,pacific1 ten miles away1 and chased wild ducks for thirty minutes1 finally bagging one4 ,the sportsmen of ,california thought they saw in this feat of ,latham's the near approach of a time when the aeroplane would be utilised for exterminating game1 and seemed much exercised over the incident4 ,the newspapers saw only the humour of the incident1 however1 and the sportsmen were quickly reassured4 ,latham1 not content with this achievement and thirsting for new thrills1 said that he was going to fly up into the ,rocky ,mountains and shoot grizzly bears4 ,his last undertaking was to take his aeroplane with him to the ,congo where he went to hunt big game and to use the aeroplane in this novel and sensational sport4 ,strange to relate1 after having braved all the dangers of the air1 he met his fate by being gored to death by a wounded and infuriated wild buffalo1 in ,july1 #aiab4 ,some ranchers out west have clubbed together to purchase an aeroplane for hunting wolves which have been killing their cattle1 and four aviators flew over ,san ,fernando ,valley in ,california recently1 eagerly watching the underbrush for a sight of two fugitive bandits who for two days had eluded a large sheriff's posse after attempting to hold up a railway agent and mortally wounding a deputy at ,san ,fernando4 ,each aviator was sworn in as a deputy and carried with him an observer provided with a powerful field glass4 ,they reported that they could see objects very clearly below4 ,in scouring the hills one of the observers thought that he had surely spotted his man and the plane was dipped abruptly toward the ground4 ,on returning he said1 ,it was a dog ,i saw and ,i'll bet that dog is running yet4 ,i have heard on the best of authority that an aviator in this country chased a buzzard until it fell exhausted and that in ,europe this same game was played by a ,german aviator upon a large stork4 ,,aerial ,,bird-,,netting ,on my practice flights in a hydroaeroplane over ,san ,diego ,bay1 ,i noticed on several occasions that pelicans and sea gulls and even wild ducks got in my path1 and ,i was sometimes obliged to change my course in order to avoid the slow-flying fowl4 ,it occurred to me that with a net affixed to the forward part of the planes it would have been an easy matter to run down and bag a pelican1 and possibly a sea gull4 ,the ducks are too quick to be caught by an aeroplane1 as yet4 ,chasing ducks in an aeroplane and catching them in a net would be about as thrilling a sport as one can imagine4 ,perhaps when the killing of wild fowl with guns shall have palled on sportsmen1 we shall see the method of netting them with an aeroplane come into use4 ,something after the manner of scientists who hunt the lepidoptera4 ,mrs4 ,lillian ,janeway ,platt ,atwater1 of ,new ,york1 while taking instructions in the operation of the hydroaeroplane at ,north ,island1 early in #aiab1 tried my new method of catching seabirds4 ,she asked ,lieut4 ,j4 ,w4 ,mc,claskey1 instructor at the ,curtiss school1 to take out the hydroaeroplane1 with her as a passenger1 and attempt to catch a pelican or gull with a net4 ,the instructor promptly agreed and for almost half an hour the big hydroaeroplane with ,lieut4 ,mc,claskey and ,mrs4 ,atwater chased pelicans and sea gulls up and down the bay4 ,they discontinued the hunt only when a large pelican barely escaped becoming entangled in the propeller1 which would have smashed it and possibly caused an accident4 ,on another occasion ,mrs4 ,atwater did actually succeed in catching a gull while flying with her husband4 ,shooting rabbits from an aeroplane would be comparatively easy4 ,i came to this conclusion while flying over ,north ,island1 which is covered with weeds and sagebrush for the most part1 with hundreds of jack-rabbits and cottontails living there4 ,at first these rabbits were terribly frightened by the aeroplane and ran in all directions to escape4 ,they soon became used to the sight1 however1 and would watch the aeroplane with a great deal of curiosity4 ,one of the big jack-rabbits1 either from fright or curiosity1 waited too long to get out of the way of ,harry ,harkness in his ,antoinette1 when he made a rather abrupt descent1 and it was cut in two by the propeller4 ,,mail-,,carrying ,one of the most important special uses to which the aeroplane is particularly adapted is for carrying the mail4 ,royal mail was first actually handled at ,allahabad in ,india last summer1 during which over #f1jjj letters were transferred4 ,this service was planned to prove the great value of an aeroplane post during war time to a besieged town4 ,a mail route via aeroplane was established on trial between ,london and ,windsor in ,england1 which carried several tons of mail matter4 ,and in this country last fall ,postmaster-,general ,frank ,h4 ,hitchcock and ,captain ,paul ,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 inaugurated the first aerial postal service regularly established in the ,united ,states1 over a route between the ,aero ,club of ,america's flying grounds at ,nassau ,boulevard on ,long ,island1 and ,mineola1 ,l4 ,i4 ,a picturesque account of this little episode is given by ,frank ,o',malley1 who wrote3 ,the flying events of the day at the ,nassau ,boulevard aviation meet came to an end in a hubbub of joyousness among #a1ejj spectators on the grounds4 ,lieutenant ,milling had busted the ,american record and was still flying for the world's record when a tall1 youngish man decked out in a blue serge suit1 and a gray cap1 climbed into the ,curtiss machine driven by ,captain ,paul ,beck of the army4 ',the ,hon4 ,frank ,h4 ,hitchcock1 ,postmaster-,gen'rul of the whole ,united ,states1' the megaphone man began to holler1'will now fly to ,mineola with ,captain ,beck to deliver the mail4 ,postmaster-,gen'rul ,hitchcock of the ,united ,states will carry the mail-bag on his knees and drop the bag at ,mineola into a circle in which will be the ,postmaster-,gen'rul of ,i mean the ,postmaster of ,mineola4 ,ladies and gentlemen1 ,postmaster-,gen'rul ,hitchcock4' 7,much applause47 ,mr4 ,hitchcock wasn't around to hear all this and so didn't lift his gray cap in acknowledgment4 ,he was far out on the field with ,attorney-,general ,wickersham and ,captain ,beck4 ,post ,office ,inspector ,doyle handed the ,postmaster-,general a mail bag containing one thousand1 four hundred and forty postcards and one hundred and sixty-two letters1 and ,captain ,beck and the ,postmaster-,general hiked off in a northerly direction for the high spots1 ,the ,curtiss circled three-quarters of the field and then climbed rapidly until it was three hundred or four hundred feet above the south end of the track4 ,ovington1 who had also got under way with a second bag of mail in his monoplane1 shot up into the same acre of sky occupied by ,captain ,beck and ,mr4 ,hitchcock and shot eastward as a track finder for ,captain ,beck's machine4 ,the field could see the two machines almost all the time during the cross-country flight4 ,the way the biplane with a passenger pegged along just behind the monoplane with only a pilot aboard was a caution4 ,over a big white circle painted on the ,mineola real estate1 ,ovington from his monoplane and the ,postmaster-,general from ,captain ,beck's machine1 plumped down to ,mineola the two pouches and hit within the circle in each case4 ,the biplane teetered slightly as the mail bag was released and then the two machines made a circle and spun back to where the crowd stood on tiptoe peering over fences at ,nassau ,boulevard4 ',i was up once before1' the ,postmaster-,general said after he had shaken hands all around upon his return to earth4' ,that was at ,baltimore with ,count de ,lesseps in his ,bleriot4 ,the biplane to-day ,i found was much steadier4 ',fly again8 ,i hope so1 because ,i like the experience very much4 ,my trip to-day was especially enjoyable because at ,baltimore ,i could see very little of the ground below1 owing to the closed-in construction of a monoplane4 ,to-day from the biplane all this end of ,long ,island was stretched out to be looked at4 ,illustration3 ,,carrying ,,the ,,mail-,,nassau ,,boulevard1 #aiaa ,right to left3 ,attorney-general ,wickersham1 ,captain ,paul ,beck1 ,postmaster-,general ,hitchcock1 with mail-bag4 ,illustration3 ,,students ,,of ,,aerial ,,warfare ,beck1 ,st14 ,henry1 and ,curtiss studying a flight by ,kelley ,military pupils4 ,left to right3 ,mc,claskey1 ,curtiss1 ,beck1 ,towers1 ,ellyson ',yes1 air-routes are all right for practical mail-carrying1' ,mr4 ,hitchcock continued1 in answer to a question4',i mean1' he smiled1'the air is all right1 but the vehicles must continue toward perfection4 ,but even with the aeroplane as it is now it would be very useful to us1 particularly in some parts of the country4 ,,practical ,,value ,,to-,,day ,,for ,,mail-,,carrying ',take along the ,colorado ,river in the canon district of ,yuma1 for instance1 or in parts of ,alaska4 ,along the ,colorado there are places where detours of fifty miles out of the way are made in mail routes to get to a bridge4 ,an aeroplane could hop right across the river4 ',the expensiveness of maintaining an aeroplane service is an obstacle1 but that will diminish4 ,i would like to see the ,post ,office ,department do something definite in this direction for the good effect it would have in stimulating the development of the machine4 ,fliers at present have many lean months between the meets4' ,ever since ,postmaster-,general ,hitchcock made this trip he has been an enthusiastic advocate of the aeroplane as a means of transporting mail over difficult routes4 ,during the next few months he granted permission to a number of aviators1 including ,ovington1 ,milling1 ,arnold1 ,robinson1 ,lincoln ,beachey1 ,charles ,f4 ,walsh1 ,beckwith ,havens1 ,charles ,c4 ,witmer1 and ,eugene ,godet1 all of whom fly ,curtiss machines1 to act as special mail carriers1 and these men have carried mail bags in similar exhibiting tests from aviation fields to points near the ,post ,office4 ,among the cities where such tests have been officially made are ,rochester1 ,n4 ,y42 ,dubuque1 ,iowa2 ,fort ,smith1 ,ark42 ,temple and ,houston1 ,texas2 ,atlanta1 ,savannah1 ,columbia1 and ,rome1 ,ga42 and ,spartanburg and ,salisbury1 ,n4 ,c4 ,the record for long-distance mail carrying is held by ,hugh ,robinson1 who took a bag of mail at ,minneapolis1 ,minn41 and carried it on his long flight down the ,mississippi ,river in a hydroaeroplane as far as ,rock ,island1 ,ill4 ,the distance covered by ,robinson was #cge miles on this trip1 and letters and first class mail matter were put off and taken on at ,winona1 ,minn42 ,prairie du ,chien1 ,wis42 ,dubuque and ,clinton1 ,iowa2 and ,rock ,island1 ,ill4 ,of course the aeroplane is1 at present1 best suited for carrying mail in localities where the weather is equable2 in such places it offers a speedy1 direct1 and dependable service4 ,these numerous experiments in mail-carrying by aeroplane have brought about the urging of an appropriation by ,congress for this purpose4 ,the second ,assistant ,postmaster-,general1 who is in charge of mail transportation1 in a report that has just been made public at the time ,i am writing this1 asks for #ej1jjj for the transportation of mails by aeroplane4 ,part of this fund may be devoted to mail routes in the ,alaskan interior4 ,one government has actively entered on practical mail-carrying by aeroplane4 ,belgium has voted a fund to establish routes across seven hundred miles of impenetrable ,congo jungle4 ,,wireless ,the aeroplane is ideal for use with wireless telegraphy and the combination of the aeroplane's ability to obtain information and the ability to transmit it by wireless will be one of its most important future developments in practical usefulness4 ,wireless experiments do not involve any great problem1 as messages have been successfully transmitted from an aeroplane to land stations many times4 ,the receiving of a wireless message by an operator in an aeroplane from a land station or from a warship involves considerable difficulty because of the noise and vibration of the motor1 but it is expected1 however1 that this will be soon entirely overcome and that it will be possible to transmit or receive telegrams in an aeroplane to or from distant points with the same ease and accuracy that it is now seen on the ground or on the water4 ,the telegraph seems to be the companion of the locomotive1 the telephone of the automobile1 and now wireless has its side-partner in the aeroplane6 ,important experiments are being carried on by the signal corps of every army with various methods of communication with an aeroplane in flight and by the aviator with those on the ground4 ,they have tried an instrument for making smoke signals1 with large and small puffs1 reviving a method used by the ,american ,indians in the pioneer days and quite familiar to all boys who have played ,indian in the country4 ,,forestry ,,survey ,the supervisor of the ,selway forest1 consisting of #a1fjj1jjj acres1 which was formerly part of the ,nez ,perces reserve in ,idaho1 predicts that aeroplanes and wireless telegraphy will be important factors in forest fire prevention before a far distant date4 ,he believes that a man in an aeroplane could do more accurate and extensive survey work in the forests of the ,pacific slope country in a few hours when forest fires are raging than is usually accomplished by twenty rangers in a week4 ,with wireless stations installed on peaks in the chief danger zones1 he believed it would be a comparatively easy task to assemble men and apparatus to check and extinguish the flames and prevent fires from spreading4 ,,moving ,,pictures ,aeroplanes have already been used for purposes of photography and moving picture machines have also been attached to them and some remarkable pictures taken4 ,one of the large moving picture magnates said1 ,now1 ,mr4 ,curtiss1 if you can take a series of moving pictures showing a trip across the ,united ,states1 ,i do not care if it takes you a year to get it and even though it is taken piecemeal1 or one section at a time over the main cities on the way1 ,i will pay you well for it4 ,we will take the film1 trim it down1 and run it through at lightning speed taking our audience from ,new ,york to ,san ,francisco 'as the bird flies' in twenty minutes4 ,the value of moving pictures taken from above and from a swift low-flying machine is apparent at a glance4 ,the contour of the country is shown as in no other way1 and now that warfare is going to have a quite different point of view1 even a different range of action1 it is important that schools1 and especially military schools1 should be made familiar with this aspect of the land4 ,the flat map is superseded by such a panoramic view4 ,in time of actual war1 moving pictures taken in this way will have a unique value4 ,in photographing reviews of troops1 public celebrations1 lines of battleships1 or any scenes that require a panoramic representation1 the aeroplane has been used with success4 ,it can also be of great service in photographing animals and rare birds which may inhabit regions otherwise inaccessible4 ,with the advance of nature study and the steady development of camera hunting1 the aeroplane will be used more and more for such purposes as well as for photographing mountain tops and other insurmountable or dangerous places to reach4 ,robert ,g4 ,fowler has had some surprisingly good motion pictures taken from his machine during his cross-continent flight1 by an operator sitting beside him1 his camera placed on a temporary stand4 ,mr4 ,frank ,w4 ,coffyn took a most interesting series of moving pictures of ,new ,york ,city from the water front1 portraying the ,battery1 the ,brooklyn ,bridge1 and the famous ,statue of ,liberty in the harbour4 ,mr4 ,coffyn used a hydroaeroplane for this purpose1 which made his flights comparatively safe4 ,in fact1 such a feat would have been well nigh impossible for a machine that could not land on the water1 for there are no places where an aeroplane can land in the business section of ,new ,york unless the aviator should land on one of the large buildings1 and then he would have great difficulty in getting away again4#f ,great care has to be exercised to keep the machine on an even keel1 so that the operator can manage the roll of film4 ,,life-,,saving ,another branch of the government service that will no doubt be greatly aided by aeroplanes are the ,life ,saving ,stations along the coast1 whose regular equipment might well include an aeroplane to fly to wrecks and carry a line from shore to ship when the high seas make it impossible to launch a lifeboat4 ,it might be impracticable to go out during the period of severe storm1 but there is always a calm in the air after a storm1 as well as the proverbial calm before one1 while the high seas in which a lifeboat cannot live are still running4 ,the aeroplane or the hydroaeroplane1 dashing through the air1 even through high wind1 would bring the line that means life to helpless men clinging to a wreck4 ,i am awaiting with earnest expectation the first time that an aeroplane actually saves a life2 when that takes place1 it will have conquered the heart of the people as well as fascinated its intellect1 aroused its awe1 or compelled its admiration4 ,the first period of enthusiastic acceptance of the new machine has been succeeded in the mind of the general non-flying public by an admiration not at all like affection4 ,realising how many lives have been given to its development1 feeling that the aviator takes1 as they call it1 his life in his hands1 the crowd at a flying-meet feels with all its great and growing interest1 an attraction in which figures not a little fear and distrust4 ,the first time that an aeroplane saves a life as it can and will do many times it will have begun to conquer this public distrust4 ,that is why the exploit of the hydroaeroplane already described1 in coming first to the aid of the aviator in the water1 had a value far greater than its apparent importance4#g ,,exploring ,,and ,,escape ,,from ,,danger ,the aeroplane will find one of its important uses not only in taking pictures of inaccessible spots1 but also in crossing otherwise impassable places1 especially in times of pressing need when fire1 earthquake1 volcanic eruptions that leave beds of molten lava1 explosions1 pestilences1 floods1 or other devastations occur1 and quick assistance is necessary4 ,in engineering and mining matters1 the aeroplane may be of assistance in exploring the best places to locate the route for railroads through mountain passes and into such places as ,death ,valley where the salt deposits are located4 ,,travel ,an important field in the sporting world of aviation of course will be carrying passengers and initiating novices into the mysteries of the air lanes and into the pleasures of aerial touring4 ,in this delightful method of travel the panorama below is equal to any of the magnificent landscapes which may be seen from high mountains and besides1 the view is attended by most delicious thrills and sensations1 and when a good pilot is in control of the machine the passenger is sure of a pastime absolutely unequalled for mere joy1 aside from further use or benefit it may have4 ,while travelling over torrid places like deserts and arid wastes1 as well as burning prairies1 the aviator can fly high where the air is cool and clear and escape the great humidity and the deadly alkali dust4 ,as for mountain climbing1 it will have lost its peculiar fascination when the aeroplane will be to mountains what the elevator is to high buildings4 ,the landscape has a greater1 far greater beauty2 for an aviator can see a great distance over a level plane4 ,at the height of one mile you can1 theoretically1 see ninety-six miles in every direction and as you ascend the distance to the horizon becomes greater4 ,in hilly country1 one hill hides another when you look from the ground1 but when you are high up in the sky1 like the eagle1 the mountains all seem to lose their height and appear flat and naturally your view is unobstructed4 ,at great altitudes the sky becomes very deep blue and if you kept going up you would reach a point finally where the sky became black and the sun appeared like a ball of fire all by itself as a candle flame does in the dark4 ,,for ,,health ,in these regions there is no dust in the air to diffuse the light and the air is dry and consequently excellent for persons with lung trouble4 ,there is even a possibility that physicians will advise patients suffering from tuberculosis to ascend to these high altitudes1 and it is a fact that ,hubert ,latham was threatened with this disease1 yet enjoyed good health after taking up aviation1 only to be killed by a wild buffalo1 as related4 ,perhaps this is one of those cases ,i was looking for where the aeroplane has saved a life4 ,,meteorology ,an aeroplane will bring quick reports of changes in the weather4 ,rapid investigations of conditions which exist in the strata of air at varying altitudes above the surface of the earth1 made by the use of flying machines1 may lend us material aid in understanding those conditions which are closer to earth4 ,the study of the weather and meteorological conditions becomes of greater and greater importance as the progress in the science of aviation advances4 ,the currents of air that are regular in their direction of movement1 like the trade winds1 must be mapped and charted1 for with the aid of a strong wind an aviator can make marvellous speed1 as the speed of the wind is added to the speed of his machine and with an aeroplane capable of making one hundred miles an hour a favourable wind of fifty miles an hour would increase the total speed by one half4 ,for the wind is now no longer an obstacle to flight1 and as ,i have already noted at the beginning of this chapter1 this is one of the most noticeable advancements in aviation1 one that can readily be seen1 understood1 and appreciated even by the uninitiated4 ,,the ,,tendency ,,toward ,,hydros ,there is always more or less danger in flying over land1 and the rougher its surface the more difficult and dangerous the matter of landing4 ,the safest place and the most uniform surface is to be found over the water1 and there is much less danger to the aviator flying there than over the land4 ,the strength of the wind can be easily judged by the height of the waves1 and squalls and puffs can be seen coming so that if they seem to be very bad you can come down on the surface of the water or skim along very near it with the greatest safety1 if you are in a hydroaeroplane4 ,rivers will no doubt become the favourite highways of travel for the airman1 as they were once the only great avenues for the march of civilisation when the canoe or the rude boat was the only vehicle of transportation4 ,this brings us naturally to another consideration of the air-land-water machine4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,future ,,of ,,the ,,hydro ,the most interesting type of flying machine for sport and pleasure is the hydroaeroplane1 and this is undoubtedly the machine with the greatest possibilities