Hydro-Aeroplane - Lake Maxinkuckee 1914

Hyro-Aeroplance Tests In Progress on Maxinkuckee

All of Culver and a considerable portion of the surrounding country has been deeply interesed in the hydro-plane which the Shaw Aeroplace Co. of Indianapolis brought here last THursday.

This company has been engaged in the manufature of aeroplanes for a number of years, but the machine brought to Lake MAxinkuckee is the first water and air ship which the company has constructed, and it embraces some features that are original and not found in other machines.

Accompanying the machine are: B. R> Shaw, L. L. Boyer, H. A. Noftager and Harry Johnson - the last-named being the inspector for the Johnson Morotr Co. of Terre Haute.

Mr. Shaw is an experienced aviator, and the youngest professional flying man in the country. He commenced hadling air ships seven years ago when he was but 14 years of age.

The Shaw ship is a nhandsom piece of construction. Its. outlines are symmetrical and it has the clean-cut proportions of a carrier-pigeon as though real mechanices ahd fashioned it in all its. parts. The engine is a 6-cylinder, 100 horse pwoer and is a beuty. The car containing the engine and seats for an operater and one passenger is designed like a boat. The market price of the ship is $7,000.

On Monday afternoon the first tryout was had. The motor was started, and the propeller roaringly whirled at the rate of upwards of 1400 revolutions per minute, the ship slide off the skids and out upon the glassy surface of the lake attaining apparently a speed of 25 or 30 miles an hour.

Pilot Shaw, accompanied by Inspector Johnson, steered a course straight out to a line opposite Long Point, then made a graceful curve and came back to the shore with the water foaming high against the prow of the gallant little craft.

The maiden trip had ever appearance of being a complete success. No attempt was made to rise from the water, though Shaw expressed confidence that the ship will sail the air as easily as the water. This will come later after a slight repair has been made of the propleller.

Meantime the experiments are expected to conotinue for some time possibly two or three weeks. - 5 Nov 1914 - Citizen