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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, Semptember 19, 1903
Aviation History, March 1996
Air Enthusiast 35, January 1988
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Reprint From New York Herald, August 19, 1901
INVENTORS IN PARTNERSHIP TO SOLVE PROBLEM OF AERIAL NAVIGATION
Gustave Whitehead Travels Half a Mile in Flying Machine Operated
by a New Acetylene Chemical Pressure, Lessening Motor Power Weight
Seventy-Five Per Cent
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Sunday. With the purpose in view of perfecting
a flying machine that will solve the problem of aerial navigation
to the point -of commercial success, Gustave Whitehead, of this
city, and W. D. Custead, of Waco Texas, have formed a partnership.
Both men are inventors.
Mr. Whitehead last Tuesday night, with two assistants, took his
machine to a long field back of Fairfield and the inventor; for
the first time flew in his machine for half a mile. It worked
perfectly, and the operator found no difficulty in handling it
Mr. 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 work.
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. Mr. Custead's airship rises
vertically from the ground, and requires no running start, as
Mr. Whitehead's does, before the ascent is made.
But the hopes of the inventors for success are pinned to a new
pressure generator which Mr. 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 in contact
with a chemical preparation. This produces a powerful and even
piston pressure. The chemical preparation is the secret of the
new generator and- Mr. Whitehead will not reveal the ingredients.
He has applied for patents. This new generator will, it is maintained
by both inventors, lessen the weight of motor power 75 per cent.
Mr. Custead is backed by several Texas and Southern capitalists
for the manufacture of the new airship. The company is capitalized
at $100,000. Mr. Custead is now in New York. The good points of
both inventors' flying machines will be included in the new machine,
and this combination, with the new acetylene chemical pressure
generator, it is believed, will produce the desired results in
the way of a flying machine.
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