for the future4 ,indeed1 it opens up an entirely new region of activity1 as boundless as the ocean itself1 and as various as the different bodies of water4 ,built along the lines of a motor boat with the addition of aeroplane surfaces or horizontal sails1 this craft will be used for much the same purposes as motor boats are now1 but in ways immeasurably more varied and more effective4 ,the boat portion will be made large and comfortable for pleasure trips and will be a veritable sportsman's machine which can be run up to a dock where it can make an easy landing and be tied up when not anchored out from shore4 ,there will be a comfortable cabin1 with cushioned seats for the navigators1 and celluloid windows will be placed in the planes1 so that the view below will not be obstructed4 ,it will be handled in heavy seas without difficulty4 ,with such an air and water craft you can go off hunting or fishing2 you can shoot ducks and you will not have to wait until ,mr4 ,duck comes by but you will be able to reverse the present custom and chase him in his native element and overtake him1 too1 as you would a fox on horseback4 ,by rising to a good height you can see schools of fish or good places on the bottom to cast your lines for fishing4 ,inland lakes will be just the place for the water machine and even among the mountains the surface of lakes will offer ideal places for landing and starting1 even where the shores are quite out of the question for safe flying ground4 ,the construction of the hydroaeroplane1 while keeping on the same general lines of development1 will adapt itself to the exigencies arising from its extended uses4 ,the propeller or propellers will be protected from the flying spray which might break them for small drops of water are like bullets out of a gun when hit by the rapidly revolving blades of the propeller which travel so fast that water might just as well be solid matter as far as getting out of the way is concerned4 ,spray will chip pieces right out of a wooden propeller4 ,propeller blades are now covered with tin on the tips for use on the water1 and even metal blades may be better in some respects for this purpose4 ,the control and rudders are placed on the rear of the long light boat1 which extends further to the rear to accommodate them4 ,the radius of action in the hydroaeroplane is now from four hundred to five hundred miles1 for the machine can carry a barrel of gasoline1 or fifty-two gallons1 and as the engine uses about seven gallons an hour this would mean about seven hours running at from fifty to sixty miles an hour in still air2 if the wind were blowing twenty-five miles an hour in the direction in which the machine was flying it would add two hundred and fifty miles to the distance covered in ten hours4 ,these machines can be equipped with more surface and they can be specially built to carry as much as two barrels of fuel1 which would enable them to fly nearly twelve hundred miles if the wind were steady4 ,they can also fly in very high winds up to almost one hundred miles an hour1 which is the speed at which some of the higher air currents flow1 as proved by the flight of balloons4 ,this would of course tremendously increase the distance covered4 ,all this is possible to-day and it seems that the aeroplane has already done every thing possible to be done on land4 ,bleriot crossed the ,english channel1 ,chavez crossed the ,alps1 and ,rodgers crossed the ,american continent1 passing over the ,rocky ,mountains1 and making over four thousand miles in the air4 ,the only thing now left is to cross the ocean4 ,an attempt has been made to cross the ,atlantic in a dirigible balloon4 ,you all remember how ,walter ,wellman flew out over the ocean from ,atlantic ,city in one of the largest dirigible balloons ever constructed here1 the ,america1 remained three days in the air1 and covered over twelve hundred miles1 even though his motors were running only a part of the time4 ,he was fortunate enough to be rescued and brought back to land by the steamer ,trent4 ,and nothing daunted1 his chief engineer ,melville ,vaniman constructed another large dirigible the ,akron1 on which he met such an untimely end4 ,another entrant in the world race to cross the ocean is ,dr4 ,gans who1 with the backing of the ,german government1 plans to start in his dirigible balloon the ,suchard from the ,island of ,teneriffe1 one of the ,azores1 to attempt the crossing of the ,southern ,atlantic4 ,he will endeavour to be the ,columbus of the air and be wafted above the waves by the selfsame winds which always blow in that part of the ocean to the ,west ,indies1 just as the first man to accomplish this passage was driven over the surface of the sea with his small ships4 ,such great enterprises bid fair to embolden aviators in their aeroplanes to try to win the laurels due the first to be successful4 ,many aeronauts and aviators seem to be focussing their minds at the present moment on this great problem4 ,it seems always a condition necessary to precede the accomplishment of any great thing that popular thought should be centred upon it2 then some one rises to the occasion and the thing is done4 ,there is no doubt that such a flight is possible to-day1 just as the flight across the ,united ,states was possible in even the early stages of aviation4 ,for the machine and motor which actually accomplished this trip were almost the same as the very first models2 but it took the man to do it4 ,it will no doubt necessitate a double machine1 and will need two pilots1 one to relieve the other1 and possibly several engines to ensure against stopping of the motor4 ,mr4 ,grahame-,white has predicted that within twenty years we will be flying across the ,atlantic in fifteen hours upon regular schedule between ,london and ,new ,york4 ,mr4 ,grahame-,white once even went so far as to say that the ocean in a few years would only be used to bathe in but ,i think he might have added and to fish in1 and left us that consolation6 ,perhaps1 backed by government aid1 and with the co-operation of their naval vessels1 a chain of ships could be stretched across the ocean1 which would make it possible even now to fly with safety over the distance between ,nova ,scotia and ,ireland1 about two thousand miles4 ,already1 ,mr4 ,atwood who flew from ,st4 ,louis to ,new ,york1 and ,mr4 ,james ,v4 ,martin1 have seriously planned such a trip4 ,mr4 ,martin has submitted his plans to the ,royal ,aero ,club of ,england4 ,he proposes to keep in the track of steamers and to endeavour to secure the most favourable wind conditions possible4 ,his machine is designed to have large floats and five powerful engines4 ,storms pass across the ocean with great rapidity and a fifty-mile-an-hour wind would so increase the speed of an aeroplane as materially to help it on its journey4 ,the accomplishment of this great flight over the ocean will no doubt mean great things for the progress of the world but it also will require further development along the lines of a flying boat1 where a substantial vessel will be provided1 able to stand rough sea and yet able to rise and skim the surface of the water4 ,following up the success of my new hydroaeroplane1 ,i have taken great interest in the idea of a flight across the ,atlantic ,ocean by aeroplane4 ,i consider the flight possible1 and ,i am willing to undertake the construction of a machine for the purpose1 provided any of the aviators now considering flight wish me to do so4 ,i am not prepared to give the details of such a machine as would be required to make the flight1 but ,i simply express the opinion that the feat is possible and that under certain conditions ,i will undertake to furnish the equipment4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,future ,,problems ,,of ,,aviation ,in a consideration of the final structure of the ,coming ,aeroplane1 we pass into the realm of pure prophecy1 for the aerial liners and dreadnaughts of the future are still snug in the brains of men like ,rudyard ,kipling or ,h4 ,g4 ,wells4 ,my part in the consideration of what is coming is here confined to the consideration of the immediate1 or at least the not far distant1 future4 ,biplanes will always be the standard machines in my opinion1 because you can get more supporting surface for the same weight4 ,surfaces may be set one far out in front of the other1 as ,farman has done1 but with three surfaces the third requires a full set of struts and wires and just as much weight as for two ordinary surfaces1 and adds only one half more surface1 and the head resistance is also increased once again4 ,surfaces no doubt will be made larger and machines much bigger in every way will be built4 ,telescoping wings may be a feature of the future machines1 so that a graduated area of wing surface can be readily obtained and changed for slow or high speed4 ,the limousine1 or enclosed-cabin body1 will be a familiar sight in the future machines built for passenger-carrying4 ,these cabins will be provided with comfortable seats4 ,,automatic ,,stability ,in regard to the question of automatic stability1 or some device to balance the machine automatically1 there seems to be no doubt that this problem will be solved2 in fact it is already solved both for balancing laterally and keeping the machine from tipping sideways and also to govern its fore and aft pitching4 ,these devices may be of value in learning to fly4 ,but in the practical use of the aeroplane you may see conditions arising which you wish to counteract before they occur and for which you wish to prepare4 ,automatic stabilisers will no doubt prove very good auxiliary devices1 and some aeroplanes will have automatic stabilisers on them before this is printed1 but the aviator will no doubt have to regulate the regulators in the future as he operates the levers personally in the present4 ,,aviation ,,laws ,,to ,,come ,the making of good laws is not to be overlooked when considering the future development of the aeroplane1 for aviators must be protected from themselves1 and the public must be protected from the rashness or inexperience of airmen4 ,almost all nations have already begun to exercise control over their new territory1 the air1 and are realising that it may become one of their most valued possessions and of an importance equal to their domain over water4 ,for a nation without any seacoast may no longer be cut off from direct intercourse with the world through the aerial craft which can enter and leave at will1 as vessels now do on the sea1 with no chance of a neighbouring nation restricting this very freedom4 ,laws are rapidly being passed by states regulating and licensing aviators and requiring lights to be carried1 but it seems that the federal government should be the power that should control the air just as it does the sea and navigable rivers4 ,for fliers flit about so that the whole country seems but a mere playground for men of the air4 ,already the ,california legislature has made several laws to protect the aeroplane and the aviator1 as well as to safeguard the larger public that stays on the ground4 ,some of these laws may seem a little premature1 but everything about aeroplanes goes so fast1 that there is no wonder the laws instead of lagging behind conditions as they usually do1 should speed up a little ahead of them1 for the progress of flight is such that by the time the law gets on the statute books the conditions may be calling for it4 ,for instance1 bills have been introduced at ,sacramento to regulate the licensing of aeroplanes1 which are to be classed as motor vehicles1 and to carry numbers and lights1 the same as automobiles4 ,the idea of providing for lights seems a little far-fetched at this time1 as it will be a long time before there will be much flying at night4 ,besides1 such lights as the proposed law provides would be unnecessary1 for the reason that the aeroplane would not be confined to an arbitrary path1 but could choose its own course4 ,therefore1 a single light in front and another behind would be all that would be required1 instead of one pair in front1 one behind and one on each plane1 as the bill suggests4 ,,future ,,cost ,,of ,,the ,,aeroplane ,the cost of the machine is high at the present time because there are but few made4 ,no doubt when the great numbers of people who are now deeply interested in the subject get to the point of practical flight and desire to take flights1 they will want to own machines1 and learn to operate them4 ,then aeroplanes will be made in quantities and the price will be reduced in accord with the number that are built and some day we will be able to buy a good aeroplane for about the price we have to pay now for a small automobile4 ,cortlandt ,field ,bishop is credited with having said when some one asked him if the manufacture of a cheap aeroplane1 to cost #aej1 including the motor1 would not be a great business undertaking1 ,well1 a great undertaking business should certainly come of it4 ,,landing ,,places ,the most serious problem of flying to-day is to find a good course to fly over and suitable landing places4 ,the day will soon come when every city and town will have public landing and starting grounds4 ,as a matter of fact the park commissioners of ,new ,york ,city have already been discussing the setting apart of landing places or isles of safety in the public parks of the city1 although some authorities declare that it would not be well to encourage fliers to risk themselves and the people below by flying over the houses4 ,there should be routes of travel established between cities over which an aviator will have a right to fly1 just as there are highways on the surface of the earth4 ,,government ,,encouragement ,perhaps the greatest factor which is needed to further the development of the aeroplane today is the thorough appreciation by the ,national ,government of the benefits which the aeroplane may bring to its various departments besides the military and postal service4 ,when railroads first became practical the government gave millions of dollars besides large grants of land to enable them to extend and develop to a successful state4 ,steamship building was helped in the same way both by government aid and by the building of warships and transports4 ,the ,french ,government continues to lead the world in its encouragement of aviation4 ,during the month of ,december1 #aiaa1 according to most reliable statistics1 the ,war ,department ordered no less than four hundred new aeroplanes1 divided between a dozen or more types1 and asked the government to appropriate the sum of #d1djj1jjj for aeronautics4 ,italy1 next to ,france1 is the most active ,european government in aviation1 the ,italian ,war ,department having ordered fifty ,french machines of various types1 as well as twelve aeroplanes of a new type produced in ,austria4 ,the ,turkish government has decided to establish schools for the fourth arm immediately1 while ,russia will also increase its aviation programme4 ,the latest government to take up aviation is that of ,australia1 where an aviation school is about to open for the instruction of army officers4 ,germany is not as active in aviation as the other principal ,european governments1 although it is difficult to say exactly what is being done by the ,germans1 as they purchase machines made in their own country only4 ,a most interesting programme was arranged by the ,british military authorities for the trial of machines in competition in the summer of #aiab1 at ,salisbury ,plain1 in order to determine the best types of military aeroplane4 ,the winning types in this contest will receive large orders from the ,british government to supply the ,army and ,navy with aerial equipment4 ,,first ,,aviation ,,regiment 7,newspaper ,despatch7 ,,paris1 ,jan4 #be1 #aiab4 ,the first aviation regiment1 #cbg strong1 was organised here to-day4 ,a flag will be presented to the battalion later on4 ,having already organised an aviation regiment1 ,french army officers are now agitating the question upon the basis of having no less than a thousand aeroplanes ready at a moment's notice under the command of superior officers and under perfect control of army pilots trained to handle them4 ,this training of officers is the most important part1 for it takes time to make good fliers4 ,machines may be turned out very rapidly1 but fliers become skilled to the point where they may be of use in army work only by long practice and practical experience4 ,our government has given an appropriation1 small in comparison with what ,france1 ,germany and ,england appropriated1 and we have a few aeroplanes in the signal corps of the ,army now and three machines in the ,navy1 but these are only the first steps in this important branch of our military and naval development4 ,we all hope for at least adequate equipment1 an equipment that will equal1 if not surpass1 that of the ,european powers4 ,after the development of the aeroplane for sport and commercial purposes1 its greatest field of growth is for purposes of war and here we find that the aeroplane can be at once the most deadly weapon of offensive warfare as yet developed by man1 and an even more serviceable agent for defensive measures1 or for all those most important duties related to scouting and obtaining and carrying information4 ,,what ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,can ,,do ,,in ,,war ,i feel confident that an aeroplane can be even now built which will be able to lift a ton of dynamite or other high explosive1 and that it can be so constructed that it will be an aerial torpedo or winged projectile1 the engine charged with compressed air and set to run any required distance1 from one mile to ten miles4 ,such a machine can be steered by wireless controlling apparatus just as submarine boats and small airships are directed4 ,a hydroaeroplane can be made to fly at just a certain height over the water by attaching it to a drag or a float which would prevent its exceeding the desired limit of altitude4 ,the machine so equipped might be started in a circle and flown around in a circular course gradually widening and widening1 like a bird dog hunting a scent1 until the object aimed at is hit4 ,one of the most important uses of an aeroplane adapted to the uses of the ,navy will be its valuable assistance in enabling the manner of formation of the enemy's ships in line of battle to be made known to the commanding officer and the angle of approach to be estimated1 in order that our own ships may be so formed in line of battle as to meet the brunt of the attack effectually4 ,an aeroplane launched from the deck of a battleship and ascending to the height of a mile will give the observers on board a range of vision of ninety-six miles in every direction and powerful glasses will reveal many details that can be seen more clearly from above than when observed from the same level4 ,submarines can be located with great ease when far below the surface of the water4 ,even the bottom appears clearly in some of the tropic seas1 and fogs1 which obscure all things to the enveloped mariner bound to the surface of the sea1 usually hang comparatively low down and even a moderate altitude will enable an aerial observer or pilot to see clearly above the banks of mist which shut down like a pall upon the water4 ,the military aeroplane will be able to muffle its motor and for night operations will be equipped with search-lights and able to approach an enemy unseen and unheard from a high altitude1 a direction in which there are no pickets4 ,in the school machines of one of the ,chicago schools the motors have already been muffled to permit the teacher more readily giving his instructions to his pupils4 ,u4 ,s4 ,army officers have also experimented with mufflers on their motors4 ,aeroplanes have been recently used by the ,italian ,army near ,tripoli and bombs were dropped which not only frightened the enemy but stampeded their horses and caused panic among the soldiers4 ,they were also of great service in directing the fire of the guns from the ships which were quite out of sight of their targets1 a captive balloon and an aeroplane signalling the effect of the shots and the angles at which to train the guns4 ,the aviators took steel bomb-shells with them and filled them while flying1 holding the caps in their teeth1 and steering with their knees while performing this operation4 ,they did not dare to carry the bombs loaded for fear of being blown to pieces themselves in case of an accident when landing4 ,in the fall of #aiaa1 extensive tests were made by the ,french military authorities which showed how reliable aeroplanes can be4 ,the aviators flew at the command of officers and under the strictest orders2 the machines were required to land in ploughed fields and to start away again with their full complement of passengers and extra weight of fuel4 ,all the machines were required to carry a weight of about five hundred pounds and to rise to a certain height in a specified time with their complete load4 ,the machines were also dismounted and assembled in the field and packed and transported from one place to another1 to test the ease with which this could be done4 ,these military tests were won by ,charles ,weymann1 who was also the winner of the ,gordon ,bennett ,international ,aviation ,cup for ,america last year4 ,mr4 ,weymann drove a special ,nieuport machine1 which was the most speedy type of aeroplane built at that time1 and was successful in landing and starting from a ploughed field1 which many thought impossible for a very fast type of machine4 ,it took the greatest skill to land such a speedy machine on rough ground1 for he had to glide down with absolute accuracy1 to land without a smash4 ,among ,army officers the keenest competition is developed1 and it is only by a spirit of rivalry and a desire to excel that the best qualities in officers and men are brought out in times of peace4 ,of course in time of war there is a need which calls for the best there is in a man4 ,the needs of the ,army and ,navy aviators have developed some special features in machines built for their purposes4 ,they want to be as far out in front of the machine as possible so they can have an unobstructed view1 and so that if they should be so unfortunate as to be pitched out1 they will be quite clear of everything4 ,this is especially true of naval machines built to fly over the water4 ,military aeroplanes also should have a standard method of control1 so that any ,army or ,navy aviator can operate any ,army or ,navy machine4 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,as ,,applied ,,to ,,the ,,army 7,by ,captain ,paul ,w4 ,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a47 #h ,whenever science discovers anything new or startling1 such discovery is immediately tested by practical men of commercial or professional life to ascertain whether or not it can be applied to their business or profession4 ,in civil life these tests are to determine whether or not this new discovery can be applied to cheapen production or benefit mankind in any other way4 ,in the ,army two tests are always applied3 first1 to determine whether