1930’S U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS FILM
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Year Published: 1920’
Format: 16mm
Description: This pre-war U.S. Army Air Corps film presents footage of experimental planes and flying contraptions from the 1920’s through the 1930’s. The collection was assembled by the US Army Air Corps (:17) and Paramount News presents the first newsreel (:37). Vehicles are seen riding down a public highway in Coatesville, Pennsylvania (:41). A glider type craft swoops in through the crowds and cars (:44). It is then seen in a field with it’s turntable wings spun by the inventor (:58). Pathe News presents D. T. Granville demonstrating his tail first plane in Springfield, Massachusetts (1:46). The craft is driven by automobile controls (1:57). The wheel is adjusted to show how it controls the rudders and ailerons (2:05). The plane takes off and flies with it’s tail facing forward (2:14). A Universal Newspaper Newsreel (2:34) brings the film to Orangeburg, New York. A windmill type flying craft is seen (2:41) invented by Johnathan Caldwell. The craft, named Gray Goose (3:09), is unable to take off from the ground. Harvest Metrotone News presents a tubular plane (3:25). It is shown in Milan and it’s rudders are viewed from the back of the cylindrical plane with long flat wings (3:32). Another craft presented by Harvest is the C. L. Synder plane in South Bend, Indiana (4:05). The craft is shown to be fairly similar to more modern air planes except for the long wing extensions which make it appear to represent a butterfly (4:26). Due to its shape, in the event of motor failure, it could be flown as a glider (4:35). Paramount News (4:58) shows a spindle plane invented by C. Popper (5:14). Popper gives an explanation as to how the spindles work (8:23). It is wingless and the larger spindles are the main lifting lifters (5:32). The spindles are shown to be revolving and creating a lifting vacuum above (5:48). A Universal Newspaper Newsreel shows a craft known as the "potato bug" (6:16) which is seen flying low over a crop field (6:27). The pilot waves and steps from the cockpit at (6:51). In Greenville, Illinois a plane with a large circular top mount heads down a runway for take off (7:05). It moves over the country side (7:14) and lowers smoothly due to the flat circular top side (7:23). A tailless plane is seen in Glendale, California (7:41) with only a cockpit and wings. The craft takes off (7:58). A device on the wingtips controls the craft’s direction (8:13). In Czechoslovakia, Unzez Chalupsky is seen with his model plane (8:22). The contraption is seen flapping it’s wings (8:36) and taking off (8:44). A self-flying plane is presented by Pathe News in Glendale California (8:56). It’s stabilizers are pointed to (9:04). The pilot is viewed as he steps from the cockpit (9:13). The automatic controls are seen in action (9:18). The pilot stands on the fuselage (9:24). Another Universal Newsreel shows an aero-bike (9:41). In Baltimore, the pilot pedals to move the wings (9:46). The craft is unable to take off (10:03). In Paris, France a pilot climbs into an elliptical plane (10:25). The tail is shown to stick up from the middle (10:30). Willard E. Blain conducts tests on his ornithopter in New London, Connecticut (11:10). Willard addresses the camera with the invention on his back as he believed it would enable him to fly as a bird (11:26). He jumps from a bridge over water (11:43) and drops straight into the waterway (11:47). He tests it again as he runs to jump from a rock, though he comically lands on his frontside (12:11). W. P. Kindree and his ‘sky car’ are presented by Hearst in Detroit (12:14). The inventor and machine follow (12:29). As the craft is started up, it simply jostles violently up and down without taking off (13:41). A butcher is shown in Van Nuys, California demonstrating his rocket device (14:37). The device blows (14:40) and the butcher’s bicycle glider is then shown at the Metropolitan airport (14:50). A dog collar is attached around his neck which was supposed to enable him to help the wings flap (15:11). As his helpers run behind him and light the power plant (15:27), the bike tips over and the butcher’s pants catch fire (15:57).
