Prize for Airships.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13337, 13 July 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

Prize for Airships.

IWbTS (HJVERXIXU CONTEST FOR FLYIXG MACHINES AT JA.MKSTOWX. Many entiLs have Ikch made, for the competition at Jamestown for flying niafhint* of the heavier-than-air type, which will begin September 14. A special comsnittee of thy Aero Club of Amvrka, appointed for the purpose, has formulated provisional roles to govern the contests, for which "The Scientific American" bus offered a trophy. This offer is to remain open to the" inventors throughout the world. Should it be won by a representative of a foreign aeronautic club, tlilf ■club, if it is a. member of the- Federation Aeronautique Internationale, may biconw the custodian of the trophy ; but the future competitions, even if held abroad, which is unlikely, must be conducted under -the same rules, and conditions prescribed by the Aero Club of America in the competitions held here. The mles governing the competition are as follows: This competition will be held annually. The first contest, will be held at the Jamestown exposition on September 14, 1907. All entries for this contest, must be made in writing and sent to the secretary of the Aero Club in America. No. 12 East 42d street. New York Citv, prior to September 1, 1907. AQ heavier-than-air machines of any typ3 ■whatever (aeroplanes?, helicopters, orthopters. etc.) shall be on tit led to compete for the trophy; but all machines carrying a balloon or "gas containing envelope for purposes of support are excluded from the competition. The machine which accomplishes the required flight in the shortest time and with the best, display of stability and ease «>f control, shall be" declared the winner. Jf several machines perfom equally well, the. committee shall have the right to demand further flights to -determine which is best. If no machine makes the required flight on the day set for the contest, the; one that subsequently first accomplishes such, flight shall ba declared the winner, and shall not ba entitled to make a fnrthur flight until the next year, under the changed of the contest-. The flights shall be made in calm air, if possible. If a wind of over twenty miks an hour is blowing no trial need be made. Aeroplanes may start by running along on -wheels on the ground under their own power, but no special track or launching device will be permitted. A smooth, level roadway or a reasonably smooth, turfed field TviQ be provided from which to make the start. Machines need not fly more than a few fest above the ground or higher than is necessary to avoid obstacles. They should be capable of being steered both horizontically and vertically and of alighting without- being damaged. If there is a wind blowing, it shall be made in such direction as best suits each operator. The start preferably should be made against the -wind. The committee shall make arrangements to accurately time and measure all flights. Complete specifications of the competing machines, giving weight, supporting surface, details of motors and propellers, etc., together with a description of any performance that the machine has made, shall be forwarded to the contest committee with the entry or when application is made . for a trial. Any one desirous< of making a flight at any subsequent tftne can arrange for such a test by communicating with the contest committee.of the Aero Club of America at least fourteen days in- advance, and asking this committee to agpoinj: a suitable time and place for tnVtrial. If the committee believes the machine to .be unpractical, it can require the inventor either to prove the incorrectness of such belief by an informal demonstration with the machine iteelf, or by demonstration in some other satisfactory way which will show that the machine is -operative. The first flight shall be for a distance of one kilometre (3280 feet) in a straightline. After every competition the name of the ■winner will be inscribed upon the trophy. If it is won three times in different years - by any competitor, the trophy will then become his personal property.