or not the discovery can be used to kill the other fellow and1 second1 to determine whether or not it can be used to prevent the other fellow from killing us4 ,these are the tests which have been applied to the aeroplane by the military4 ,let us see how these heavier-than-air machines have responded to these tests4 ,can aeroplanes be used to kill the other fellow8 ,our problem here is not ethical but practical2 it is not based on the determinations of the ,hague peace convention1 but upon the actual capabilities of the machine from a physical standpoint1 considered apart from humanitarian principles4 ,in other words we do not discuss whether or not it is ethically right to use aeroplanes aggressively1 but whether or not aeroplanes are mechanically capable of such use4 ,the ,army does not disturb itself with ethical questions until they become rules of ,international ,law1 and then it only considers them as being binding in their actual observance under the conditions imposed by such law4 ,meanwhile the ,army1 by preparation in time of peace1 seeks to gain the fullest possible measure of information along the lines of investigation necessitated by the mechanical side of the question4 ,considered from this standpoint1 the question is repeated3 can aeroplanes be used to kill the other fellow8 ,well1 where may we expect to meet this other fellow8 ,he will be armed1 of course4 ,he will be on the ground1 on the water1 or in the air4 ,wherever he may be we must get close enough to see him1 while we must remain far enough away to keep him from having a decidedly better chance of hitting us than we have of hitting him4 ,if he is on the ground or on the water we must fly over him4 ,if he is in the air we must manoeuvre our air craft so as to gain an advantageous position over him2 one where we can shoot our machine guns or rifles while he is unable to use his similar weapons against us4 ,that is where skill as an aviator and superiority of speed1 climbing powers1 and control of the machine will play a prominent part in deciding the supremacy of the air4 ,from the standpoint of the location of the enemy the problem can be reduced to two cases3 one1 when the enemy is on the ground or on the water1 and the other when he is in the air4 ,against him in the first case we must use projectiles dropped from on high4 ,these may be shrapnel1 explosive shells or simply large1 thinly encased masses of high explosive1 depending on whether we are attacking individuals or animals in groups2 gun emplacements1 bridges1 etc41 or important strategical or tactical points such as arsenals1 barracks1 or parts of a defensive line4 ,against the enemy in the skies we must use some small machine gun or rifle1 in an endeavour to brush him aside and allow our own information-gathering aeroplanes to perform their functions unmolested4 ,but we are not progressing4 ,can aeroplanes be used to kill the other fellow8 ,well1 assuming him to be located as we have assumed him to be1 there are several other questions which must be answered before we can clinch the main issue4 ,can a man act as aviator and at the same time manipulate the mechanism that may be found necessary to the killing of the other fellow8 ,if not1 can an aeroplane be built that will carry at least two men1 one as aviator and the other as manipulator of the death-dealing apparatus1 and1 at the same time1 carry enough extra weight1 i4 e41 fuel1 to keep aloft long enough to accomplish the necessary flight and also carry the projectiles and dropping device8 ,yes4 ,the two passengers may be estimated to weigh three hundred pounds4 ,the dropping device may be estimated to weigh not to exceed fifty pounds4 ,at least three known types of aeroplane carry six hundred and fifty pounds of weight for a continuous flight of two hundred miles in length4 ,that leaves two hundred and fifty pounds that can be devoted to the carrying of projectiles4 ,so far the coast seems clear1 but a small storm appears in the offing2 can this two hundred and fifty pounds1 or any considerable part of it1 be dropped from a moving aeroplane without disturbing its equilibrium to such an extent as to render the machine unmanageable8 ,any weight can be dropped from the centre of lift without disturbing the equilibrium4 ,thirty-eight pounds have been dropped from one machine from a point three feet in front of the centre of lift without disturbing the equilibrium4 ,admitting that the necessary weight can be carried and can be dropped1 we next encounter the highly important question1 what can we hit from a height of1 say1 three thousand five hundred feet8 ,at this point the problem becomes one of pure fire control1 and is directly analogous to target practice in our sea-coast defences4 ,since the aeroplane is moving forward at a definite rate of speed at the instant of dropping the projectile1 it follows that there is an initial velocity given to the projectile4 ,this velocity is dependent upon the forward speed of the machine and varies with it4 ,gravity exerts an influence on the drop of the projectile1 which influence increases the speed of drop as the altitude from which the shell is dropped increases4 ,the direction and force of the wind currents through which the projectile must fall are variable and they all exert influences tending to cause the projectile to swerve from its original course to a degree dependent upon their strength and the thickness of each stratum of air4 ,the size of the target and1 if it be animals or men1 the direction and rate of movement of the target1 are all factors to a successful hit4 ,practice has shown us that the principal factors are the forward speed of the machine and the altitude4 ,the variations due to wind currents through which the projectile must pass in falling are negligible4 ,the only targets to be chosen will be sufficiently large and immobile to warrant an assumption that they can be hit4 ,aerial target practice will never degenerate to the sniping of individuals4 ,it will be directed against ships1 small boats1 armies1 cavalry1 quartermaster and field artillery trains and similar large bodies of men or animals1 or against the strategical and tactical points alluded to above4 ,the problem then simmers itself down to a more or less accurate solution of a method for determining the forward speed of the machine and its altitude1 which1 with a suitable set of tables and suitable mechanical devices for releasing the projectile at the proper instant1 will produce a reasonably good target practice4 ,for some time the solution of the forward speed of an aeroplane seemed impracticable4 ,it has now been solved by the simple use of a telescope1 mounted on a gimbal so as to maintain its horizontal position and movable vertically along a graduated arc4 ,by setting the telescope to read an angle of forty-five degrees and snapping a stop watch on an object which lies in the line of sight of the telescope produced1 and then swinging the telescope so as to point vertically downward1 we can1 by snapping the stop watch a second time as the sighting point again comes into the field of vision1 ascertain the exact time it has taken the machine to cover the distance measured by forty-five degrees of arc4 ,our altitude is known by reading a barometer4 ,we then have two known angles of a right triangle and one known side1 viz41 the altitude4 ,by a set of tables1 already made out1 we can determine our forward speed4 ,now1 all of this is done as a preliminary to actually dropping the projectile4 ,after we have the forward speed and the altitude we simply consult another set of previously prepared tables and read from those tables an angle4 ,this angle shows the proper point of drop to hit another point on the ground somewhere in advance of the aeroplane4 ,after picking the angle out of the table we set our telescope to read the known angle and1 when the line of sight1 produced1 is on the objective1 we release or trip the projectile4 ,this has actually been done4 ,now ,i ask you the question1 can an aeroplane be used to kill the other fellow8 ,can an aeroplane be used to prevent the other fellow from killing us8 ,of course it is much superior to ,santa ,ana's mule for purposes of rapid departure from the scene of hostilities1 but that is hardly the test we apply4 ,it is1 on the other hand1 inferior as a shield to the ordinary breastworks constructed by armies in the field1 but1 again1 that is not precisely the test to be applied4 ,the most effective way in which we can keep the other fellow from killing us is to find out where he is1 what he is doing and how he proposes to accomplish his-to us reprehensible1 to him laudable-object4 ,accordingly we apply the information test to the aeroplane4 ,can we use it to gather information of the enemy1 his lines of communication1 his lines of defences1 his probable lines of advance or retreat1 his rail and water communications1 his artillery positions and gun emplacements1 and a host of other things1 all of which tend to produce success or failure in battle8 ,in other words1 can we use the aeroplane to prevent the enemy from killing us8 ,in order to make use of information there are two distinct steps which must be taken3 ,first1 it must be gathered2 second1 it must be communicated to the proper officers for transmission to the ,commanding ,general in the field4 ,no information is of value until it is communicated to an officer competent to act upon it4 ,this problem of information is then divided into two parts3 the getting1 and the transmitting4 ,in getting information we must at once settle just how far the aeroplane will be available4 ,there is a certain class of information1 i4 e41 that concerning the road beds over which an army must move1 the fords it must cross1 the bridges it must travel over1 the hills and valleys that might afford shelter for an offensive force or may be used defensively1 the location1 extent1 thickness and amount of underbrush in woods1 and much other1 intimate1 local knowledge that is of great and indispensable value to a commanding officer in the field4 ,such information can be gathered only from the ground4 ,an aeroplane could be of use in such gathering only as a means for transporting the topographical sketchers quickly from point to point1 allowing them sufficient time to do their work before again taking the air4 ,also an aeroplane would be of but little use in locating small bodies of the enemy4 ,where the aeroplane would begin to be of use1 however1 is in the locating of the main body of the enemy1 his defences1 his artillery positions1 in determining the outline of his position1 the natural or artificial boundaries which cover and protect his flanks1 his main arteries of supply1 the strong and weak points of his line of defence1 etc4 ,to accomplish these results the aeroplane must fly at a sufficient elevation to render difficult the hitting of a vital part of the machine or the aviator by hostile rifle or artillery fire4 ,while the modern rifle in use in our army will fire a ball about three thousand five hundred yards straight in the air1 it is generally accepted among aviators that an aeroplane would be practically safe1 save from a chance shot1 at three thousand five hundred feet4 ,of course there is a large chance that if enough rifles are directed at an aeroplane for a long enough time the machine or operator would be hit1 at this altitude1 but war is not a game of croquet1 and the men who would man these machines in war would stand ready to take the risks demanded by the exigencies of the service4 ,the proper machine to act as a gatherer of information is one that can carry a pilot1 passenger1 and wireless outfit4 ,it is proposed to equip all information-gathering machines with wireless and to this end a special set has been devised and is being tested out at the ,u4 ,s4 ,army ,signal ,corps ,aviation ,school4 ,that the wireless will be a success there is no doubt1 for certain simple experiments with crude apparatus have been already tried out with remarkable success4 ,i have said that military aviators propose to fly at about three thousand five hundred feet while seeking information4 ,perhaps this will be increased to about five thousand feet if it can be demonstrated that the reconnaissance officer can clearly discern1 from that height1 the points which are of military value4 ,this officer will be aided by powerful field glasses1 a camera and sketching case1 and he will have at hand a wireless outfit which he can use in sending back whatever he may ascertain of value4 ,upon reporting back to the officer who sent him out he will turn over his sketches and photographs4 ,it is thought that in this way very complete and valuable data will be available4 ,from an aeroplane or balloon the ground presents a very different appearance than it does from our usual man's eye view4 ,it takes time and practice to determine just what the different strange-looking objects are1 let alone to determine relative sizes and distances4 ,on this account we have concluded that the reconnaissance officer and pilot must both be trained at the same time4 ,since this is the case and since there is a decided mental and physical strain connected with long-continued flight1 we have gone further and concluded that both officers who fly in the aeroplane must be pilots and both must be trained in reconnaissance duty4 ,in this way each can relieve or spell the other4 ,there is much more to this than the mere acting as an aerial chauffeur4 ,to be a successful military aviator a man must be an excellent cross-country flier4 ,he must be an expert topographer or sketcher1 he must understand photography and he must be a practical wireless operator1 as well as have a knowledge of the theory of wireless4 ,above all1 he must be trained in military art1 that most elusive of all subjects4 ,by that we mean that he must understand the military significance of what he sees1 he must understand the powers1 limitations1 and functions of the three great arms-infantry1 cavalry1 and field artillery1 whether used in combination or separately2 he must know major and minor tactics to determine the worth or uselessness of a position2 he must be able quickly and accurately to reduce his observations to a written report in order that the information gained may be of immediate use to his chief4 ,for all of these reasons we have concluded that we must rely on commissioned officers of the regular army or organised militia1 trained in time of peace to fulfil their functions in time of war4 ,we can not place dependence on civilian aviators1 for they have not had the training along the highly technical and specialised lines that are necessary4 ,we can not rely on enlisted men of the army1 for the same reason4 ,there is another class of fliers that will1 undoubtedly1 be of use in war time4 ,these are the men to drive fast-flying1 single-passenger machines for speedy messenger service between detached bodies of troops1 or to drive the heavy ammunition or food-carrying aeroplanes to relieve a besieged place4 ,these may well be chosen from the ranks of the civilian volunteers who would1 without doubt1 flock to our colours and standards at the whistle of a hostile bullet4 ,there is plenty of room in war time for all of the aviators we can scrape together1 be they civilian or military4 ,two new types of aeroplane have been alluded to in the last1 preceding paragraph2 the fast-flying1 quick-climbing racer and the slow-going1 heavy-weight carrier4 ,we are of opinion that there should be three types in all for military purposes4 ,of greatest importance and in greatest numbers we should have the middle-class machines2 those capable of staying in the air for at least three hours of continuous flight1 while carrying two men and one hundred and fifty pounds extra1 of either wireless apparatus or machine gun and ammunition4 ,such a machine will climb two thousand feet in ten minutes1 will travel above fifty miles an hour on the level1 is perfectly easy to manage1 and forms the back-bone of the aerial fleet4 ,one of these craft acting as a convoy1 armed with a ,benet-,mercier machine gun weighing about twenty pounds and with ample ammunition1 could sweep the skies clean of hostile aeroplanes1 while its mate1 carrying reconnaissance apparatus and two officers1 could gather the information which the ,commanding ,general desires4 ,the speed machine is for use as described above4 ,the weight-carrying machine can carry about six thousand rounds of ammunition at a trip4 ,rifle cartridges weigh about one hundred pounds per twelve hundred rounds4 ,this machine could carry enough emergency rations on one trip to subsist five hundred men for a day4 ,it could make a speed of forty miles per hour with this weight and1 in the course of a day1 could1 undoubtedly1 make several trips of succour1 provided the sending point were within fifty miles of the besieged place which is the usual case4 ,and now1 can an aeroplane be used to prevent the other fellow from killing us8 ,this is a very fascinating subject as a whole4 ,the field opened is almost limitless2 but the greatest idea of all is that through this conquest of the air we are approaching more nearly to that much longed-for era of universal peace4 ,through the aeroplane and dirigible1 man is effacing artificial barriers2 he is bringing the rich closer to the poor1 the powerful closer to the weak4 ,no longer can unwise and selfish potentates1 be they royal1 democratic1 or financial1 send forth their armies to fight while themselves resting safe and secure at home4 ,the king in his palace or the money baron on his private yacht is in as much danger from these air craft as is the high private in the muddy trenches at the front4 ,that touches the selfish side of things4 ,at any rate1 while the aeroplane will1 probably1 do more to promote peace than has any previous discovery1 we of the ,army are still busily engaged in finding out just what it will do in war4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,for ,,the ,,navy 7,with an ,account of the ,training ,camp at ,san ,diego4 ,by ,lieutenant ,theodore ,g4 ,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n47 ,,the first active interest of the ,navy ,department in the practical side of aviation may be said to date from ,november1 #aiaj1 when ,glenn ,h4 ,curtiss offered to instruct one officer in the care and operation of his type of aeroplane4 ,prior to this date the ,department had carefully followed the development of the different types of aeroplanes1 but had taken no steps toward having any one instructed in practical flying1 as at that time there was no aeroplane considered suitable for naval purposes4 ,again1 shortage of officers and lack of funds for carrying along such instruction were reasons for the delay in taking the initial step4 ,there were unofficial rumours to the effect that there would be an aviation corps organised1 and it was understood that requests for such duty would be considered1 but it was looked upon as an event that would take place in the dim future4 ,at this time ,mr4 ,curtiss made his offer to instruct an officer at his flying field which was to be located in southern ,california1 and1 as it was understood that he had in view the development1 during the winter1 of a machine that could be operated from either the land or the water1 his offer was immediately accepted by the ,navy ,department1 and ,i was fortunate enough to be detailed for this duty4 ,the training camp was located on ,north ,island1 opposite ,san ,diego1 ,california1 this spot having been selected on account of the prevailing good weather1 and because there was both a good flying field for the instruction of beginners1 and a sheltered arm of ,san ,diego ,bay1 called ,the ,spanish ,bight1 for carrying on the hydroaeroplane experiments4 ,the camp was opened on ,january #ag1 #aiaa1 and shortly thereafter seven pupils were on hand for training1 three army officers1 one naval officer and three civilians4 ,what was accomplished there is now history1 namely the development of a machine that could rise from1 or land on1 either the land or the water1 a feat that had never before been accomplished4 ,it is true that one man had been able to rise from the water2 but in attempting to land on the same he had wrecked his machine1 so this could not be called a successful experiment4 ,this same machine which had risen from the water and landed on the land and then risen from the land and landed on the water1 was flown from the aviation field to the ,u4 ,s4 ,s4 ,pennsylvania by ,mr4 ,curtiss1 a landing made alongside and the aeroplane hoisted on board with one of the regular boat cranes4 ,no preparations had to be made except to fit a sling over the engine section of the aeroplane so that it could be hooked on the boat crane4 ,the aeroplane was then hoisted over the side and flown back to the aviation field4 ,as ,i have said1 the above paragraph is now history4 ,what is not generally known is the hard work and the many disappointments encountered before the hydroaeroplane was a real success4 ,mr4 ,curtiss had two objects in view3 ,first1 the development of the hydroaeroplane1 and secondly1 the personal instruction of his pupils4 ,the latter was accomplished early in the morning and late in the afternoon as these were the only times when the wind conditions were suitable1 and the experimental work was carried on during the rest of the day1 and1 ,i think1 ,mr4 ,curtiss also worked the best part of the remainder of the time1 as ,i well remember one important change that was made as the result of an idea that occurred to him while he was shaving4 ,no less than fifty changes were made from the original idea1 and those of us who did not then know ,mr4 ,curtiss well1 wondered that he did not give up in despair4 ,since that time we have learned that anything that he says he can do1 he always accomplishes1 as he always works the problem out in his mind before making any statement4 ,all of us who were learning to fly were also interested in the construction of the machines1 and when not running ,lizzy 7our practice machine7 up and down the field1 felt honoured at being allowed to help work on the experimental machine4 ,you see it was not ,curtiss1 the genius and inventor1 whom we knew4 ,it was ,g4 ,h41 a comrade and chum1 who made us feel that we were all working together1 and that our ideas and advice were really of some value4 ,it was never a case of do this or do that1 to his amateur or to his regular mechanics1 but always1 ,what do you think of making this change8 ,he was always willing to listen to any argument but generally managed to convince you that his plan was the best4 ,i could write volumes on ,curtiss1 the man1 but fear that ,i am wandering from the subject in hand4 ,one of the results of the experiments at ,san ,diego1 was to show that such a hydroaeroplane1 or a development of it1 was thoroughly suitable for naval use4 ,although it was the first of ,may before ,mr4 ,curtiss returned to his factory at ,hammondsport1 specifications1 which were approximately as follows1 were sent him and he was asked if he could make delivery by the first of ,july3- ,a hydroaeroplane1 