AVIATION TRIALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9626, 19 October 1909, Page 5

AVIATION TRIALS.

AT DONCASTER.

GREAT ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED.

United Press Association—By Electric Telejraph Copyright.

Received October 18, B.IR a.m. LONDON. October 17.

The weather was fine yesterday for the Doncaster aviation trials, which commenced in the presence

of a great crowd. M. Delagrange, aboard a Bleriot monoplane, covered five miles and ahalf in Hi minutes. Mr Somer, on a Farman. bi-plane, did the distance in the same time Great enthusiasm was displayed on the appearance of Mr S. F. Cody. After successful trial flights, the wheels of his bi plane caught on the ground while the machine was turning a corner, and tne aeroplane overturned Mr Cody was cut about the head, but his injuries are not serious, and he hopes to fly on Tuesday. Received October 18, 10 30 p.m. LONDON, October 18. The aviators at Doncaster are using ihe Saint Leger course. between 50,000 and 100,000 spectators were present when Mi Cody's biplane overturned. M. Delagrange jumped from the of his mono plane to assist him.

Frenchmen consider Mr Cody's biplane too big. The wind blew generally at the rate of 15 miles an hour, arid increased to 25 miles, causing a suspension of the flying. Mr Sommer made the longest flight, viz., 91 miles. He also carried a passenger for a short distance.

"In ten years flying machines will be used to carry maik. They will carry passengers, too, and they will go at a pseed of 100 miles an hour Thare is no doubt ot this." These words ara those of Mr EJison. quoted in an interview published in a New York paper," says the "Times" (London). "But while he is sure that the 'flying machine has got to come,' he is not at all sure that it will come along the lines pursued in the present experiment , 'The flying problem now consists of 75 per cent, machine and 25 per cent, man,' he said, 'while to be commercially successful the flying machine must leave little to the peculiar skill of the operator aid nvjst be able to go out in all weathers.' He continued: 'lf I were to build a flying macine I would sustain it by me ins of a number of rapidly re volving inclin?d planes, the. effect of which would be to raise the machine by compressing the air between the planea and the earth. Such a machine would rise from the ground as a bird does. Then I would drive the machine ahead wi'h a propeller ' Mr Edison believes ic is a question of power. 'ls it not thinkable that a method will covered of wirelessl? transmitting electrical enerery from the earth to thet motor of the machine in mid-air? He asked and answered his own question, saying: 'There is no reason to disb. lieve that it ca-.i and will be done.* He added, that there was great room for imrpvement in explosive engines, 'Any day we are iik,ely to read that somebody had made picric acid or something else work—done some little thi.ig that will transform thj flying machine from a toy into a commercial success.' And when it is perfected, he says, the flying machine may end war by becoming a means of attack that cannot be resisted."'