1901-08-19, New York Herald

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.