capable of rising from or landing on either the land or the water1 capable of attaining a speed of at least fifty-five miles an hour1 with a fuel supply for four hours' flight4 ,to carry two people and be so fitted that either person could control the machine4 ,his reply was in the affirmative and the machine was delivered on time4 ,since that time this machine has been launched from a cable1 which can easily be used aboard ship1 and has been flown on an overwater nonstop flight1 one hundred and forty-five miles in one hundred and forty-seven minutes4 ,if such an advance has been made in a little over six months' time1 what will the next year bring forth8 ,in my opinion the aeroplane will be used by the ,navy solely for scouting purposes1 and not as an offensive weapon as seems to be the popular impression4 ,this impression is probably enhanced by the recent newspaper reports of the damage inflicted upon the ,turks in ,tripoli1 by bombs dropped from ,italian aeroplanes4 ,even could an explosive weighing as much as one thousand pounds be carried and suddenly dropped without upsetting the stability of the aeroplane1 and were it possible to drop this on a ship from a height of three thousand feet1 which is the lowest altitude that would ensure safety from the ship's gun fire1 but little damage would be done4 ,the modern battleship is subdivided into many separate water-tight compartments1 and the worst that would be done would be to pierce one of these1 and destroy those in that one compartment1 without seriously crippling the gunfire or manoeuvring qualities of the ship4 ,in only one way do ,i see that the aeroplane can be used as an offensive weapon1 and that is when on blockade duty1 with the idea of capturing the port1 ships out of range of the land batteries could send out machines with fire bombs and perhaps set fire to the port4 ,innumerable instances could be cited where the use of an aeroplane for scouting purposes would have been invaluable4 ,in recent times may be cited the blockade of ,port ,arthur during the ,russo-,japanese ,war1 and the blockade of ,santiago1 during the ,spanish-,american ,war4 ,illustration3 ,,ellyson ,,launches ,,hydro ,,from ,,wire ,,cable 7,a7 ,the start4 7,b7 ,leaving the wire ,illustration3 ,,hugh ,,robinson',s ,,hydro ,,flight ,,down ,,the ,,mississippi ,again suppose that several scouts were on the lookout for an enemy's fleet1 and that they sighted the enemy's smoke4 ,it has been proven that by modern scouting methods it is next to impossible for an enemy to start for any of several destinations1 no matter how many miles apart1 and not be discovered by the opponent's scouts before reaching their destination4 ,the enemy's main strength1 or battleships1 will be covered by a screen1 that is cruisers and torpedo boat destroyers1 spread out many miles from the main body1 whose duty it is to prevent our scouts from getting near enough to obtain any information4 ,in order to obtain the necessary information our scouts would have to pierce this screen1 and the chances are very great that they would be sunk in the attempt1 or so crippled that they would be unable to convey the information to the ,commander-in-,chief4 ,in any event1 why run such a risk8 ,if equipped with aeroplanes it would be an easy matter to send them out1 and the information would be obtained in a much shorter time1 without danger of the loss of a ship1 and with the surety that the information would be secured4 ,in this connection it must be remembered that there is nothing to obscure the vision at sea1 that the range of vision from a height of three thousand feet is approximately forty miles1 and that the wind conditions are always better than over land2 that is1 steady4 ,these are simply a few instances of the value that an aeroplane may be to the ,navy4 ,in my opinion1 the ideal aeroplane for naval use should have the following characteristics3 ,the greatest possible speed1 while carrying two people and fuel supply for at least four hours' flight 7not under sixty miles an hour speed1 as this has already been accomplished71 and1 at the same time1 capability of being easily handled in a thirty-mile wind4 ,there are many machines for which this quality is claimed1 but few that have really proved it4 ,double control so that either person can operate the machine4 ,ability to be launched from shipboard1 without first lowering into the water1 as on many occasions the wind at sea will be suitable for flying1 whereas the sea will be too rough to rise from4 ,ability to land on rough water4 ,the engine to be fitted with a self-starter4 ,also that the engine be muffled and the machine fitted with a sling for hoisting on board ship by means of a crane1 and so constructed that it can be easily taken apart for stowage1 and quickly assembled4 ,a search-light for making landings at night1 and an efficient wireless apparatus1 should also form part of the full equipment4 ,i did not make one of the requirements that the aeroplane be able to rise from the water1 for in actual service it could always be launched from the ship4 ,for practice work and for instructional purposes1 it must be so fitted1 but this could be a different rig if necessary4 ,in the near future ,i predict that the aeroplane adopted for naval purposes will operate from a ship as a base and the great part of the instructional work will be done in the hydroaeroplane on account of the large factor of safety4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,gliding ,,and ,,cycle-,,sailing ,a ,,future ,,sport ,,for ,,boys1 ,,the ,,airmen ,,of ,,to-,,morrow 7,by ,augustus ,post47 ,there is great popular interest in the problem of soaring1 or flying as birds do1 without any apparent effort1 and also in gliding flights1 or descending from a high altitude without the help of a motor4 ,wonderful keenness of feeling on the part of an aviator1 akin to that remarkable sensitiveness which is exhibited by all blind people1 may be highly developed-for an aviator is just like a blind person in the air as far as concerns seeing the eddies1 gusts1 and currents1 which are so dangerous to the balance of the machine-but the ability to advance and go ahead against the wind is as far off as the wireless transmission of power is to-day4 ,it is necessary to have an up-current of air to enable a machine to soar and it is necessary to find where these upward blowing currents are4 ,any bicycle can coast down hill and a glider is only a coasting aeroplane1 and it may be as difficult to find the right air current as to find a hill to coast down on a bicycle4 ,great advances will be made in the art of aviation along the lines of training men in the art of handling an aeroplane4 ,no opportunity is so good for this purpose as handling the machine as a glider with the motor shut off1 or by practise with a regular gliding machine4 ,boys will naturally take to gliding1 and as a glider was the first form of flying-machine and the easiest to build mechanically1 there is every reason why sailing or soaring flights should be thoroughly mastered4 ,the instinct which birds have which enables them to seek out and to utilise the rising currents of air in the wind and so to set and adjust their wings as to enable them to take advantage of these rising currents1 is latent in the human mind and can be developed by practice to a point far exceeding that of birds1 on account of man's superior intelligence4 ,it is quite possible that some arrangement may be made by which an aviator can see the air and can prepare for or escape conditions that are not favourable to his manuvres4 ,it is clear that the wind gusts1 swirls1 and turbulences exist in the air1 for they are quite evident when we watch a snowstorm and can see the snowflakes as they float1 impelled now in one direction1 now another1 or as we see dry leaves carried about by a sudden gust of wind1 or1 even more clearly when over sandy plains we can see the great columns of dust ascending in the center of whirlwinds for hundreds of feet1 carrying heavy particles to great heights4 ,it is quite possible that birds can see the air itself by some arrangement of the lenses of their eyes which may either enable them to see the fine dust particles or to so polarise the light that the direction of its vibrations can be determined and the course of flight so changed that an air lane favourable to the path of the bird can be followed and by following out one stream lane among many1 which has an upward trend sufficient to counteract the falling tendency1 the bird can remain at an equal elevation4 ,mr4 ,orville ,wright has clearly demonstrated this to be possible by his experiments lately made at ,kitty ,hawk1 ,n4 ,c41 where he was able to soar for ten minutes over the summit of a sand dune1 so delicately adjusting the surfaces of his glider to the up-trend of the wind that he was falling or descending at the same speed that the wind was rising1 and thus he seemed to stand still over one spot on the ground4 ,after increasing his descent and approaching the ground1 he was able by the delicacy of adjustment of his controls to change the relation in such a manner that the wind rising overbalanced the descending of the machine and he was carried backward and upward to the crest of the hill again1 where he remained for a short time before again gliding downward to the level ground below4 ,in the same manner that a boat sails against the wind by the force of the wind blowing against the sail1 which is placed at an angle to it and which resists sidewise motion by the pressure of the water against the hull of the boat1 a glider with horizontal sails set at the proper angle will also sail into the wind which blows against its surfaces and which makes the path of least resistance a motion forward and slightly descending with relation to the direction of the wind1 but which1 in the case of an upward moving current of air1 may be a path rising in respect to the ground4 ,the development of skill in this art will come by practice1 and young men will follow out the ideas and suggestions of the more experienced until we will have small1 light1 flexible machines with such sensitive control that1 with small motors to enable them to rise or to get from one place to another1 much as a bird flaps its wings when necessary to add a little to the power which it gets from the wind itself1 or in rising from the ground1 will be able to sail around and glide on the strength of the wind for hours at a time4 ,the clever aviator or real birdman with his keen instinct cultivated to a state of perfection1 fitted with polarising glasses possibly1 may seek out and utilise the various powers that are present in the air2 adjusting his wings so that he will be supported by the upward motion of the air itself where it exists1 or1 by turning on his motor1 moving from one rising column of air to another1 upon which he may hover and circle around1 steering clear of all those other air lanes which are leading in some other direction4 ,these glasses1 by showing where the air waves are all of one direction1 may reveal a current flowing in one way1 while they may make great masses of air flowing in some other direction appear as of some other colour1 say red1 for instance2 or1 again1 in another direction1 all may look green1 and it will only be necessary to keep where all is pure white4 ,entirely new types of machines have been recently constructed in ,france called aviettes and cycloplanes4 ,these are machines like gliders which are mounted on bicycle wheels and small aeroplanes with wings which have aerial propellers turned by the pedals which drive them along the ground and through the air4 ,a contest was held in ,france in ,june1 #aiab1 for a prize offered by the ,puegeot ,bicycle ,company for the first machine of this type to fly a distance of about forty feet and later a second prize for the first machine to fly over two tapes one meter three feet nine inches apart and four inches high4 ,both of these prizes were competed for by machines without any motor and driven solely by man power4 ,over two hundred entries were received by the promoters of the contest1 but no one accomplished the flight on that date of the public contest4 ,three days afterward1 however1 ,gabriel ,paulhain succeeded in winning the prize put up for the second test4 ,he flew eleven feet nine inches on his first trial and ten feet nine inches on the second1 which was made in the reverse direction4 ,there seems to be great interest in this form of human flight1 which was the original way of attacking the problem of flight itself4 ,when the gasoline motor was perfected mechanical flight followed very quickly and was rapidly developed to a high degree of practicability4 ,it is possible that with encouragement human flight may also become more common than it now is4 ,,part ,v ,,every-,,day ,,flying ,,for ,,professional ,,and ,,amateur ,,by ,,glenn ,h4 ,,curtiss ,,with ,,chapters ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,,and ,,hugh ,,robinson ,,chapter ,i ,,teaching ,,aviators ,,how ,,an ,,aviator ,,flies ,teaching another man how to fly is a very important matter1 in whatever way you look at it4 ,you can take a perfect machine and select ideal conditions and let everything be right for making a flight and then it is directly up to the pupil-he must do the operating of the machine1 no one else can do it for him4 ,in a single passenger machine1 the instructor can clearly show how it is done and then the other fellow must do it4 ,the trick in learning to fly is self-confidence and that must be gained by personal practise4 ,any man who wants to fly badly enough can fly4 ,almost all of the aviators that have flown and are now flying ,curtiss machines1 like ,hamilton1 ,mars1 ,ely1 ,mc,curdy1 ,beachey1 and ,willard and the army and navy aviators1 have been practically self-taught although now we have a regular school under the supervision of ,lieut4 ,j4 ,w4 ,mc,claskey1 ,u4 ,s4 ,m4 ,c4 7retired71 who has had great success with his pupils4 ,i have been flying for over four years and ,i feel that ,i don't know much about it yet4 ,the would-be aviator should go to a good school where the best facilities can be had and where there is a good large place to fly1 without obstructions4 ,the machine should be thoroughly mastered and every part understood4 ,training a man to fly does not1 as ,i regard it1 consist in putting him in an aeroplane and letting him go up before he knows how to get down again4 ,anybody may be able to go up in an aeroplane1 but it requires skill and practice to come down without damage to man or machine4 ,,how ,,to ,,fly ,an aeroplane is supported in the air by its wings4 ,these are placed at a slight angle to the direction in which it goes so that the front edge is slightly higher than the rear edge4 ,this tends to push the air downward and the speed of the aeroplane must be great enough to skim over the air before it has a chance to flow away4 ,you may have had the experience of skating over thin ice which would bend beneath your weight as long as you kept moving1 although it would have broken if you remained in one place4 ,this is precisely the same phenomenon1 and as the water has not time to flow away underneath from the thin ice so the air is caught under the surfaces of the wings and the machine passes on gathering new air as it goes to support it1 faster than the air can flow away4 ,a curved surface is better than a flat one and to find just the proper curve to be most efficient at the speed at which the machine is to fly is a very difficult problem and must be determined by very careful laboratory experiments4 ,the various flying machines have different ways of accomplishing the control of the rudders for steering to the right or left1 and up and down1 for a flying machine is different from all other vehicles in this one respect4 ,in addition to the steering1 the machine must be balanced1 and as the air is the most unstable of all mediums1 how to maintain the equilibrium becomes perhaps the most important point in the construction of an aeroplane1 as well as the most necessary one for the aviator to master4 ,this is accomplished in various ways and is the characteristic feature of the different machines4 ,the ,curtiss machine is considered one of the simplest of all4 ,when it is remembered that ,mr4 ,c4 ,f4 ,willard1 my first pupil1 learned to operate a machine with hardly any instruction it would seem that the mere learning to operate should not be a serious obstacle to overcome4 ,if the air is still and there are no wind gusts to strike the machine sideways and upset it1 flying is easy1 but if the air comes in gusts and is rolling and turbulent even the best and most skilful operator is kept busy manoeuvring the front rudder and endeavouring to keep the machine headed into the wind1 and when it tips1 moving the side controls to maintain the balance4 ,with all of these movements it is no wonder that the aviator's mind must be active there is no time to think1 every movement and act must be absolutely accurate and the body must be under full control4 ,the operator sits on a small seat just in front of the lower main plane2 directly in front of him is a wheel which he can push out or pull back4 ,pushing the wheel out turns the elevating surfaces so that the machine points down4 ,on the other hand1 pulling the wheel toward you points the machine up1 causing it to rise higher into the air4 ,turning the wheel to the right or left steers the machine to the right or left in the same manner as a boat is steered by turning its rudder4 ,the operator now must consider how to balance the aeroplane4 ,on each side at the extreme outer ends of the machine are placed small horizontal planes so hinged at their front edge that they may be turned up or down4 ,they are connected together in such a manner that when one points up the other points down1 thus acting as a couple2 wires connect these stabilising planes to the movable back of the pilot's seat4 ,this has a yoke which fits over the shoulders of the operator4 ,when the machine tips to the left the aviator naturally leans to the right or the highest side and the lever is moved to the right by the pressure of the shoulder4 ,this causes the left hand stabilising plane to be pulled down so that it offers its surface at an angle to the wind and exerts a lift on its side while the right hand plane is turned the opposite way1 which causes it to exert a depressing effect on its side2 this tends to right the machine4 ,the operator must use his feet also for there is a pedal for the left foot which operates the throttle of the engine1 causing it to go faster or slower1 and one for the right foot which operates a brake on the front wheel1 which helps to stop the aeroplane after it has landed and is running over the ground on its wheels4 ,,the ,,first ,,steps ,it is necessary to know every detail of the machine-every bolt1 nut and screw1 and the purpose each serves in the economy of the whole4 ,it is absolutely essential for the successful aviator to know his motor4 ,the motor is the heart of the aeroplane1 and keeping it in good order is just as necessary to the aviator's safety as is the keeping of his own heart strong for any emergency that he may be called to face4 ,after becoming familiar with its workings1 so that it becomes second nature to make the right movements1 get into the machine and when the air is perfectly still run it over the ground4 ,when there is no more novelty in the sensation and the machine is in a good position to get up speed you raise the elevator a little and try making short jumps into the air4 ,the other pupils standing in a group at the end of the field are usually hoping and praying that you will not smash the machine before their turn comes and so cause delay until it is repaired4 ,in ,san ,diego1 there was great rivalry between the ,army and the ,navy4 ,witmer and ,ellyson used to get up by sunrise and go over to the island and take out the old machine we used for teaching1 which was nicknamed ,lizzy4 ,they did this secretly because there was only one machine and they did not want the ,army to smash it and so keep them down on the ground4 ,after making their practice1 they would go home and come back later1 pretending that it was their first appearance4 ,when the officers began their schooling they fell steadily into my way of looking at the problem1 and not one of them spared himself bruised hands or grimy clothing4 ,for the first ten days ,i did not offer them a chance even to give the motor its full power while they were in the aviator's seat4 ,after they had worked around the aeroplane long enough1 however1 and were familiar with all its details1 they were allowed to make runs over the half mile course1 straight-away4 ,that is1 they took their seats in the machine in turn1 the propeller was started1 and the machine propelled along the ground on its wheels1 like an automobile1 without being able to rise4 ,to prevent the machine rising while one of the men was in it1 the throttle of the engine was so arranged that it only got half power1 which was not sufficient to give it lifting power1 but enough to drive it along on the ground at twenty or twenty-five miles an hour4 ,this grass cutting1 as the boys soon dubbed it1 gave them the opportunity to become used to the speed and the feel of the machine4 ,it also taught them to steer a straight course by using the rudder and the front control1 and to practise balance by the use of the ailerons4 ,after a few days of these runs the throttle was given full vent1 allowing full speed on the wheels1 but the propeller was changed to one without the usual pitch4 ,thus1 while the engine would drive the aeroplane at full speed on its wheels1 this propeller did not have enough thrust to lift it from the ground4 ,in this way the military pupils got the advantage of the speed1 acquired balance1 and adjusted their control to suit it1 without the danger of getting up in the air too soon4 ,a little later1 when they had thoroughly accustomed themselves to these conditions1 still another propeller was put on4 ,this one had just sufficient pitch to lift the aeroplane from the ground1 when well handled1 and it would make jumps of from twenty to fifty feet at a height of a few inches or1 perhaps1 a few feet4 ,these jumps served still further to develop the ability of the men to control the machine and perfect their balance1 and it gave them the first sensation of being in flight at high speed1 though not high enough to do any great damage should one of them be so unlucky as to smash up4 ,a smash-up was what we particularly wished to guard against at all times1 not only because of the cost of repairs and the delay1 but largely because an accident1 even though it may do no injury to the aviator1 may seriously effect his nerves4 ,i have known of beginners who1 while making rapid progress in learning to fly1 suffered a complete setback just because of an unimportant accident to the machine in flight1 or in landing4 ,eagerness to fly too soon is responsible for many of the accidents that befall beginners4 ,an ambitious young man may become thoroughly convinced after