1901-08-19, Boston Transcript

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.