1901-10-06, Le Journal de L'Acétylène, p.318 (France)
Translation from French:
AN AVIATOR ON ACETYLENE
The New York correspondent of the Daily Mail reports that Mr. Gustave
Whitehead, the inventor of the famous self-propelled torpedoes, has just
invited a machine which combines an automobile with an aeroplane. The total engine power, including an acetylene gas generator and a motor, with fuel for 20 hours weighs
approximately 2 kg per horse power. In an experiment that was recently done in Bridgeport, Mr. Whitehead drove along a macadam road at a speed of 20 miles per hour, even reaching 30 miles per hour
over short stretches. After that, he opened the valves of the machine which powers the propellers and climbed to a height of 16 meters. After having navigated for
half a mile, Mr. Whitehead landed safely without incident. The machine of about 5.2 meters in length looks like a huge bat [not knowing what that word
appearing in the Daily Mail meant, the French journalist appears to have consulted a dictionary, found
a translation of the word “bat” and added…] of a kind used to play cricket. Mr. Whitehead states that his machine has not concluded the experimental phase. But he
says he has reduced the weight of his engine by about 75% over other engines currently in use. As soon as time permits, new experiments of greater duration will be conducted. Is there anybody left
who dares to state that the acetylene engine has no future?
PERRAULT