a few jumps that all he needs for making a long and successful flight is the opportunity to get up a hundred feet or so4 ,the first chance he has1 he goes up as he had planned1 and unless he is lucky or an exceptionally quick thinker1 the odds are that he will smash up in getting back to earth again4 ,i have never seen any one more eager to fly1 and to fly as quickly as possible1 than were these officers4 ,probably they were following the military bent of their minds or1 perhaps1 it was the enthusiasm of the pioneer in a new science4 ,as a rule1 the mornings at ,san ,diego are fine4 ,there is seldom any wind during the forenoon1 except when one of the winter rain storms blows in from the ocean4 ,we tried to get in as much work during this calm period as possible4 ,the mornings were found to be the best for doing this work4 ,it was most desirable1 not to say necessary1 that the pupils should have a minimum of wind during their early practice work4 ,even the lightest wind may sometimes give serious trouble to the beginner4 ,a gust may lift the aeroplane suddenly and then just as suddenly die out1 allowing the machine1 should it be in flight1 to drop as quickly as it rose4 ,such a moment is a critical one for an inexperienced man4 ,he feels himself dropping and unless he keeps his head clear1 he may come to grief through doing too much or too little to restore his equilibrium4 ,in the practice work all the officers1 as well as two private students1 ,c4 ,c4 ,witmer of ,chicago and ,e4 ,h4 ,st4 ,henry of ,san ,francisco1 used the same machine4 ,this was one of the older types of biplane1 with especially strong wheels1 and with a four-cylinder engine4 ,this type was selected as best adapted to the strain of heavy work4 ,it had sufficient power1 under its regular equipment1 to fly well1 but had not the very high speed of the latest type1 fitted with eight-cylinder engines4 ,for beginners1 ,i consider the four-cylinder machines the best4 ,while most of the practice runs and jumps were made during the hours of the forenoon1 when there was little or no wind1 there was plenty of work on hand to fill in the afternoons as well4 ,we were all the while experimenting with various devices1 some of them new1 others merely modifications of the old4 ,all of these1 whether new or old1 involved many changes in the equipment of the aeroplanes4 ,there was seldom a time when at least one or more of the four machines we kept on the island was not in the process of being taken down or set up4 ,besides1 there was the long series of experiments with the hydroaeroplane1 which were carried on from day to day without affecting the regular practice work4 ,these frequent changes in motor1 propeller1 planes1 or controls1 were always taken part in by the officers4 ,thus they became acquainted with everything about an aeroplane and knew the results produced by the changes4 ,i consider this the most valuable part of their training4 ,all this building up process1 as it may be called1 that is1 building up a thorough knowledge of the aeroplane until every detail is known1 ,i believed to be necessary4 ,i proceeded on the theory that confidence is sure only when the aviator has a thorough understanding of his machine1 and confidence is the absolute essential to the man who takes a trip in an aeroplane4 ,if the aviator has not the knowledge of what to do1 or what his machine will do under certain conditions1 he would better not trust himself in the air4 ,once the men learned to make the runs and jumps successfully and to handle the machine with ease and confidence1 they were ready for the next stage of their training before they could be trusted to make a flight4 ,this was to go as passengers4 ,for the carrying of a passenger1 ,i chose the hydroaeroplane4 ,this machine was not equipped with wheels for landing on the earth1 when ,i first began to use it1 but had all the equipment for starting from or landing on the water4 ,we had built a hangar for storing it at night close down to the water on ,spanish ,bight1 which gave us the smooth shallow water for launching it and hauling it out with ease4 ,first1 the men were taken in turn as passengers for runs over the surface of the bay4 ,on these runs ,i made no attempt to rise from the water4 ,i wanted to give the men time to accustom themselves to the new sensation of skimming over the water at forty miles an hour1 for that is the speed at which ,i was able to drive the hydroaeroplane4 ,the machine would skim along under full power1 with the edge of the float skipping the water as a boy skips a stone on a pond4 ,after this ,i undertook short flights1 taking each officer in turn as a passenger1 and keeping within fifty or a hundred feet of the water4 ,at intervals ,i would make landings on the water1 coming down until the float touched the surface1 and then getting up again without shutting off the power4 ,when these flights had been made for several days and the men had accustomed themselves thoroughly to the sensation of being in flight1 ,i believed they had progressed far enough to be taken up for longer and higher flights over both land and sea4 ,in these flights ,i used a machine equipped for landing on both land and water with equal safety4 ,one of the most important things that should be developed in the beginner1 and1 at the same time1 the most difficult1 is the sense of balance4 ,every one who has ever ridden a bicycle knows that the sense of balance comes only after considerable practice4 ,once a bicycle is under way the balance is comparatively easy1 but in an aeroplane the balance changes with every gust of wind1 and the aviator must learn to adjust himself to these changes automatically4 ,especially is a fine sense of balance necessary in making sharp turns4 ,some aviators develop this sense of balance readily1 while others acquire it only after long practice4 ,it may be developed to a large extent by going up as a passenger with an experienced aviator4 ,i have noticed that it always helps a beginner1 therefore1 to make as many trips as possible with some one else operating the aeroplane4 ,in this way they soon gain confidence1 become used to the surroundings1 and are ready for flights on their own hook4 ,one by one the officers were taken up as passengers on sustained flights until they felt perfectly at ease while flying high and at great speed4 ,the machine ,i used for passenger-carrying practice work was capable of flying fifty-five miles an hour without a passenger1 and probably fifty miles an hour with a passenger4 ,this speed gave the men an opportunity to feel the sensation of fast and high flying1 an experience that sometimes shakes the nerves of the amateur4 ,all this took time4 ,as ,i have said elsewhere1 ,i did not want to force the knowledge of aviation upon the young officers4 ,bather1 ,i wanted to let them absorb most of it1 and to come by the thing naturally and with confidence4 ,it was much better1 as ,i regarded it1 to take more time1 and give more attention to the little details1 than to sacrifice any of the essentials to a too-quick flight4 ,the men who had been detailed to learn to fly1 ,i assumed1 would be called upon to teach other officers of the ,army and ,navy and1 therefore1 they should be thoroughly qualified to act as instructors when they should have completed their work at ,san ,diego4 ,this is the view they took also1 ,i believe1 and ,i never saw men more anxious to learn to fly4 ,during the last period of instruction1 when the men had gone through all the preliminaries2 when they had learned how to take down and set up a ,curtiss aeroplane2 knew the motor1 and how to operate it to the best advantage2 in short1 were thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the machine1 they were ready for the advanced stage of the work4 ,this was to take out a four-cylinder aeroplane for flights of from three to ten minutes' duration at various heights4 ,my instructions to all of the men were never to ascend to unaccustomed heights on these practice flights2 that is1 not to venture beyond the heights at which they felt perfectly at ease and capable of handling the machine1 and to make a safe landing without danger to themselves or to the machine4 ,these instructions were obeyed at all times4 ,perhaps the caution exercised at every stage of the instructional period had had its effect on the men and they felt no desire to take unnecessary chances4 ,when they were able to fly and to make safe landings in a four-cylinder machine1 ,i considered that ,i had done all ,i could do to make aviators of them4 ,i had tried not to neglect anything that would prove of benefit to them in their future work things ,i had had to learn through long years of experiments and many failures4 ,in other words1 ,i tried to give them the benefit of all my experience in the many little details that go to make the successful aviator4 ,given the proper foundation for any trade or profession1 the intelligent man will work out his own development in his own way4 ,i could only start the men along the road ,i believed to be the easiest and safest to travel2 they had to choose their own way and time to reach the goal4 ,it has been a pleasure and satisfaction to work with the officers of the ,army and ,navy4 ,their desire to learn the problems of aviation1 intelligently applied1 has made the work easier than ,i had anticipated4 ,the many little annoyances that often beset us are forgotten in the keen satisfaction of having been of some service to the men themselves1 and above all to our ,war and ,navy ,departments4 ,a ,,bulletin ,,issued ,,at ,,the ,,curtiss ,,aviation ,,camp ,the course is divided into six parts or stages4 #ast4 ,ground work with reduced power4 ,to teach running in straight line4 #bnd4 ,straightaway flights near the ground1 just sufficient power to get off4 #crd4 ,straightaway flights off the ground at a distance of ten or fifteen feet to teach use of the rudder and ailerons4 #dth4 ,eight and left half circles and glides4 #eth4 ,circles4 #fth4 ,figure eights1 altitude flights and landings without power and glides4 ,in the above stages of instruction the men should learn the following about flying3 ,,first ,,stage ,learn to run straight1 using rudder and keeping on the ground4 ,the idea is to be able to control under reduced power4 ,student must be kept at this continuously until he is perfectly at home in the machine and accustomed to the noise of the motor and the jar and movement of the machine on the ground4 ,this practice should be kept up from one to two weeks1 depending upon the ability the student shows in handling the machine in this part of the instruction4 ,,second ,,stage ,motor throttled1 but with sufficient power to allow the student to jump the machine off of the ground for very short distances4 ,care must be taken in adjusting the throttle to allow for wind conditions1 otherwise machine may be shot up into the air suddenly and the student lose control of it4 ,student should be also instructed during these jumps to pay attention to the ailerons to keep the machine balanced4 ,the throttle can be gradually let out to full as soon as the student begins to acquire the use of the ailerons and keeps good balance4 ,,third ,,stage ,student should be instructed to rise fifteen or twenty feet from the ground in straightaway flights1 and use rudder slightly in order to become accustomed to its use and its effect on the machine in the air4 ,as soon as the student has accomplished the above he may be permitted to rise to the approximate height of one hundred feet if the field is large enough and to glide down under reduced power4 ,when he has done this successfully many times1 let him repeat the above gliding with motor cut out completely4 ,,fourth ,,stage ,student may be permitted to rise to the height of twenty-five to fifty feet and make half circles across the field to the right and then to the left4 ,these circles should be shortened or sharpened with increased banking on turns until they are sufficient for any ordinary condition or case of emergency4 ,,fifth ,,stage ,the student may be permitted to rise to a height of not less than fifty feet1 and if the field is sufficiently large1 permitted to make long circles1 gradually shortening these circles until the shortest circle required is reached4 ,student should be cautioned not to climb on the turns4 ,he should be instructed to drop the machine on the turns1 thus increasing the speed and lessening the possibility of slipping side wise in banking4 ,he should be instructed to land as nearly as possible on all three wheels at once4 ,this may be accomplished by flying or gliding as close to the ground as possible and parallel to it1 then slowing the engine and allowing the machine to settle to the ground4 ,,sixth ,,stage ,in making figure eights for pilot's license1 student should try to climb as much as possible on the straightaways between the turns and drop slightly on the turns4 ,in making glides from high altitudes where motor is voluntarily cut off1 it is best to start the gliding angle before the power is cut off4 ,in case the motor should stop suddenly1 the machine should be plunged instantly if machine is at sufficient altitude and considerably sharper than the gliding angle1 in order to maintain the head-on speed1 and then gradually brought back to the gliding angle4 ,a ,,day ,,at ,,hammondsport-,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,the ,curtiss ,aviation ,camp at ,hammondsport broke all records on ,june #bb1 #aiab1 by the number of flights made in a day4 ,in all1 two hundred and forty flights were made4 ,one hundred and twenty-six of these were with the practice machine called ,lizzie and constituted straight flights for the length of the field and half circles4 ,sixty-four flights were made with the eight-cylinder practice machine1 and consisted of half circles1 circles1 and figure eights4 ,the other sixty flights were made with the hydroaeroplane4 ,the twelve students who made these flights1 some of whom were taking the course in the hydro and land machine both1 expressed themselves as pretty thoroughly tired out at the end of this strenuous day's work4 ,one hundred or more flights are made practically every day in the week1 but the twenty-second being a particularly fine day1 this new record was made4 ,the day's flying used up a barrel of gasoline and four gallons of oil4-,a4 ,p4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,aviation ,,for ,,amateurs ,the man who contemplates buying an aeroplane for his own use will be especially interested in three subjects3 ,first1 how difficult it is to learn to fly2 second1 how long it takes to learn2 and third1 what is the cost of up-keep4 ,by difficult ,i do not mean dangerous2 any one who has gone far enough to consider owning and operating a machine knows and discounts the element of danger1 and as to cost1 it is easy to get figures on the first cost of an aeroplane2 what the investigator would like to know is what it is likely to cost him for maintenance1 breakage1 and so on4 ,with a competent teacher and if ever competence was necessary it is here learning to fly is neither difficult nor dangerous4 ,six weeks ought to be time enough to teach one to fly1 provided the pupil knows something about motors and is apt in other ways4 ,contrary to popular belief1 reckless daring is not one of the requirements for success4 ,indeed1 a man who applies for a position as aviator with the announcement that he is a daredevil afraid of nothing under heaven1 is very likely to be rejected for this very reason1 and a pupil who has the common sense to know that there is no especial point in defying a quite impersonal force like gravitation will get up a much better start than one who has so little caution that he wants to get up in the air too soon4 ,caution is the great thing for the beginner4 ,let him learn the machine first from the ground and on the ground1 learn the controls and find out what to do when he shall be up in the air4 ,then let him learn how it feels to run over the ground on the wheels4 ,then he will begin to make jumps1 little ones1 then longer and longer1 until he is free of any fear of the air4 ,this comes sooner with some than with others1 and it is said that in some rare cases fear of the air never exists at all1 for the great aviator1 the star performer1 like any other great man1 has to be born with certain qualifications and a good many of them4 ,there is no reason1 with the advancing improvement in the flying machine1 why almost every one with a real desire to fly should not be able in a comparatively short time to learn to do so4 ,as for the third point1 it will cost no more to keep an aeroplane than to own an automobile4 ,the initial cost is the greatest4 ,of course1 there are the same qualifications that obtain with the automobile the cost of up-keep will depend upon whether you have many and serious breakages and whether the owner looks after his own machine4 ,should the owner prefer to hire a competent mechanic1 his wages will be about the same as those of a first-class chauffeur4 ,as for smash-ups1 the expense of these would be considerable1 but not as much as it would be if an automobile should have an accident4 ,for contrary to the ideas of a good many of the uninitiated1 it is quite possible to injure an aeroplane1 and quite seriously1 too1 without in the least hurting the aviator4 ,in this respect the hydroaeroplane is of course safest of all2 ,i am reminded of a recent accident at ,antibes1 near ,nice1 ,france1 where ,mr4 ,hugh ,robinson1 who was demonstrating a ,curtiss hydroaeroplane1 suffered a badly wrecked machine without the least injury4 ,forced to make a quick landing1 he chose1 in order to avoid a flock of motor boats filled with spectators1 to dive directly into the water4 ,the shock threw him out of the machine and he swam about unconcernedly until a motor boat picked him up4 ,of course a similar sharp contact with the solid ground would have wrecked the aviator to some extent as well1 but it is possible to put a hydroaeroplane completely out of commission1 necessitating expensive repairs1 and not be more than shaken up4 ,really there is much less danger of smash-ups than the outsider would think1 provided the aviator is a careful driver4 ,the main thing is to have great judgment in choosing a time for flights4 ,an inexperienced aviator should never take up his machine in an unsteady wind of greater velocity than ten miles an hour4 ,the less wind the better1 for the beginner4 ,the dangerous wind is the puffy1 gusty sort1 and this should be avoided by any but the most experienced aviator4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that it is the variations and not the velocity of the wind which causes trouble4 ,another item of expense to be taken into consideration is the transportation of an aeroplane from one place to another1 for it does not always go on its own wings4 ,this1 however1 is neither difficult nor expensive4 ,i am able1 for example1 to take down my machines and pack them in specially constructed boxes so that they take up but a comparatively small space for shipment4 ,the setting up process is not difficult1 nor even complicated1 and can be performed by any one having had the proper instructional term at a first-class aviation school4 ,an illustration shows an aeroplane1 in its case1 carried on an automobile4 ,with regard to safety as a steady1 every-day means of transportation1 all of us1 in and out of the profession1 know that1 as ,mr4 ,hudson ,maxim has said1 to make the aeroplane a common vehicle for1 say1 the commuter1 ,it must be improved so that flights shall become more a function of the machine and less a function of the aviator4 ,at present a great deal depends upon the man who is flying especially upon his quick and accurate judgment and his power to execute his judgment instantly and automatically4 ,the man who buys an aeroplane to fly knows this beforehand and takes it into account2 indeed it is a question whether1 if the flying machine were as safe as a rocking-chair1 there would be so much fascination about it2 but while the aviator will always have to take into account1 no matter how the mechanism may be improved1 a certain element of danger that must attend it1 he may as well remember1 to quote ,mr4 ,maxim once more1 that the tenure of life of no automobilist is stronger than his steering gear4 ,it certainly is not looking too far ahead to forecast the entrance of the aeroplane into the commuter's life4 ,the great mass of the people certainly will not take the air-line1 any more than they are now coming in by automobile every morning1 and yet how many business men-and not necessarily the richest-do make the trip1 that twice a day they used to take in a railroad car1 in the open air1 with the exhilarating breezes of their own automobiles8 ,perhaps not these same business men1 but a corresponding class1 will undoubtedly reduce the dull hours of train travel by half and turn them into hours of delight by the popularisation of aeroplane transportation4 ,as has been the case with every means of transportation that has shortened time of travel1 the habitable zones around cities will grow larger and larger as places hitherto inaccessible open before the coming of the swiftest form of transportation known to man1 and the only one not dependent upon the earth's surface1 whether mountain1 swamp1 or river1 to shape its course4 ,if we had a course only a few hundred feet wide from ,new ,york to ,st4 ,louis or ,chicago1 aeroplanes could go through every day and there would be little danger2 indeed1 even as things are now1 it would be a much safer method of travel than by automobile1 as well as of course much faster4 ,long lanes with grass on each side and an automobile highway in the middle would be of the greatest advantage to both forms of travel4 ,in crossing mountains on the downhill side an aeroplane could glide for long distances at an angle of one to five1 so that if the elevation were a mile high it could glide five miles before landing4 ,and on the up-hill side it could of course land immediately and with ease4 ,to return to the amateur1 it is always better to go around an object that you can not land on immediately4 ,landing is indeed one of the most important points for the amateur aviator to consider4 ,if it is possible1 watch all accidents and study them closely4 ,i take every means ,i can to learn what causes an accident so as to guard against it myself4 ,strictly speaking almost everything about the art of aviation is being learned by experimentation and the causes of accidents1 while not always exactly ascertainable1 are of the greatest interest to builders and operators of flying machines1 for out of the accidents of to-day often come the improvements of to-morrow4 ,while learning1 and indeed whenever possible1 you should examine the ground before attempting to fly over it4 ,the pupil should inspect every inch of the course over which he is to fly1 by walking carefully over it1 noticing all the holes and obstructions in the ground4 ,then should it be necessary to land1 for any cause whatever1 he will know instinctively where