| The Aeronautic Society of New York |
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resulted in the reduction of the transportation charges on balloons by one half; and he opened an agitation for the government control of the licensing of balloon pilots. J. A. Moller designed the Society's Emblem, and has turned out a very handsome club pin. A large number of designs were submitted, and that of Mr. Moller was voted the best by a very large majority. Louis R. Adams turned out a glider on a new and valuable principle, and greatly promoted the interest in the classses at the West Side Y. M. C. A. by the presentation of a silver cup for a model contest. C. J. Hendrickson has carried the art of gliding to a high point by his continued experiments. The Brothers Witteman have been able to convert it into a large business. Those who have taken out patents, and those who have machines in embryo, are now too numerous to mention. So also are those who have produced valuable models. Some ballooning has also been done, and five members, Dr. Greene, Mr. Kimball, Dr. J. P. Thomas, Leo Stevens, and A. Meixner, made the New England ballooning record of 175 miles in 5 hrs. 59 min. One of the greatest accomplishments of the year by a member was that brought off by William J. Hammer, to whose great personal influence and tact, and his long and close friend- ship with the Brothers Wright was entirely due those magnificent demonstrations of flight made during the Hudson-Fulton celebration, which thrilled the ditizens of New York and stirred the whole world, when Wilbur Wright made his remarkable flights around Gov- |
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ernor's Island, around the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and finally, on October 4th, 1909, when he made his epoch-marking flight of over twenty miles from Governor's Island up the Hudson River to Grant's Tomb and back in 33 minutes and 33 seconds time, landing within a few feet of the spot he had started from. The difficult task of negotiation with the famous aviator, as well as the negotiations with Glenn H. Curtiss, were wholly carried out by Mr. Hammer, as Secretary and expert of the Hudson-Fulton Commission Aeronautic Committee, and the City of New York and the world of aviation owes him a great debt of gratitude for the success which his patient persistence brought about. Dr. Greene made a set of historical models illustrating the art right back to the earliest efforts of the Chinese, which was the most valuable and interesting feature at the Madison Square Garden Exhibition. Lawrence E. Dare constructed and sent out for exhibition around the country two collections of models. |
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