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Scientific American, June 08, 1901
Boston Transcript, August 19, 1901
New York Herald, August 19, 1901
American Inventor letters to the editor penned by Whitehead and
editorial responses April, 1902
The Aeronautic World, May, 1903
Scientific American, September 19, 1903
Aviation History, March 1996
Air Enthusiast 35, January 1988
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Reprint From Boston Transcript, August 19, 1901
An Airship Partnership
Whitehead of Bridgeport and Custead of
Texas Expect Much From an
Acetylene motor
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Aug. 19. With a view to perfecting a flying
machine for commercial purposes Gustave Whitehead of this city,
and W. D. Custead of Waco Texas, have formed a partnership. Both
are inventors. Whitehead has a flying machine and Custead an airship.
Last week Whitehead flew in his machine half a mile. Whitehead's
machine is equipped with two engines, one to propel it on the
ground, on wheels, and the other to make the wings, or propellers,
go. In order to fly the machine is speeded to a sufficient momentum
on the ground by the lower engine, and then the engine running
the propellers is started, which raises the machine in the air
at an angle of about six degrees. Custead's airship rises vertically
from the ground and requires no running start, but the hopes of
both inventors are pinned to a new pressure generator which Whitehead
has invented. He has demonstrated that the generator will work,
for he used it to furnish power for both of his engines at the
trial of his machine last Tuesday. Calcium carbide is used as
fuel. By a series of rapid explosions the acetylene gas is forced
into chambers where it comes into contact with a chemical preparation.
This produces a powerful and even piston pressure. The chemical
preparation is the secret of the new generator, and Whitehead
will not reveal the ingredients. This new generator will it is
claimed by both inventors, lessen the weight of motor power 75
per cent. Mr. Custead is backed by a number of Texas and Southern
capitalists for the manufacture of the new airship. The company
is capitalized at $100,000.
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