to land and what to avoid in landing4 ,keep away from other aeroplanes1 for the wind-wash in their wake may tip up your plane and cause serious trouble4 ,my advice to the amateur begins and ends with one injunction3 ,go slow4 ,yes1 for more than a month1 ,go slow4 ,it is hard to resist the temptation to try to do stunts2 with a certain amount of familiarity with your machine1 so that you feel you could do a great deal more than you are doing1 and with some experienced and confident performer all but turning somersaults with his machine over your head1 to the delight of the crowd1 it is hard to resist giving one's self the thrill that comes from taking a risk and not being caught1 but you will do the stunts all the better for going slow at first4 ,mr4 ,charles ,battell ,loomis1 the late ,american humourist1 said once1 in talking about the opening of the fields of air3 ,it was thought that the automobile was a machine of danger1 but the aeroplane has made it comparatively safe4 ,a man in an aeroplane a mile above the earth1 taking his first lesson all by himself1 is in a perilous position4 ,he has not one chance in a thousand of ever owning another machine4 ,a man who will fly over a city full of hard-working people is a selfish brute4 ,until a man is absolutely sure of himself he should always fly with a good-sized net suspended beneath his machine4 ,the man in the street has always hated new things4 ,he hated velocipedes1 then bicycles1 then safeties1 then automobiles1 then motorcycles1 but he has not yet learned to hate the aeroplane4 ,but wait until monkey wrenches begin to fall on ,broadway or beginners begin to fall on the man in the street4 ,then he will be mad at the aeroplane-if there is anything left of him4 ,allowing for the humorous exaggeration1 there is this element of truth in this that mechanical flight has as yet a strong element of uncertainty4 ,yet there are certainly wonderful stunts to be done with a flying machine1 and the fun is as much in the effect on the flier as on the audience2 perhaps even more so4 ,i would fly for the mere sport if ,i were not in the business1 for there is a fascination about flying that it is unnecessary to explain and difficult to resist4 ,you can chart currents of the sea1 but the wind is such a capricious element that though there are1 so to speak1 outline maps that could be made of the general direction of the winds1 there will always be a certain uncertainty about their conduct4 ,nevertheless there are so much greater possibilities in flying than in any other of the arts1 that it is no wonder the amateur wants to develop them4 ,and in conclusion ,i can say that an aeroplane in perfect condition is as safe as an automobile going at the same speed-99and ,i mean it699 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,how ,,it ,,feels ,,to ,,fly 7,by ,augustus ,post47 ,there is no one question that people ask more often than3 ,how does it feel to fly6 ,perhaps a passenger feels more keenly the sensations of flight than an aviator because his mind is not taken up with the operation of the controls4 ,as for the passenger1 he climbs into the flying machine1 takes his seat beside the operator1 and becomes at once the centre of interest to all the people standing by4 ,if he is himself an aviator it is another matter1 but if it is his first experience in the air1 he is usually the object of a certain shuddering admiration1 not unmixed with envy4 ,the motor is started1 making a terrific noise that almost deafens him1 and quite drowns the parting speeches and the efforts of the funny men present to improve the occasion4 ,with perfect calm1 without the least excitement1 the aviator listens to the noise of the motor2 he hears it run and carefully notes the regularity of the explosions4 ,when all is ready1 he waves his hand the signal for the man holding the machine to let go4 ,the machine runs along the ground1 gathering speed1 bounces a little1 so that one hardly knows when it leaves the ground2 the front control is raised1 and the machine is in the air4 ,you feel the rushing of the wind1 and things below seem dancing about down there4 ,the machine keeps its exquisite poise in the air1 sensitive to the slightest movement of the control4 ,as it rises1 the forward plane is turned a little down1 and as the machine varies in its elevation1 the plane is turned to bring it back to the level2 it tips a little to one side and the aviator moves1 as it were instinctively1 to correct the balance4 ,the rush of the wind by your face becomes more violent1 and the machine pitches and balances as if it were suspended by a string or by some unseen force which holds it up in the air4 ,illustration3 7,a7 ,,augustus ,,post ,,flying ,,at ,,the ,,first ,,harvard-,,boston ,,meet 7,b7 ,,an ,,aeroplane ,,packed ,,for ,,shipment-,,post ,,driving ,illustration3 ,,curtiss' ,,pupils 7,a7 ,j ,a ,d ,mc,curdy racing against automobile1 ,daytona ,beach4 7,b7 ,lieutenant ,t4 ,g4 ,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n4 7,c7 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,w4 ,b4 ,atwater1 pupils at ,san ,diego4 ,when the flight nears its end and the machine flies low over the aviation field1 the fences and trees there seem in a moment to be rushing to meet one4 ,the planes are pointed downwards1 the machine descends1 is caught up again by the control1 and glides along level with the ground1 skimming just above the grass4 ,the wind moves it a little side wise1 perhaps1 but the pilot1 with the rudder1 straightens the machine around until it points right into the wind's eye and the wheels are parallel with the direction of the machine over the ground4 ,the control now causes the machine to come lower until the wheels strike the ground it rolls along bounces a little over the rough field the brake is set1 and the machine comes to a stop4 ,the aviator jumps down1 the passenger climbs out with somewhat less agility1 perhaps1 and expresses his very hearty thanks1 the plane is turned around1 the propeller started1 and the machine flies off again1 leaving the passenger to tramp slowly through the grass1 contemplating the insignificance of the human creature who is forced to walk humbly along the ground4 ,you may remember that the first time you descended from an automobile and began to walk1 you seemed to yourself to be only marking time4 ,this new experience1 though of the same nature as that1 is far more impressive2 not alone the difference in speed1 but the whole character of the motion the altitude1 the rushing wind1 the sense of something long awaited and now realised sets the sensation of flight apart from any other1 and makes him who once experiences it resolved to repeat the experience as soon and as often as possible4 ,the passenger is at once the object of eager inquiries as to how he felt1 and he usually makes it his business to express his satisfaction whenever asked and sometimes without being asked1 so there is little wonder that aviators are besieged by applicants for rides4 ,a few months ago a lady who had been a passenger in an aeroplane was certain to get her picture in the papers2 now there are so many that it would be difficult even to keep a record of them4 ,now that we are coming to regard the aeroplane seriously1 more from the practical and less from the grandstand side1 it may be noted without fear of loss to gate receipts1 that its dangers have been greatly exaggerated4 ,rational flight is hardly any more hazardous than motor speeding1 steeple chasing1 and many other sports1 not to mention football6 ,engines stop and planes split1 but steering gear breaks and horses stumble4 ,danger lurks everywhere1 but we disregard it because the chances are long in our favour4 ,the real danger in aviation lies in the chances men take as desire lays hold upon them2 chances the dangers of which they fully realise1 but disregard for various causes4 ,there are so-called holes in the air1 but they are hardly more numerous than gullies in the road4 ,high wind is dangerous1 but the aviator can often avoid its perils if he will4 ,briefly1 aviation confined to its now well-defined limitations1 is a thoroughly rational sport4 ,the queer sensation of flight comes in a quick rise1 dip or short turn1 and you can experience the same sensation in the elevator of a ,new ,york sky-scraper1 ,ferris wheel1 shoot-the-chutes or even the back yard swing1 for that matter6 ,dizziness from height is not experienced1 for one sees the landscape spread out from high up and afar off1 as if from a sheltered balcony2 the tendency is not to look down but away4 ,while the rush of air is tremendous1 it is not disagreeable1 and one even forgets the deafening1 unmuffled motor in the indescribable joys1 mainly because of the wondrous charm and variety of the landscape which we have known only in detail1 ignorant of its beauty as a mass4 ,apprehension1 shuddering1 gruesome1 childish apprehension perhaps1 at the starting1 replaced by profound security as mastery1 perfect mastery1 is apparent2 a sense of joyous freedom following as the marvellous world below is revealed4 ,like an exquisite monotone in low relief it is1 each note of colour with its value and in perfect harmony with the whole2 ever subtly changing1 always some new surprise1 some unexpected revelation1 lifting one on the wings of exaltation4 ,the popular literary vehicle of to-day1 rivalling the fairy coach of ,cinderella1 is without question the alluring aeroplane1 fitted with all the latest improvements3 tachometer1 inclinometer1 animometer1 barograph1 aneroid1 compass with map holders1 lights1 and all the modern conveniences and aviation equipment1 including a wire-less telegraph outfit1 having shock absorbers for landing and an enclosed limousine cabin with mica or celluloid windows1 in which not only can our spirits be wafted about1 but in which we may enjoy all the material comforts of speedy travel1 free from present annoyances and inconveniences1 and without requiring the inflated rubber suits which ,mr4 ,rudyard ,kipling so kindly provided for his passengers on board the now famous ,night ,mail4 ,vehicles of this description already exist and an aero-bus has carried as many as thirteen passengers besides its driver4 ,it is confidently predicted that twenty passengers will soon be carried in an aeroplane at one time4 ,there is no doubt but that in flying the higher faculties are called into play4 ,no such elaborate preparation is necessary for learning to drive an automobile1 but some instruction is usually found necessary when learning how to balance a bicycle for the first time and until confidence is secured1 as is also the case in learning to swim4 ,a good chauffeur does not necessarily make a good aviator even though he have exceptional ability as a driver of racing automobiles1 although ,i think that an aviator might make a good driver of a racing automobile4 ,this seems to indicate clearly to my mind that there is some additional quality required in flying4 ,i know of one case where a successful automobile builder and driver killed himself on account of desperation over the fact that he could not master flying4 ,actors and men with a keen sense of feeling seem to do well in the air4 ,they seem to get the feel of the air1 or to have the delicate sense of touch which is required to handle an aeroplane among the illusive vagaries of the atmosphere1 and to be able to sense its rapid action and feel its ever-changing conditions almost before they take effect4 ,one must be absolutely en rapport with his machine1 as an expert horseman is part of his horse or his horse is part of him2 such a rider stands out from all the rest1 a beautiful sight to see and an expression of the poetry of motion2 such also is the manner of the master at the piano1 whose very soul is in tune and vibrating with every subtle and rich harmony of the instrument1 feeling at the same time the ever-changing mood of his audience as he sways them or is swayed by them in turn1 keeping in close sympathy with their thoughts as well as suggesting to their minds the trend that they shall take4 ,,aviating ,,and ,,ballooning ,the sensations which an aviator has during great flights of both duration and altitude are somewhat comparable to those of the balloon pilot#i who sails in the sky far above the earth1 feeling a peculiar realisation of the immediate presence of the ,supreme ,being1 overwhelmed with the magnitude of the universe1 with a sense of being a part of it1 untrammelled1 unaffected by ordinary things1 surrounded with extraordinary conditions1 supersensitive and yet keenly realising1 now1 matters of vast importance2 now1 minutely weighing his life in his hands as if it were something far removed from himself2 breathing an air full of vigour and inspiration1 with a sense of exaltation pervading every cell of the body is it a wonder that men enjoy such delights and really live only when they can cast off mere existence and rise either to the contemplation of such experiences by reading and thinking about them or to a full realisation of these experiences by actually trying them out personally8 ,such moments1 rapidly passing moments each going to make up our individual life are usually but too few4 ,is it then a wonder1 that1 after actual days of such vivid living1 upon descending to earth or coming back among people1 one should look at those who gather around about one as some kind of lower order of animal1 that it should take a few moments to feel their presence gradually dawning upon him1 and to bring his faculties slowly back where they can begin to understand what these bystanders are thinking and talking about8 ,this seems but a dream1 but is in reality an actual experience of a return to earth after two days spent in the air and a visit to regions over four miles above its surface1 much of the time out of sight of this dear old sphere1 when ears had become unaccustomed to sound1 and so impaired by the change of pressure due to the high altitude that we could not1 for some time after landing1 hear when spoken to4 ,our own voices rang hollow and stuck in our throats1 and our thought had become unattuned to those expressed by the gaping1 wondering crowd1 struck dumb at the sight of our arrival1 and standing like cows in the pasture when you walk among them4 ,such is the state of mind in store for the airman1 the artist1 the thinker1 the person desiring to become isolated for a while to feel as ,adam felt in all reality1 when he stood in the midst of the garden of ,eden1 monarch of all he surveyed4 ,this appeals strangely to the imagination but when it becomes a reality by virtue of actual experience1 it also becomes a sensation most difficult to express2 for so few people understand what you are talking about1 few having had the sensations of being removed from this world and coming back again to it4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,operating ,a ,,hydroaeroplane 7,by ,hugh ,robinson47 ,the general impression among aviators and manufacturers of aeroplanes is that the hydroaeroplane is rapidly becoming the flying craft of the future1 by reason of its ease of control1 extensive bodies of water upon which to operate it1 and1 above all1 its safety4 ,it is practically impossible for the operator of a hydroaeroplane to suffer injury in case of accident4 ,even in the worst kind of an accident1 the most that can happen to the operator is an exhilarating plunge into salt or fresh water as the case may be1 with the beneficial effects of a good swim if so desired1 otherwise1 the operator may stand by the wreckage1 which cannot possibly sink4 ,the several pontoons1 together with the necessary woodwork to construct the planes1 etc41 furnish ample buoyancy to support the machine and operator even in case of a total wreck1 which rarely ever happens4 ,one can bang down upon the water with a hydro in any old fashion1 and beyond a tremendous splash nothing serious happens4 ,of course1 this article refers entirely to the ,curtiss hydroaeroplane1 which ,i have been operating since its invention4 ,the ,curtiss pontoon is divided into six water-tight compartments1 three of which will support the machine under average conditions4 ,recently1 while the writer was abroad1 a demonstration was made of these compartments for safety in case of accident to any part of the pontoon4 ,this demonstration took place at ,monaco1 and consisted in removing the drain plugs from two compartments1 after which the hydro with pilot and passenger was pushed out into the harbour and allowed to stand thirty minutes to let the opened compartments fill with water1 after which the motor was started and a flight made without the slightest difficulty4 ,the operation of a hydro is very similar to that of the ordinary land machine-only1 if anything1 considerably easier and more simple4 ,the start of the hydro is simply starting the motor while the hydro is resting on the land or bank of the lake or river1 with the front towards the water4 ,the operator takes his place1 and on opening the throttle gradually the thrust of the motor slides the apparatus along the ground1 or planks if ground be unsuitable1 and into the water4 ,the pontoons being fitted underneath with steel shod runners makes it possible to start on rocks1 gravel1 or in fact most any reasonable surface4 ,the finish can be made in the same manner1 without assistance4 ,it is possible to start the hydro on dry land if the surface is reasonably smooth1 with the assistance of one or two mechanics4 ,it is also possible1 in an emergency1 even to land on the earth with the hydro pontoon attachment2 and1 of course1 with wheels attached to the landing gear1 one can come down on land as with the ordinary type of machine4 ,once out upon the water1 the operator rapidly increases his speed by opening the throttle1 taking care1 however1 to accelerate gradually1 to allow the pontoon to mount the surface of the water without throwing an unnecessary amount of water into the propeller4 ,once a speed of twenty-five to thirty miles an hour is obtained1 the pontoon skims lightly over the surface of the water4 ,as the ailerons do not become effective until the machine acquires considerable speed1 the small floats on the lower ends of wings maintain the balance until necessary speed is acquired4 ,the small flexible wooden paddles on the lower rear ends of the wing tanks slide over the water and exert a great lifting effect1 thus rigidly preserving the balance on the water at slow speeds or standing1 and also preventing damage to wings in case a bad landing is made whereby one wing strikes the water first4 ,in such a case1 instead of the wing digging into the water1 the paddles cause a glancing blow which levels the machine automatically4 ,when the machine has acquired a certain speed it leaves the water in exactly the same manner as on the land and immediately increases its speed1 due to the released friction from the water4 ,it also has a slight tendency to jump into the air due to the released friction between the boat and water4 ,once into the air1 the operator is the same as with the regular land-equipped ,curtiss aeroplanes4 ,the landing is made in the ordinary manner1 bearing in mind to keep the boat as near level fore and aft as possible1 and if the water be very rough to allow the tail of the machine to settle on the water first4 ,this will prevent any possibility of sticking the front of the boat into an unexpected wave4 ,as should be the case with any aeroplane1 it is advisable to start and land against the wind if there be much1 but this is not compulsory4 ,the hydro may be landed even while drifting sideways1 in an emergency case4 ,it is obvious that to do this with a land machine would be to invite disaster4 ,the writer saw a forcible demonstration of the one and two pontoon types of hydros during the ,hydroaeroplane ,meet in ,france1 and he had the only machine there with the single pontoon1 and also the only one able to go out on rough water4 ,he successfully made flights and landings in waves six to eight feet high1 whereas three hydros of the two pontoon type were wrecked in waves less than two feet high4 ,the single pontoon-equipped hydro may be dragged out on the banks any place where a space two feet wide may be obtained1 and on my recent trip down the ,mississippi1 ,i had occasion to rejoice in this fact and put it to a practical test1 as ,i was hauled out on shores between large rocks or stumps in several instances4 ,the turning of the hydro is accomplished by simply turning the rudder and leaning towards the turn1 the same as on a bicycle1 allowing the motor to run on reduced or half throttle4 ,the exhilaration of flying a hydro cannot be described on paper4 ,it is the fastest motor boat in the world1 and to be able to approach a launch and jump over it and observe the consternation of the passengers is the keenest pleasure imaginable4 ,the hydro may be used solely as a motor boat if desired1 at a speed of sixty miles per hour1 without a drop of water ever touching its passengers1 or if weather be favorable1 flights may be made at will of the operator4 ,the surface of a river or lake offers the ideal condition for landing or starting an aeroplane1 and these are more numerous than suitable grounds for land machines1 besides this the air conditions over water are always better than over land1 due to its unbroken surface1 which does not obstruct the air currents as do trees1 houses1 etc41 on land4 ,an automatic safeguard exists in the hydro to prevent accidents1 such as has caused the loss of lives on land1 and that is as follows3 ,it is possible to rise in an ordinary land machine with too little power to make a turn or climb fast1 and as a result get a bad fall4 ,owing to the fact that there is a suction between the water and the pontoon it requires more power actually to leave the water than to fly once the plane is in the air4 ,this fact prevents a hydro taking flight with too little reserve flying ability1 and once in the air the operator may be sure of a considerable reserve of power to enable him to fly strongly and safely under all conditions4 ,,part ,,vi ,,the ,,curtiss ,,pupils ,,and ,a ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,curtiss ,,aeroplane ,,and ,,motor ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,,chapter ,i ,,pupils ,all great masters have been represented by pupils who have done honour to their teacher and have achieved personal success in a large measure4 ,mr4 ,curtiss is no exception to this rule1 for he has taught more than a hundred pupils4 ,there have been representatives of all classes and all nationalities4 ,the list includes all trades and professions1 from horse trainers to bankers4 ,and in all these have been pupils from thirteen nationalities including ,russians1 ,germans1 ,french1 ,canadians1 ,scotch1 ,irish1 ,english1 ,japanese1 ,indians1 ,cubans1 ,mexican1 ,spaniards1 and ,greeks4 ,instruction has been given in all languages1 including the sign language4 ,some nationalities are naturally a little harder than others to instruct1 largely because of national characteristics of thought1 and also for the reason that in a southern climate