Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1894 — Dr. Pynchon’s Dynamite Air Ship [ARTICLE]

Dr. Pynchon’s Dynamite Air Ship

Chlcago Daily Tribune Dr. Edwin Pynchon, the dentist, told the members of the Western Society of Engineers last night that the coming aerial ship would maintain a speed of 200 miles an hour and afford cheaper transportation than any method of terrestrial locomotion. Dr. Pynchon said he was the ii> ventor of an aerial ship to be propelled by the detonation of high explosives. He gave a description of aerial planes and the principles upon which they will sustain great weights in the atmosphere. He described his vessel, which he said would be similar to that now being built by Maxim, with the exception of the method of propulsion. The Doctor’s principle is the discharge of dynamite cartridges through tubes extending to the rear of the air ship. These cartridges would be discharged under a detonating plate and the electricity of the air would act in pushing tjje. ship forward. Tbs principle was the same as that of the explosion oraynamite on fixed bodies the destructive character of the discharge being converted into motive power by the atmosphere acting as a cushion. He said the steering apparatus would have to be placed in front of the vessel because of ths condensation of the air at that point. He said it would cost $1.20 a minute to move his air ship, and at the rate of 200 miles an hour it would make the expense of a passage over the ocean about SI,OOO. The vessel would carry twenty-five passengers, thus providing cheaper transportation than steamers. The address was listened to by 150 engineers.