The Billboard 1913-03-22: Vol 25 Iss 12 (1913-03-22)

= h BY 208 ft) eae a g ne ; a * v > f 7 P, 4 ‘ s — h a , , on . : “ f * ’ ae , f J ip ; & ) : 7 i. The Billboard | 4 MARCH 22, 1913, Aeroplane as an Attraction By Sam DuVries One of the main attractions at all outdoor events, but in particulur at the fairs, is the aeroplane, which, altho always a big drawing card, has been gaining popularity by such gigantic Strides that it is now a feature event anywhere. That the aircraft, a comparativly recent invention in this age of wonderful scientific discoveries, has won a permanent place as the one big attraction at any kind of a gathering, and that it has come to stay is now an assured fact, which the great interest manifested in the flights readily proves. Now that flights are being made often and with a considerable degree of success, there is hardly a fair in the country, no matter how small it may be, where an aeroplane is not scheduled to ascend into the air where its movements resemble the bird. It is not many years since the time when few people believed that this wonderful feat could be accomplisht, but modern science has conquered all difficulties and invented a machine which can do almost unbelievable stunts in the atmosfere with no aid whatever but its own power and the daring skill of the plucky aviators. Aeroplane filghts have become such an important feature at fairs that they have come to be recognized as a great element which makes these gatherings a success. For this reason there were few fairs held last year' where an aircraft did not appear daily to electrify the crowds with thrilling ascensions until the machine was almost lost from view only to appear again, coming down with a dip which almost took the people’s breath away. It is a well-known fact that when aeroplane events are advertised to take place at a fair or any other outdoor event, that the attendance is double what it would have been had this feature not been included in the program. Junst as automobile speed programs diverted the popular in Ki safety. For the reason that the aeroplanes were rapidly being perfected the aviators were able to do more stunts in the air, and as a result the air pilots made wonderful progress in their skill. One of the innovations to be introduced this year which shows the markt change which is being made in the aeroplanes is the new Tractor biplane. In this model the aviator will be seated in the rear of the machine and behind the planes and motor, as well as nearly every important part of the craft. This is a wonderful improvement, for it will enable the aviator to have a view of the entire machine and he can tell the moment that any part of the aeroplane gets out of order and when the machine is not working as it should. In addition to this it will undoubtedly materially lessen the danger of accidents, for in case of a mishap the pilot will not stand such a big risk as when his motor was located in the rear of the machine. is that it can make the shortest of turns which makes it practical to enter it to race directly over a track with automobiles and motorcycles, but with much greater speed than the other machines. A race of this kind is most exciting and spectacular, A proof that the aeroplane is fast coming to be regarded as practical is found in the fact that they are heing used by the governments as a part of the army, and they will undoubtedly become an important factor in revolutionizing the warfare of the future. Army aeroplane maneuvers form a novel exhibition, well worth seeing, as anyone who has witnest them will testify. Great progress is being made in this line of aviation, and not many years are likely to elapse before sham battles of the most spectacular kind, will be held in the air. In every locality where there is a body of water such as a river, lake, or even a smaller stretch of water, the hydroaeroplane and the hydroboat are fast coming to be regarded as the craft of the future. Even at this time they are taking the place of the pleasure launch as a means of travel, and it is expected that they will soon succeed the old boat. Up to date the monoplanes have not proven as reliable as other machines for exhibition purposes, and they have been impractical for anything but ordinary flying, as the improvements made on the other aircrafts have not been made on this model. As a result the spectacular feats done by the other machines were an impossibility with a monoplane. The Deperdussin machine, which captured the Gordon-Pennett cup race, gives every indication of being the most improved and practical of any monoplane, and as it is the simplest craft the chances of accident to it are greatly lessened. Altho the Americans were the terest from horse racing, so the os aeroplane has succeeded the auto, until at the present time flights are one of the most popular of any attraction. At the outset the aeroplane was used merely for exhibition purposes, this being the case for some time. Later it was but natural that there should be a demand to see what the machines could do in the air and to see whether they could really conquer the atmosfere. In spite of the fact that for a time a large number failed to get off the ground, they became more and more reliable, and as a result they were successful in ascending from a field under reasonably favorable conditions. Of course, windy and stormy weather proved a big handicap and little progress could be made under those conditions, but this was to be expected. as a frail craft of this kind in the air would be working under the most adverse conditions. As the years passed, however, the more daring aviators went up in spite of the fact that the atmosferic conditions were all against them, and some wonderful flights were made in windy weather last year. Fecord crowds witnest the exhibitions in every instance, and whereever fiving was possible every person left the field more than satisfied with the wonderful display of skill and daring on the part of the aviator and expressing the greatest admiration for a machine which was capable of conquering the air. Last year saw the machines equipt with many improvements which had been made on the crafts of 1911. many more new devices being a1ded than ever hefore. thus proving that the aeroniane is rapidiv nearing perfection and the time when flights can be made with almost absolute A NEW CURTISS MACHINE. With double the carrying capacity of the old aeroplane the new Tractor biplane will be able to safely hold and transport two or three passengers, which will, in itself, be a novelty for it was seldom that the aviator formerly took anyone with him on his flights because of the great danger that would be incurred. Another stunt, which will probably be seen this year, is the novel one of a marriage in an aerop‘ane in the same way as it was formerly accomplisht in a balloon, and, indeed, this may become common within a few years’ time. Another feature which bids fair to become a favorite with the introduction of the new machine, is the parachute jump from a biplane. This achievement is made practical by the Tractor, and the person who is to do the feat can be dropt from any height and at any place desired, so the event will be much more thrilling and spectacular than if done from a hotair balloon. A machine of much more stability than the old models, the Tractor can fly in practically any kind of a wind successfully. Another feature of this aereplane is that it can ascend from a rough and small field. an almost impossible feat heretofore, and it will also alight safely. This fact will enable aviators who are less capable and daring than the peerless Lincoln Peachey. who has a world-wide reputation as an air pilot. to perform such feats as the spiral, glide, volplane, as well as many other novel stunts, which they were formerly unable to accomplish. Another of the many advantages of a machine of this kind pioneers in building the rotary air-cooled motor and wonderfu! improvements have been made on them, the foreign motor has proven the most reliable. At the present time al! our best motors are imported from France, where they are manufactured by Gnome. and a duty of 40 per cent is paid on them. This is done in spite of the fact that our motors have heen wonderfully perfected and that a number of them hold world’s records for continuous flying of a biplane, but for exhibition purnoses the foreign motor has shown itself to be superior. There is certain to be a markt advance in aviation this year as the aviators are receiving the best of training. There are now four reliable aeroplane schools in the South and in California this year, whereas there was but one last vear, and these institutions are turning out aviators who have a thoro knowledge of the most up-to-date variety of the science of aviation. With their knowledge there men will do much to improve flying, an4 to make it more Interectine thon ever before, for they will introduce new and nove! feats, which, for sheer daring and skill. will be unsurpassed in the history of science. They will also have a thoro knowledge of the improved machines, and as a result the public will toke even more interest than formerly tn aviation, which has come to be recognized as the hest available exhibition. This assertion is mate without fear of contradiction. as past events have shown that It is true. As an example of this, the crowds which witnest the aviation meet in Chicago In 1912 far outnumbered those that gathere1 to see the flights (Continued on page 148.)