those native to it are often unaccustomed to the rapid action necessary at times in flying4 ,negroes have not yet as a class taken to aviation1 but there is one ,chinaman in ,california1 ,tom ,gun1 who has been successful as an aviator4 ,but conspicuous among the list of pupils is the number of ,army and ,navy officers of our own1 as well as of foreign countries1 that have graduated from the ,curtiss ,school4 ,hydroaeroplane operation has also been taught to a number of pupils both at ,hammondsport1 ,n4 ,y41 and at ,san ,diego1 ,california1 where the training camps are located4 ,the life that the pupils lead at these schools is most interesting and healthful4 ,the students get up early1 sometimes at four in the morning1 when it is just light enough to see and when the air is usually calm and the best conditions for learning to fly exist4 ,pupils are outdoors practically all day1 flying1 or working on the machines when any thing breaks or goes wrong4 ,many pupils have engaged in exhibition flying after completing their course of instruction1 and among the large number of very excellent aviators that have followed in ,mr4 ,curtiss' wing beats 7for you can hardly say foot steps7 have been some of the foremost aviators in the world and men whose fame and exploits are household words to-day4 ,a partial list of some of these men at present active in the field is here given3 ,chas4 ,f4 ,willard1 ,hugh ,robinson1 ,chas4 ,k4 ,hamilton1 ,j4 ,c4 ,mars1 ,c4 ,c4 ,witmer1 ,e4 ,c4 ,st4 ,henry1 ,lincoln ,beachey1 ,beckwith ,havens1 ,lieut4 ,t4 ,g4 ,ellyson1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n42 ,capt4 ,p4 ,w4 ,beck1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a42 ,lieut4 ,j4 ,h4 ,towers1 ,u4 ,s4 ,n42 ,william ,hoff1 ,j4 ,b4 ,mc,calley1 ,s4 ,c4 ,lewis1 ,c4 ,w4 ,shoemaker1 ,w4 ,b4 ,atwater1 ,al4 ,mayo1 ,al4 ,j4 ,engle1 ,j4 ,lansing ,callan1 ,g4 ,e4 ,underwood1 ,irah ,d4 ,spaulding1 ,c4 ,f4 ,walsh1 ,carl ,t4 ,sjolander1 ,fred ,hoover1 ,e4 ,c4 ,malick1 ,ripley ,bowman1 ,t4 ,t4 ,maroney1 ,c4 ,a4 ,berlin1 ,h4 ,park1 ,w4 ,m4 ,stark1 ,e4 ,h4 ,mc,millan1 ,f4 ,j4 ,terrill1 ,francis ,wildman1 ,f4 ,j4 ,southard1 ,lieut4 ,p4 ,a4 ,dumford1 ,w4 ,b4 ,hemstrought1 ,earl ,sandt1 ,e4 ,b4 ,russell1 ,lieut4 ,j4 ,e4 ,mc,claskey1 ,w4 ,w4 ,vaughn1 ,barney ,moran1 ,m4 ,kondo1 ,j4 ,g4 ,kaminski1 ,mohan ,singh1 ,k4 ,takeishi4 ,illustration3 ,,curtiss' ,,pupils ------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------ ,beckwith ,havens ,c4 ,c4 ,witmer ,cromwell ,dixon ,chas4 ,k4 ,hamilton ,j4 ,a4 ,d4 ,mc,curdy ,chas4 ,f4 ,walsh ,chas4 ,f4 ,willard ------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------ ,illustration3 ,,lincoln ,,beachey ,,flying ,,in ,,gorge ,,at ,,niagara 7,insert3 ,portrait of ,beachey7 ,among those in this list who have done wonderful things1 it might be interesting to mention some of the marvellous feats of daring as well as a few of the achievements of ,lincoln ,beachey1 who is credited with being the greatest exhibition aviator in the world4 ,at the meet in ,chicago in the summer of #aiaa1 ,beachey flew more miles than any other aviator4 ,he flew all the time and was in the air during all the flying hours in one contest or another4 ,he did all the special tricks in the air that were known1 he carried passengers1 won speed races1 and established a new world's altitude record at #aa1fdb feet4 ,after flying as high as he could1 at ,chicago1 with a seven gallon tank full of gasoline1 ,beachey came down and said3 ,to-morrow ,i'll go higher4 ,he had a ten gallon tank fitted to his machine1 filled it full up to the top1 and started right up from where his machine was standing on the ground1 so as not to waste a drop of gasoline1 and flew up and up until it was completely exhausted and his motor thus compelled to stop1 but not until he had set the world's record at #aa1fdb feet4 ,he deliberately started out on this trip to climb up as long as his fuel would last4 ,he knew his motor would stop and he would have to glide down4 ,it was not an unintended glide but it was the longest glide on record4 ,he brought out all the points and possibilities of his machine2 distance1 speed1 weight-carrying1 and altitude4 ,wilbur ,wright said3 ,beachey is the most wonderful flyer ,i ever saw and the greatest aviator of all4 ,calbraith ,p4 ,bodgers said upon his arrival at ,los ,angeles after flying across the ,american continent1 a distance of over four thousand miles1 ,beachey's daring flight down the gorge of ,niagara and through the spray of the falls was a greater achievement than mine4 ,beachey has been remarkably free from serious accidents even though now he pitches straight down from the sky1 seeming to fall straight to the earth and just catching his machine up in time to avoid striking the earth4 ,at ,hammondsport on ,july #bith1 #aiab1 ,beachey was trying out a new model military type and he ascended six thousand five hundred feet in fifteen minutes1 while he came down in one minute1 making one of his perpendicular dives with the engine still4 ,the whistling of the wind through the taut wires of the machine could be heard half a mile away4 ,on this occasion one of the lady visitors to the testing grounds1 who had never seen ,beachey fly before1 thinking that he was falling and would surely strike the ground and be dashed to pieces1 fainted4 ,beachey said1 ,flying did not come to me at first but it seemed to come all of a sudden and then it came big4#aj ,once ,beachey had to land in a very small place surrounded with trees and the only way he could do it with the fast machine that he was driving was to kill its speed in the air by skimming over the trees1 shutting off his motor1 and gliding along to the place where he wanted to stop1 and then pointing the machine up suddenly1 very much as a bird comes to a stop1 and then pancaking down1 as it is called when you come down kerflop like a pancake4 ,beachey broke a wheel by this performance and he has worried over that little breakage as much as another man would over smashing up a whole machine4 ,beachey flew from ,new ,york to ,philadelphia in company with ,eugene ,ely and ,hugh ,robinson in ,august1 #aiaa1 winning the first inter-city race to be held in the ,united ,states4 ,among the skilled operators of hydroaeroplanes is ,mr4 ,hugh ,robinson who flew down the ,mississippi ,river in the spring of #aiab1 carrying mail and covering the river course between ,minneapolis1 ,minn41 and ,rock ,island1 ,ill4 ,mr4 ,robinson also went to ,france in ,may of #aiab1 and competed in the first contests and races ever held in this new sport at ,monte ,carlo4 ,since his return to ,america1 ,mr4 ,robinson has been the instructor in hydroaeroplaning at ,hammondsport4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,a ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,curtiss ,,biplane ,no type of aeroplane is more familiar in ,america than the ,curtiss biplane4 ,by long experimentation1 this machine has been developed for practical use2 and is now used for military purposes in ,russia1 ,japan1 ,italy1 ,germany1 ,france1 and the ,united ,states4 ,the machine is of the general type known as biplane1 in which there are two sets of wings1 or surfaces1 one being directly above the other4 ,this type of machine seems to be the most favoured by ,americans1 for it not only allows of a greater spread of lifting surface for a given width of plane than in the monoplane1 or single-wing type1 but also it is much stronger than other machines of the same weight1 as its design permits of a system of bridge-trussing known as the ,pratt ,truss4 ,in the ,curtiss machine this feature is especially pronounced1 because of the greater safety which rigid planes have when compared with the flexible wings4 ,the woodwork of these aeroplanes is entirely of selected spruce and ash1 all the posts1 beams1 and ribs being laminated4 ,the propeller is a particularly difficult piece of laminated work1 being built up of from twelve to eighteen layers of thinly cut wood1 while the upright posts of the central section are made up of ash and spruce1 the heavier and more flexible wood forming the core4 ,a feature of strength is to be found in the double trussing which is placed in all of the vital parts of the aeroplane1 where the greatest strength is required4 ,all this trussing is made with a cable of galvanised steel wire tested to withstand a pulling strain of nearly half a ton4 ,transportation and military use have been especially considered in the construction of the planes4 ,the upper and lower planes are made up of interchangeable panels1 which are so joined together that the machine is easily assembled and taken apart and may be transported compactly in two flat boxes which scarcely make one full wagon load1 as indicated in an illustration in this book4 ,the wing-panels are made up with a light and strong wooden framework covered with cloth especially made and treated with a rubber coating for the purpose4 ,the curved ribs are laminated also and the panels held together by a system of trussing which gives them great strength4 ,these panels are covered both top and bottom4 ,light and strong bamboo rods extend to the front of the main planes1 supporting the elevator or forward horizontal surface1 which acts as a rudder to steer upward and downward4 ,similar bamboo rods at the rear support the vertical rudder and rear elevators and stabilising plane4 ,front and rear elevators work in conjunction with each other so that as the front of the machine is directed up1 the rear of the machine is depressed by the two rear elevators1 called flippers from their resemblance to these appendages of a seal or a turtle1 each of which is controlled by an individual set of cables1 so that if one should break or get out of order the other may be used independently4 ,the front or rear elevators are sufficient to maintain the fore and aft balance of the machine in flight1 so if anything happens to one the other will enable a safe landing to be made4 ,some aviators take off the front elevating plane entirely1 relying solely upon the two rear ones for horizontal control4 ,the elevators and the vertical rudder are manipulated by a single steering post at the top of which is the steering wheel4 ,turning the wheel to the right or left steers the aeroplane to the left or to the right as a boat or an automobile is steered1 while pushing the wheel forward directs the machine downward and pulling the wheel causes it to rise1 a system of control in accord with the natural impulse of the operator4 ,to maintain the lateral balance of the aeroplane1 there are small movable planes1 or ailerons1 attached at the ends of the main framework1 midway between the upper and lower planes1 at the rear4 ,these ailerons are so arranged that the front edge remains in the same position2 while one swings upward1 the other swings downward1 at the back1 thus giving an upward pressure of air on the under side of the one1 while the other is depressed by the air which strikes it on top4 ,this movement is controlled by a movable back to the aviator's seat or a frame or yoke which fits around the shoulders of the aviator in such a way that he moves the ailerons to the proper position when he leans to the high side of the aeroplane as it tilts and is thus able automatically to correct its balance4 ,the motors with which the military and cross-country models are equipped are of the eight-cylinder ,v-shaped type1 developing sixty and eighty horse-power4 ,the propeller is attached directly to the motor shaft1 thus doing away with any necessity of gearing1 which consumes power1 increases the risk of breakage1 and decreases reliability4 ,the speed of the motor is controlled by a throttle opened and closed by a movement of the left foot4 ,the seat for the aviator is placed well forward of the main planes1 giving him a clear view not only ahead1 but also straight downward4 ,on the military model1 a passenger-seat is provided immediately beside that of the aviator1 and a dual system of control makes it possible for either passenger to operate the machine independently of the other4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,of ,,curtiss ,,aeroplane1 ,,side ,,view #a4 ,motor2 #b4 ,radiator2 #c4 ,fuel ,tank2 #d4 ,upper ,main ,plane2 #e4 ,lower ,main ,plane2 #f4 ,aileron2 #g4 ,vertical ,rudder2 #h4 ,tail ,surface2 #i4 ,horizontal ,rudder1 or ,rear ,elevator2 #aj4 ,front ,elevator2 #aa4 ,vertical ,fin2 #ab4 ,steering ,wheel2 #ac4 ,propeller2 #ad4 ,foot ,throttle ,lever2 #ae4 ,hand ,throttle ,lever2 #af4 ,foot ,brake4 ,illustration3 ,,diagram ,,of ,,curtiss ,,motor1 ,,side ,,and ,,front ,,views #a4 ,cylinder2 #b4 ,engine ,bed2 #c4 ,fuel ,tank3 #d4 ,oil ,pan2 #e4 ,radiator2 #f4 ,propeller2 #g4 ,crank ,case2 #h4 ,carbureter2 #i4 ,gasoline ,pipe2 #aj4 ,air ,intake2 #aa4 ,auxiliary ,air-pipe2 #ab4 ,drain ,cock2 #ac4 ,water ,cooling ,system2 #ad4 ,gas ,intake ,pipe2 #ae4 ,rocker ,arm2 #af4 ,spring on ,intake ,valve2 #ag4 ,spring on ,exhaust ,valve2 #ah4 ,exhaust ,port2 #ai4 ,rocker ,arm ,post2 #bj4 ,push ,rod4 ,the aeroplane is mounted upon a three-wheeled chassis with one skid extending from front to rear1 the whole landing gear being built strong and rigid to withstand the shock of landing1 the most dangerous part of flying4 ,elaborate tests are made of the different parts of the machine2 the panels forming the surfaces are tested by loading them with gravel until they break and weighing the amount of gravel heaped upon them before they give way4 ,these tests have shown a factor of safety in excess of any strain that could be put on the machine in the air4 ,the strain on the various wires and cables is also measured1 with a special instrument made for that purpose1 as seen in an illustration4 ,every conceivable test has been tried which could give information that would lead to any improvement in strength to withstand strains1 in addition to the complete knowledge that has come from actual tests under all conditions in the air1 and on the ground itself1 by expert flyers who have done almost everything that it is possible to do with the machine as far as trying to find its weak point is concerned4 ,dives almost straight down with abrupt turns at the end of the drop put many times the ordinary strain on every part4 ,rough landings also show up any lack of strength or fault in the design of the running gear or frame of the machine1 especially since this machine is not provided with any springs or other device for taking up the shock of a bad landing4 ,,curtiss ,,aeroplane ,,parts-,a ,,complete ,,list#aa #a1 ,engine ,section ,panel2 #b1 ,wing ,panel2 #c1 ,wing ,panel1 ,sparred ,beam2 #d-e1 ,aileron1 ,right ,left2 #f1 ,tail2 #g-h1 ,flipper1 ,right and ,left2 #i1 ,rudder2 #aj1 ,front ,control1 ,elevator only2 #aa1 ,hydro ,front ,control1 ,elevator only2 #ab-ac1 ,fin1 ,top ,bottom2 #ad-ae1 ,non ,skid ,surface1 ,headless ,large4 ,,bamboos #af-ag1 ,front1 ,upper1 ,right ,left2 #ah-ai1 ,front1 ,lower1 ,right ,left2 #bj1 ,front ,cross ,tie1 ,headless2 #ba-bb1 ,front ,bamboo ,brace1 ,right ,left2 #bc-bd1 ,rear1 ,upper1 ,right ,left2 #be-bf1 ,rear1 ,lower1 ,right ,left2 #bg1 ,push ,rod ,bamboo1 #de2 #bh-bi1 ,bamboo ,post1 ,short ,long4 #cj1 ,full ,set ,rear ,bamboos1 ,wired ,complete2 #ca1 ,full ,tail ,equipment1 consisting of ,rear ,bamboos1 ,posts1 ,tail1 ,rudder and ,flippers4 ,,posts #cb1 ,wing ,panel1 #c_/h x #b #c_/d x #ed #a_/b2 #cc1 ,wing ,panel1 #c_/h x #b #c_/d x #fj2 #cd1 ,engine ,section1 #a #a_/b x #b #c_/d x #ed #a_/b2 #ce1 ,engine ,section1 #a #a_/b x #b #c_/d x #fj04 ,,diagonal ,,ash ,,braces1 ,,from ,,front ,,wheel ,,to ,,engine ,,bed #cf-cg1 ,diagonal ,ash ,brace1 ,tinned1 ,right ,left2 #ch-ci1 ,diagonal ,ash ,brace1 ,left ,right2 #dj-da1 ,diagonal ,ash ,brace1 ,tinned ,ironed1 ,left ,right4 ,,diagonal ,,spruce ,,brace1 ,,from ,,front ,,wheel ,,to ,,wing ,,panel #db-dc1 ,diagonal ,spruce ,brace1 ,left ,right2 #dd-de1 ,diagonal ,spruce ,brace1 ,ironed1 ,left and ,right2 #df1 ,skid2 #dg-dh1 ,engine ,bed1 not ,tinned1 ,right ,left2 #di-ej1 ,engine ,bed1 ,tinned1 ,right ,left4 ,,engine ,,bed ,,posts4 ,,braces ,,and ,,tubing ,,braces ,,above ,,lower ,,plane #ea-eb1 ,engine ,bed ,post1 ,front1 ,right ,left2 #ec-ed1 ,engine ,bed ,post1 ,rear1 ,right ,left2 #ee-ef1 ,engine ,bed ,brace1 ,front1 ,lower1 ,right ,left2 #eg-eh1 ,engine ,bed ,brace1 ,rear1 ,lower1 ,right ,left2 #ei-fj1 ,engine ,bed ,brace1 ,rear1 ,upper1 ,right ,left2 #fa-fb1 ,engine ,bed to ,surface1 ,rear1 ,upper1 ,right ,left2 #fc1 ,a ,brace to ,surface1 ,front1 ,upper2 #fd1 ,cross ,tie ,brace under ,upper ,surface2 #fe-ff1 ,aileron ,brace1 ,upper1 ,right ,left2 #fg-fh1 ,aileron ,brace1 ,lower1 ,right ,left2 #fi-gj1 ,seat ,post1 ,right ,left2 #ga-gb1 ,carburetor ,brace1 ,right ,left4 ,,chassis ,,braces4 ,,forks ,,and ,,tubing ,,under ,,lower ,,plane #gc1 ,cross ,tie ,rod1 ,lower1 ,under ,lower ,surface2 #gd1 ,long ,span ,brace1 ,rear ,wheel to ,rear ,wheel2 #ge-gf1 ,skid ,fork1 ,right ,left2 #gg-gi1 ,vertical ,fork1 ,front ,rear1 ,right ,left2 #hj-ha1 ,leader ,fork1 ,rear1 ,right ,left2 #hb-hc1 ,m ,brace1 ,right ,left2 #hd1 ,y ,brace2 #he1 ,v ,brace1 ,front1 ,skid to ,diagonal2 #hf1 ,v ,brace ,spreader and ,bolt1 ,front2 #hg1 ,brace1 ,center1 ,skid to ,diagonal2 #hh1 ,v ,brace1 ,center1 ,skid to ,double ,seat2 #hi1 ,v ,brace1 ,rear1 ,skid to ,diagonal2 #ij-ia1 ,combination ,foot ,throttle ,brake1 ,single ,dual4 #ib1 ,brake ,shoe2 #ic1 ,brake ,shoe ,hinge2 #id1 ,brake ,shoe ,lug2 #ie1 ,brake ,shoe ,spring2 #if1 ,steering ,column1 ,single2 #ig1 ,steering ,wheel1 ,spider1 ,fork and ,bolt2 #ih1 ,steering ,wheel1 ,spider1 ,fork ,column1 ,assembled ,wired2 #ii1 ,steering ,column1 ,dual2 #ajj1 ,steering ,wheel1 ,spider1 ,fork ,bolt1 ,dual2 #aja1 ,steering ,wheel1 ,spider1 ,fork1 ,bolt ,column1 ,assembled ,wired1 ,dual2 #ajb1 ,foot ,rest2 #ajc1 ,push ,rod1 ,metal1 with ,swivel ,end1 ,dual4 #ajd1 ,seat1 ,single2 #aje1 ,seat with ,fittings for ,shoulder ,yoke1 ,single2 #ajf1 ,seat1 ,complete with ,shoulder ,yoke1 ,whiffle-tree ,case and ,whiffle-tree1 ,single2 #ajg1 ,seat1 ,double2 #ajh1 ,seat with ,fittings for ,shoulder ,yoke1 ,double2 #aji1 ,seat1 ,complete with ,shoulder ,yoke1 ,whiffle-tree ,cases and ,whiffletree1 ,double2 #aaj1 ,seat1 ,passenger2 #aaa1 ,seat ,supporting ,brace1 ,passenger2 #aab1 ,rear ,beam ,reinforcing ,plates4 #aac1 ,cable1 #a_/cb2 #aad1 ,cable1 #a_/af2 #aae1 ,cable1 #c_/cb2 #aaf1 ,cable ,casing2 #aag1 ,short ,circuiting ,switch2 #aah1 ,snaps1 #c2 #aai1 ,main ,plane ,socket2 #abj1 ,main ,plane ,socket1 ,wired ,complete2 #aba1 ,main ,plane ,plate2 #abb1 ,aileron ,end ,wire ,connection2 #abc-abd1 ,aileron ,cross ,wire ,clamp ,clip2 #abe1 ,aileron ,l2 #abf1 ,aileron ,post ,lug2 #abg1 ,aileron ,brace ,wire ,connection2 #abh1 ,aileron ,corner ,wire ,guide2 #abi1 ,aileron ,corner ,pulley1 #c2 #abi1 ,aileron ,pulley1 #c4 #aca1 ,bamboo ,curved ,rudder ,wire ,guide2 #acb1 ,skid ,safety ,wire ,connection2 #acc1 ,copper ,sleeve2 #acd1 ,tin ,thimbles2 #ace1 ,diagonal ,ash ,brace ,iron2 #acf1 ,diagonal ,spruce ,brace ,iron2 #acg-ach1 ,engine ,bed ,post ,plate ,wire ,connection2 #aci1 ,engine ,bed ,bolt2 #adj1 ,fin ,l ,irons2 #ada1 ,fin ,hinge2 #adb-adc1 ,front ,control ,bracket ,l ,iron2 #add1 ,hydro ,front ,control1 ,brace ,lug2 #ade-adf1 ,hydro ,front ,control ,supporting ,post1 ,l ,r2 #adg-adh1 ,hydro ,front ,control1 ,supporting ,post ,lug1 ,left ,right2 #adi-aej1 ,hydro ,front ,control ,push ,rod ,bracket2 #aea-aeb1 ,hydro ,front ,control ,post ,diagonal ,brace2 #aec1 ,hydro ,splash ,boards4 #aed-aee1 ,flipper ,post ,wedge2 #aef1 ,flipper ,hinge2 #aeg1 ,flipper ,wire ,guide1 ,straight2 #aeh1 ,rudder ,swivel2 #aei1 ,curved ,corner ,wire ,guide2 #afj1 ,rudder ,lever ,clip2 #afa1 ,rudder ,wire ,connection2 #afb1 ,rudder ,wire ,guide1 ,curved2 #afc-afd1 ,terminals1 ,short ,long2 #afe1 ,turnbuckles2 #aff1 ,wheel1 #bj x #d1 ,complete2 #afg1 ,wheel1 #bj x #d1 ,less ,tire2 #afh-afi1 ,wheel1 #bj x #b #a_/b1 ,complete ,less ,tire2 #agj1 ,inner ,tube1 #bj x #d2 #aga1 ,casing1 #bj x #d2 #agb1 ,tire1 #bj x #b #a_/b2 #agc1 ,axle4 #agd1 ,gas ,tank1 to ,attach to ,engine ,bed2 #age1 ,bamboo ,brace ,clip2 #agf1 ,flexible ,gasoline ,pipe2 #agg1 ,radiator2 #agh1 ,radiator ,brace2 #agi-ahj1 ,propeller1 ,bolt ,tinned2 #aha1 ,propeller1 ,complete ,not ,tinned2 #ahb1 ,cap ,screw1 ,nickel ,steel1 #e_/af-bd x #a #c_/d2 #ahc1 ,cap ,screw1 ,nickel ,steel1 #e_/af-bd x #b #a_/d2 #ahd-ahe1 ,spring ,washer1 #a_/d x #c_/af #e_/af x #c_/h2 #ahf1 ,wing ,pontoon1 ,complete2 #ahg1 ,pontoon ,paddles2 #ahh1 ,hydro ,drain ,plug2 #ahi1 ,hydro ,braces2 #aij-aia1 ,hydro ,spacing ,tube ,bolt1 ,short ,long4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,curtiss ,,motor ,,and ,,factory ,the history of the ,curtiss motor goes back to the early days at ,hammondsport2 it was the keynote of the development of the motorcycle1 the airship1 the aeroplane1 and the hydro4 ,from a crude single-cylinder engine used on an experimental bicycle1 the motor has developed to an eight-cylinder engine giving over eighty horsepower1 on which the reliability of the ,curtiss aeroplane is dependent4 ,indeed1 flight itself1 in the history of the world1 was delayed until the development of the gas engine made it possible to get a power that was applicable for this purpose1 and one that was1 at the same time1 light enough4 ,to describe the motor intelligibly to one who has had no acquaintanceship whatever with gas engines would require many chapters1 but to those who have ever examined automobile1 marine1 or other motors1 the following technical data will give an idea of the distinctive feature of this aeroplane motor4 ,,motor ,,design ,,and ,,material4 ,crankshaft3 ,the crankshaft is supported in five bearings of more than ample size4 ,it is extremely difficult1 if not impossible1 to design a shaft which will be light enough for aeronautical purposes1 and still be sufficiently rigid without a special support4 ,the propeller end of the shaft is supported in two places eleven and three-eighth inches apart1 at one end in a plain bearing two and seven-sixteenth inches long and at the other in a combined radial and thrust ball bearing of ample size4 ,this construction is stronger than is the case where the propeller is mounted immediately behind the last main bearing proper or even in some cases carried at a distance of several inches from the bearing without support4 ,any lack of mechanical or thrust balance is multiplied and transmitted directly to the last crank throw1 the tremendous racking and twisting strain thus occasioned causing ultimate failure4 ,the crankshaft is made of imported ,chrome-,nickel steel1 properly heat treated4 ,this steel1 particularly after heat treatment1 has an enormous tensile strength combined with a very high elastic limit and great resistance to fatigue and crystallisation4 ,connecting ,rods3 ,the connecting rods are machined from a solid ,chrome-,nickel steel forging1 heat treated4 ,the body of the rod is tubular1 which cross section gives a maximum strength with minimum weight4 ,rough forging weighs five pounds2 finished weight one pound eight ounces4 ,piston3 ,the piston is long enough to give sufficient bearing surface to sustain the side thrust from the connecting rod and at the same time weighs but two and one-half pounds4 ,the domed head1 with properly placed ribs1 assures strength4 ,the piston pin bearing is seven-eighth inches diameter by two and three-fourth inches long4 ,reversing common practice1 the pin turns in the piston instead of the rod end1 as considerable gain in bearing surface is thus made4 ,engineers will appreciate that with a combined piston and rod weight of four and one-half pounds1 the strains from twenty-two hundred reversals of motion per minute at normal speed are very slight4 ,it has three rings together with fourteen oil grooves aiding the rings in retaining compression and assisting the oiling4 ,all pistons are rough turned and then thoroughly annealed before grinding1 to insure against warping in service4 ,the piston rings are of clean springy iron1 ground all over4 ,as a ring must be tight on the sides as well as where it comes in contact with the cylinder1 there must not be a variation in width of over a quarter thousandth of an inch4 ,cylinder3 ,the cylinder is symmetrical in design1 insuring even expansion without distortion4 ,valve-in-the-head construction gives an efficient shape of combustion chamber2 the compact charge fired in the centre giving quick1 complete combustion1 and the large valves give free ingress and egress for the gases4 ,the water jacket is brazed to the cylinder-casting autogenously1 the metal being a composition of nickel and copper known as ,monel metal1 which is proof against corrosion4 ,cylinders are bored1 ground and finished by lapping1 to get a glass smooth surface4 ,water ,circulation3 ,the water circulation is so carried out that all cylinders are cooled equally1 the water pump being divided by a partition which passes water in equal quantities to each set of four1 thus avoiding any possibility of a steam-trap on one side causing all the water to pass through the other side4 ,the pump is driven from the crankshaft by a floating joint4 ,the pump shaft is made of a carbon spindle steel4 ,a portion of the hot water is returned through the carburetor water jacket1 which is essential with present day gasoline1 particularly in cold weather or high altitudes4 ,lubrication3 ,the lubrication is a combined circulating and splash oiling system4 ,a gear driven oil pump submerged in the oil pan forces a constant stream of filtered oil through the hollow cam shaft bearing1 thence to each individual cam shaft bearing1 thence to the main crankshaft bearings whence it is forced through the hollow crankshaft and cheeks to the crank pins1 the surplus replenishing the oil pan into which the rods dip1 thus oiling the cylinder walls by splash and also filling oil pockets on each main bearing1 as an additional insurance against their running dry4 ,the pump is driven off a bevel gear integral with the crankshaft and is of the gear type1 being without valves or moving parts other than two simple spur gears4 ,it is entirely enclosed in a fine mesh screen through which the oil must pass to reach the pump4 ,valves3 ,the valves have cast-iron heads reinforced with a perforated steel disc embedded in the cast iron1 the whole being electrically welded to a carbon steel stem4 ,the cam shaft is hardened and ground and cams formed integral with the shaft4 ,the cam contour is also ground1 the valve timing being exactly the same in each cylinder4 ,illustration3 ,,curtiss ,,motors 7,a7 ,the first ,curtiss aerial motor2 used ,in ,baldwin dirigible4 7,b7 ,motor used in both the ,white ,wing and ,red ,wing4 7,c7 ,motor of #aiab4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,the ,,aeroplane ,,factory1 ,,hammondsport 7,a7 ,testing aeroplanes4 ,gravel on reversed planes tests strength2 scale shows wire-strain4 7,b7 ,assembly room of factory4 ,castings3 ,the majority of non-moving parts1 including the crank case1 are cast of special aluminum alloys4 ,recent laboratory tests have shown tensile strengths of as high as fifty thousand1 five hundred pounds per square inch4 ,weight3 ,the weight of model ,a motor alone is two hundred eighty-five pounds-three and eight-tenth pounds per horse-power4 ,the weight of power plant including propeller1 radiator1 and necessary connections is three hundred forty-seven pounds4 ,note that the forty horse-power cylinder motor weighs one hundred seventy-five pounds and gives a thrust of three hundred ten pounds when equipped with a seven foot diameter by six foot pitch propeller turning at nine hundred revolutions per minute4 ,the pitch speed of the propeller at this rate is in excess of a mile a minute4 ,gas-,consumption3 ,the consumption of gas is three-fourths pint per horse-power per hour4 ,the engine can be throttled and consumption reduced in nearly direct ratio to the horse-power developed4 ,consumption on full throttle per hour is seven and one-fourth gallons gasoline and one gallon of oil4 ,the oil capacity of the small pan is four gallons2 of the large pan1 six gallons4 ,testing and ,power3 ,each engine is given an extended run with propeller load4 ,after giving the required standing thrust at the proper speed1 the engine is completely torn down for inspection and carbon removed4 ,after assembling1 it is given a second test on a water dynamometer1 which gives the horse-power developed4 ,miscellaneous3 ,few people realise that the aeronautical motor is subjected to usage equalled by few internal combustion engines4 ,the average car engine is seldom run on full throttle for extended periods4 ,the marine engine is ordinarily a very heavy1 slow speed machine4 ,the aeronautical motor1 to run at the high speeds under full load demanded to-day1 must of necessity be designed with this fact in mind1 and particular attention paid to numerous weaknesses apt to develop under this treatment4 ,adding to the above the necessity for minimum weight while still retaining a sufficient factor of safety in all parts1 it is evident that an aeronautical motor must be designed as such and not be a modified edition of an automobile engine with a few pounds removed here and there4 ,,parts ,,of ,,curtiss ,,motor-,a ,,complete ,,list4 #a-e1 ,breather ,pipe ,cap ,screw ,flange1 ,collar1 ,cap ,clip2 #f1 ,ball ,bearing 7,radial72 #g-h1 ,crank ,case1 ,upper ,half ,lower ,half2 #i-aj1 ,crank ,case ,bolt1 ,small ,large2 #aa1 ,crank ,shaft4 #ab1 ,cam ,shaft2 #ac-ae1 ,cam ,shaft ,bearing1 ,front1 ,centre1 ,rear2 #af1 ,cam ,shaft ,bearing ,sleeve1 ,rear2 #ag-ah1 ,cam ,shaft ,gear ,retaining ,screw2 #ai-bj1 ,cam ,shaft ,bearing ,clamping ,screw1 ,centre1 ,retaining ,screw2 #ba1 ,cam ,follower ,guide ,stud2 #bb1 ,cam ,follower ,guide ,screw2 #bc1 ,cam ,follower2 #bd-be1 ,cam ,follower ,guide ,plug4 #bf1 ,cylinder2 #bg1 ,cylinder ,tie ,down ,yoke2 #bh-bi1 ,cylinder ,stud1 ,long ,short2 #cj1 ,cylinder ,stud ,nut2 #ca-cb1 ,connecting ,rod ,bolt2 #cc1 ,connecting ,rod ,bolt ,nut2 #cd1 ,compression ,tee for ,oil ,pipe2 #ce1 ,compression ,coupling ,sleeve2 #cf-cg1 ,cable ,holder ,screw2 #ch-ci1 ,cable ,tube ,end2 #dj-da1 ,cable ,tube ,clip ,screw2 #db1 ,carburetor ,water ,pipe ,clip4 #dc1 ,exhaust ,inlet ,valve2 #dd1 ,exhaust ,valve ,spring2 #de1 ,felt ,oil ,retainer for ,rear ,thrust ,bearing2 #df1 ,felt ,oil ,retainer for ,magneto ,gear2 #dg1 ,gasket for ,intake ,manifold2 #dh-di1 ,gear ,case ,cover ,screw2 #ej1 ,gear ,cover ,packing ,nut2 #ea1 ,half ,time ,gear2 #eb1 ,intake ,pipe ,elbow2 #ec1 ,intake ,pipe with #b ,union ,nuts2 #ed-ef1 ,intake ,pipe ,y ,support ,base ,cap2 #eg-fb1 ,intake ,manifold1 ,bolt1 ,bolt ,nut1 ,cap ,screw1 ,union ,nut1 ,elbow ,cap ,screw2 #fc1 ,intake ,valve ,spring2 #fd1 ,magneto ,bracket2 #fe1 ,magneto ,gear2 #ff-fg1 ,magneto ,bracket ,cap ,screw1 ,large ,small2 #fh1 ,magneto ,base ,cap ,screw4 #fi1 ,main ,bearing ,stud ,nut2 #gj1 ,main ,bearing ,stud1 ,new2 #ga-gc1 ,main ,bearing ,cap1 ,front1 ,centre ,rear2 #gd-ge1 ,main ,bearing ,babbitt1 ,front1 ,upper1 ,lower2 #gf-gg1 ,main ,bearing ,babbitt1 ,centre1 ,upper ,lower2 #gh-gi1 ,main ,bearing ,babbitt1 ,rear1 ,upper1 ,lower2 #hj1 ,main ,bearing ,babbitt ,clamping ,screw2 #ha1 ,main ,bearing ,liner1 ,front ,rear2 #hb1 ,main ,bearing ,liner ,centre2 #hc1 ,main ,bearing ,liners4 #hd1 ,nipple for ,oil ,pump2 #he-hf1 ,oil ,pump ,leader ,gear ,shaft2 #hg-id1 ,oil ,pump ,follower ,gear1 ,cover1 ,drive ,pinion1 ,screen1 ,support ,bolt1 ,cover ,screw1 ,follower ,gear ,bushing1 ,shaft ,bushing2 #ie1 ,oil ,pipe for ,pump2 #if-ig1 ,oil ,pump ,compression ,coupling ,nut2 #ih-ii1 ,oil ,sight1 ,base ,glass2 #ajj-aja1 ,oil ,sight ,glass ,guard ,cap2 #ajb1 ,oil ,splash ,pan2 #ajc1 ,oil ,bleeder ,pipe2 #ajd1 ,oil ,bleeder ,pet ,cock4 #aje-ajg1 ,piston1 ,pin ,ring2 #ajh-aji1 ,pump ,packing ,nut1 ,large ,small2 #aaj-aad1 ,push ,rod1 ,end ,bearing ,pin ,lock ,screw1 ,spring1 ,spring ,support1 ,forked ,end1 ,end ,bearing ,pin2 #aae1 ,propeller ,bolt2 #aaf-aba1 ,rocker ,arm1 ,support1 ,bearing ,pin ,set ,screw1 ,tappet ,screw1 ,support ,cap ,screw1 ,bearing ,pin2 #abb-abd1 ,spark ,plug 7,herz7 ,gasket1-- ,wrench2 #abe-abi1 ,thrust ,bearing1 ,end ,clamp1 ,lock ,ring1 ,end ,clamp ,screw1 ,end ,clamp ,bolt1 ,end ,thread ,bolt ,nut2 #acj1 ,valve ,push ,rod2 #aca1 ,valve ,stem ,washer2 #acb1 ,valve ,stem ,lock ,washer4 #acc-ace1 ,water ,jacket1 ,inlet ,nut1 ,inlet2 #acf1 ,water ,pump2 #acg-adj1 ,water ,pump ,shaft1 ,support ,stud1 ,impeller1 ,driver2 #ada1 ,water ,pump ,friction ,sleeve2 #adb-adc1 ,water ,pump ,friction ,washer1 ,front ,rear2 #add-ade1 ,water ,pump ,bushing1 ,front ,rear2 #adf1 ,water ,pump ,gasket2 #adg-adi1 ,water ,pump ,universal ,joint ,member1 ,male1 ,female1 ,spring2 #aej-aea1 ,water ,pipe1 ,right ,hand1 ,bottom1 ,left ,hand1 ,bottom2 #aeb1 ,water ,pipe ,outlet ,elbow2 #aec-aef1 ,water ,outlet ,top ,pipes for ,cylinders4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,the ,,factory ,a visit to the ,curtiss factory is of interest to any one interested in machinery and there you will see the latest machines of all types1 from powerful milling machines to a delicate modern ,printograph that is almost human in its manner of getting out letters and printing1 for it is a cross between a printing press and a typewriter4 ,another unique machine is one that carves out propellers from a laminated block of wood4 ,one arm of this machine runs over a model1 and the other1 about two feet away1 arranged to move exactly with it1 and provided with a tool of cutting edge1 forms the propeller blade with absolute accuracy1 out of a block of wood placed parallel to the model4 ,the cutting tool follows all the complex changes in the surface of the wooden propeller with the greatest ease and rapidity4 ,the brazing room1 where the oxy-hydrogen torch is used to braze metal parts together1 and the room where they weld the water jackets on to the cylinders1 are places of special interest2 the nickel plating room1 japanning room1 and the room where painting and drying are done1 almost complete the tour of the various departments1 but there still remain the wood-working shop1 boat shop1 assembling rooms1 where the aeroplanes are put together and completely set up1 and the motor testing room1 where motors are run for whole days1 ten hours at a time1 driving an air propeller and showing on scales the amount of thrust given at all times4 ,here you may also see a machine to make brake tests of the motors1 by which is told how much horse-power the motors give4 ,this machine consists of a large drum with a brake fixed against it and cooled by water so it will not get too hot4 ,this brake absorbs the energy of the motor1 which is measured by an arrangement of scales and lever arms4 ,there is a tremendous racket when the big motors are running at full speed in this small room1 and the hillside rings with the roar of their fiery exhaust4 ,in the laboratory of the factory1 where the designs and drawings are made1 there is one of the most interesting pieces of apparatus in the whole plant4 ,this is a wind tunnel1 where models of aeroplanes are tested and where experiments are tried to see what occurs in the stream of air4 ,here tests are made which assist in determining what the best form and shape of objects such as upright posts and exposed parts shall be and where a measure of their relative resistances may be made4 ,the tunnel itself consists of a square box with a propeller or fan mounted at one end to create a draft or current of air which passes through a screen to cause it to assume uniform motion4 ,there is a window in the tunnel through which the observer can see the action of the objects to be tested4 ,varying the speed of the fan varies the speed of the air current and its pressure1 and in this manner the stream-lines of air under the varying conditions and the effect upon models of different forms and shapes may be studied to enable refinements to be made in the aeroplane's construction4 ,down on the shore of ,lake ,keuka1 about a half mile from the factory1 are the aeroplane sheds and the flying field4 ,here is where the aviation school is situated1 and where flyers are made4 ,over the smooth field1 the pupils start with the four-cylinder grass cutters1 or machines hobbled so they cannot get but a little way off the ground4 ,they hop1 hop1 hop1 almost all day long1 one after the other taking regular turns1 and now and again varying the monotony by being called away by the flying instructor to take a real flight in the hydroaeroplane out over the lake to get accustomed to the upper air1 and to the high speed of the big machine4 ,later in his course of instruction1 the student takes out an eight-cylinder machine and flies around in circles over the field until he is able to take the test for his ,aero ,club of ,america ,license1 which requires him to make two series of figure eights around two pylons fifteen hundred feet apart1 landing each time within one hundred and fifty feet of a mark and rising to an altitude greater than two hundred feet4 ,this is the goal of the novice1 and after his test1 the student is ready to fly as far and as fast as he likes4 ,he has become the complete airman4 #a ,it is interesting to note that ,lieutenant ,frank ,p4 ,lahm1 the sole ,american entrant for the ,gordon ,bennett ,balloon ,cup in #aijf2 ,mr4 ,edgar ,mix1 the only representative of ,america in the balloon contest in #aiji1 and ,mr4 ,charles ,weymann1 the only entrant from ,america in the ,gordon ,bennett ,aviation ,cup race of #aiaa1 held in ,england1 all won4 #b ,tod ,shriver1 or ,slim as he was known to all ,american aviators because he was very tall and slender1 went to ,rheims as a mechanic before taking up flying himself4 ,he was successful as an aviator and accompanied ,captain ,thomas ,baldwin to the ,orient in the spring and summer of #aiaa4 ,this trip created great excitement among the ,chinese1 who had never seen the foreign devils fly before4 ,captain ,baldwin tells a story of the crowd that witnessed the flights in ,tokyo1 ,japan1 which he describes as numbering seven hundred thousand persons6 ,in proof of this he states that advices received from ,japan in the spring of #aiab report that the crowd had not entirely dispersed even at that time6 ,tod ,shriver flew in many places in the ,united ,states and in the winter of #aiaa met his death in ,puerto ,rico4 ,he fell while flying at ,ponce4 ,his death was a shock to his many friends4 ,note by ,,augustus ,,post4 #c ,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,while flying in the ,chicago meet we had four machines in the air at once4 ,i was a novice at flying then but entered the air while the other fellows were flying around4 ,circling the track ,i was just passing the grand stand when ,willard swooped down in front of me having passed right over my head4 ,i clung on to the steering post and held the wheel as firmly as ,i could while to my great consternation the machine rocked and swayed fearfully in the back draft from ,willard's propeller4 ,he kept doing the ,dutch ,roll and the ,coney ,island ,dip right in front of me1 which made it all the worse1 as the wash of the propeller wake would strike above and below my machine as he pitched up and down in front of me4 ,i stood it as best ,i could1 hardly daring to breathe but holding my course and balancing with all my might1 until ,willard turned off1 and then after a bit ,i made a good landing4 ,when ,willard came down he rushed up to me and grabbed me by the hand and said1 ,oh1 ,post6 will you ever forgive me for that8 ,i ought to have known better than to back-wash you but you know ,i thought you were ,ely1 and ,i wanted to scare him6-,a4 ,p4 #d ,,note ,,by ,,augustus ,,post ,an interesting story is told of how the hydroaeroplane came to be invented4 ,during the period when he was planning a new series of experiments1 ,mr4 ,curtiss1 accompanied by ,mrs4 ,curtiss1 attended a ,new ,york theatre in which there was being presented a play much talked about just then4 ,the curtain went up on the first act1 and the noted aviator was apparently enjoying the show when1 just as the scene was developing one of its most interesting climaxes1 he turned to ,mrs4 ,curtiss and said3 ,i've got it4 ,on the theatre program he had sketched what ultimately became the design of the hydroaeroplane4 ,this is like a time when ,mr4 ,curtiss was standing one day by the side of one of his motorcycles talking with a customer4 ,he kept turning one of the grips of the handle-bar with his fingers while talking and after finishing the conversation went into his office and developed the idea of a handle-control which had come to him while apparently absorbed in conversation4-,a4 ,p4 #e ,the fame of the hydroaeroplane has reached the ,orient and a demonstration was recently given at ,tokyo1 ,japan1 for the benefit of the ,japanese ,army and ,navy officials by ,mr4 ,w4 ,b4 ,atwater1 of ,new ,york4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,atwater are on a tour of the world1 carrying with them two ,curtiss hydroaeroplanes and giving demonstrations of a practical character before the military authorities of all the countries en route4 ,on ,saturday1 ,may #aath1 #aiab1 he made three flights at ,tokyo1 the first hydro flights ever seen in the ,orient4 ,there was a great gathering of military men to witness the flights1 among them ,prince ,kwacho1 representing the ,japanese ,imperial ,family2 ,admiral ,saito1 ,minister of the ,imperial ,navy1 and ,vice-,admiral ,uryu4 ,according to the statement of the ,japan ,advertiser the ,japanese ,navy has followed the example of ,russia1 and forwarded to ,america an order for four ,curtiss hydroaeroplanes4-,a4 ,p4 #f ,the first start from a roof-top was made on ,june #ab1 #aiab1 when ,silas ,christoferson in a ,curtiss biplane rose from a platform built on the roof of the ,hotel ,multnomah1 ,portland1 ,ore41 and flew safely away4-,,augustus ,,post4 #g ,a very important service was rendered only a short time ago by the hydroaeroplane which might easily have served to save a human life if the accident had been more serious than it actually was4 ,mr4 ,hugh ,robinson the instructor of the ,curtiss hydroaeroplane school was having ,sunday dinner at the hotel in ,hammondsport1 where ,dr4 ,p4 ,l4 ,alden1 one of the well-known physicians of that place1 was also eating dinner1 when the doctor received a telephone message that ,mr4 ,edwin ,petrie's little son had fallen from the steps of the ,urbana ,wine ,company at ,urbana1 five miles down the lake1 and had a compound fracture of his thigh with a serious hemorrhage4 ,it was a very serious injury and the little fellow was in intense pain1 and ,mr4 ,petrie asked the doctor to come as quickly as he possibly could4 ,dr4 ,alden realised the urgency of the situation and knew that delay might mean serious results from hemorrhage1 so he went immediately over to ,mr4 ,robinson and asked if he would take him across the lake in the hydroaeroplane right away4 ,mr4 ,robinson said1 ,i will be ready in five minutes2 just as soon as you can get over to the field4 ,dr4 ,alden got his bandages and instruments and hurried down to the shed where ,mr4 ,robinson had already gotten out the hydro2 he jumped in and they were off without a moment's delay4 ,they covered the five miles in five minutes1 at times running on the surface of the lake because the wind was blowing so strong2 as they ran up on the beach the doctor jumped out and hastened to his patient4 ,the boy was so much interested in the fact that he was the first patient to be treated by a hydroaeroplane doctor1 and so fascinated at hearing ,dr4 ,alden tell about the trip1 that he forgot for the moment the seriousness of his condition and allowed the doctor to reduce the fracture without an anesthetic4 ,when all that could be done just then had been done1 ,dr4 ,alden and ,mr4 ,robinson returned in the hydroaeroplane as rapidly as they had come on their errand of humanity1 and at last accounts young ,mr4 ,petrie was getting well as fast as he could so he could have a ride in the hydroaeroplane himself6-,,augustus ,,post4 #h ,in ,july1 #aiab1 ,captain ,beck was granted by the ,war ,department the title of ,military ,aviator2 the first time that any ,american has been given this title1 which implies finished skill in both aviation and military tactics1 and for which all the army aviators are to qualify4-,,augustus ,,post4 #i ,mr4 ,post is not only intimately connected with the development of the aeroplane but also one of the most capable practical balloon-pilots in the world4 ,mr4 ,post accompanied ,mr4 ,allan ,r4 ,hawley in ,october1 #aiaj1 when the balloon ,america ,,ii1 representing the ,united ,states1 broke the world's competition record and won the ,gordon ,bennett balloon cup by sailing one thousand one hundred seventy-two miles from ,st4 ,louis to ,lake ,tschotogama1 in the wilds of ,quebec4 ,the trip took forty-six hours4 ,this record still stands as ,american distance record4 ,mr4 ,post also holds1 with ,mr4 ,clifford ,b4 ,harmon1 the ,american endurance record of forty-eight hours1 twenty-six minutes4-,,the ,,publishers4 #aj ,ralph ,johnstone said in a conversation about experiences while learning to fly1 ,i learned to fly all right but one day when ,i was up in the air pretty high ,i seemed to forget all about it and how to operate the controls4 ,i tried them and tested how they worked and it seemed to me that ,i learned all over again1 but it did seem funny to me for just a few minutes4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,beatty said1 ,when ,i was flying at ,chicago1 in the contest for duration1 when the weather was calm1 and ,i had nothing else to do but sit and think while the machine flew on1 round and round1 lap after lap1 ,i would look out at a wire and watch it as it vibrated and wonder if it was possible for it to break1 while ,i realised that ,i could not get out to fix it4 ,this worried me more than flying in a high wind4 ,it seems more natural for me to fly than not to4 ,i have been in the air on an average of two hours every day for over a year4 #aa ,to indicate the exact technical knowledge required in building an aeroplane1 a matter quite apart from the obvious dash and daring of the aviator1 nothing seems more adequate than to include the list of aeroplane and motor parts4-,,the ,,publishers4