Complete Record: This pre-war U.S. Army Air Corps film presents footage of experimental planes and flying contraptions from the 1920’s through the 1930’s. The collection was assembled by the US Army Air Corps (:17) and Paramount News presents the first newsreel (:37). Vehicles are seen riding down a public highway in Coatesville, Pennsylvania (:41). A glider type craft swoops in through the crowds and cars (:44). It is then seen in a field with it’s turntable wings spun by the inventor (:58). Pathe News presents D. T. Granville demonstrating his tail first plane in Springfield, Massachusetts (1:46). The craft is driven by automobile controls (1:57). The wheel is adjusted to show how it controls the rudders and ailerons (2:05). The plane takes off and flies with it’s tail facing forward (2:14). A Universal Newspaper Newsreel (2:34) brings the film to Orangeburg, New York. A windmill type flying craft is seen (2:41) invented by Johnathan Caldwell. The craft, named Gray Goose (3:09), is unable to take off from the ground. Harvest Metrotone News presents a tubular plane (3:25). It is shown in Milan and it’s rudders are viewed from the back of the cylindrical plane with long flat wings (3:32). Another craft presented by Harvest is the C. L. Synder plane in South Bend, Indiana (4:05). The craft is shown to be fairly similar to more modern air planes except for the long wing extensions which make it appear to represent a butterfly (4:26). Due to its shape, in the event of motor failure, it could be flown as a glider (4:35). Paramount News (4:58) shows a spindle plane invented by C. Popper (5:14). Popper gives an explanation as to how the spindles work (8:23). It is wingless and the larger spindles are the main lifting lifters (5:32). The spindles are shown to be revolving and creating a lifting vacuum above (5:48). A Universal Newspaper Newsreel shows a craft known as the "potato bug" (6:16) which is seen flying low over a crop field (6:27). The pilot waves and steps from the cockpit at (6:51). In Greenville, Illinois a plane with a large circular top mount heads down a runway for take off (7:05). It moves over the country side (7:14) and lowers smoothly due to the flat circular top side (7:23). A tailless plane is seen in Glendale, California (7:41) with only a cockpit and wings. The craft takes off (7:58). A device on the wingtips controls the craft’s direction (8:13). In Czechoslovakia, Unzez Chalupsky is seen with his model plane (8:22). The contraption is seen flapping it’s wings (8:36) and taking off (8:44). A self-flying plane is presented by Pathe News in Glendale California (8:56). It’s stabilizers are pointed to (9:04). The pilot is viewed as he steps from the cockpit (9:13). The automatic controls are seen in action (9:18). The pilot stands on the fuselage (9:24). Another Universal Newsreel shows an aero-bike (9:41). In Baltimore, the pilot pedals to move the wings (9:46). The craft is unable to take off (10:03). In Paris, France a pilot climbs into an elliptical plane (10:25). The tail is shown to stick up from the middle (10:30). Willard E. Blain conducts tests on his ornithopter in New London, Connecticut (11:10). Willard addresses the camera with the invention on his back as he believed it would enable him to fly as a bird (11:26). He jumps from a bridge over water (11:43) and drops straight into the waterway (11:47). He tests it again as he runs to jump from a rock, though he comically lands on his frontside (12:11). W. P. Kindree and his ‘sky car’ are presented by Hearst in Detroit (12:14). The inventor and machine follow (12:29). As the craft is started up, it simply jostles violently up and down without taking off (13:41). A butcher is shown in Van Nuys, California demonstrating his rocket device (14:37). The device blows (14:40) and the butcher’s bicycle glider is then shown at the Metropolitan airport (14:50). A dog collar is attached around his neck which was supposed to enable him to help the wings flap (15:11). As his helpers run behind him and light the power plant (15:27), the bike tips over and the butcher’s pants catch fire (15:57).
Transcription
[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Coatesville Pennsylvania so what is this it's like nothing anyone should see on the public highway but hey wait a minute it's turning into the field maybe it's a newfangled potato planter or something no sir it's an aerial plane with turntable wing George spot the inventor figured that's how she could taxi along the highways and maybe the Skyway the experts give ten to one she can't fly Georgie said on taking a chance and there he goes [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] that the time the expert got good Boy George in this ship here with the three wheel landing gift any kind of a landing is perfectly alright frontwards of sideways one wheel or any other way that you wish the GPS senator steers with a wheel instead of the conventional rudder bar both in the air on the ground some of the best the flippers are handled by the for knife motion of the stick and the ailerons by the side motion the throttle is directed behind the wheel like a Model T Ford [Music] [Music] well a windmill will raise water so why shouldn't it raise an airplane perhaps that's what mr. Jonathan Caldwell thought when he designed and built this contraption which is being shown to the public for the first time the mill wheels going round are supposed to represent the flapping wings of a goose the wheels turn alright but it just won't leave the ground not even when they drag it it moves though and that's something but any auto will go pretty well downhill a good idea just the same professor and better luck next time [Music] don't laugh this thing that looks as if half of it was missing really works it's a new tubular plane invented by an Italian engineer who believes this design will someday break all records for speed and stability you've often seen a barrel roll but here's one that flies [Music] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] here's the airplane of the future according to its inventor dr. Schneider he calls it the flying wing and experts think it's gonna revolutionize aviation it's supposed to be foolproof and has lots of speed and theft as the docs gonna show you right now here she goes but if the inventor copped his idea from a butterfly being all winged turns it in well glider in case the motor gets heebie-jeebies makes tail spins impossible dr. Schneider claims it can top 100 miles an hour and it's supposed to be as safe as all Dobbin for the family if what the doc says comes true we'll all be hopping around in these pancakes very soon [Music] no it's not an airplane and it isn't a balloon it's a spindle airship the new invention that has excited aeronautical engineers perhaps mr. popper the inventor will explain the idea for us in place of wings wheels spindles on this ship the large ones are the main lifting lifters and the small ones act as stabilizers this is them by spiraling so that the landing would speed would be about 5 to 10 miles per hour now as they revolve the spindles with their little indentations are creating a lifting vacuum above engineers to protect the spindles will be more efficient than the wings of an airplane there's only this about the spindle Asher she hasn't phone yet but who can say she won't [Music] [Applause] [Music] now it's a flying umbrella here's the latest in aviation which that inventors hope will be the family flavor of the earth and it really worked a single circular Wain allows a quick take off and it can go ahead 35 miles an hour [Applause] don't worry about engines of that pancake top allows it to drop slower than parachute and it can land at your front door maybe it's the future aerial taxi a tailless answer to the call issued by the aeronautics director of the department of commerce or a flipper of the air it is my hope that someday that this little ship will become your great-great Grandaddy of America's air flipper got the pair of wings and a place to sit and what a place the tiny craft weighs 1100 pounds and has a wing spread of only 30 feet a device on the wingtips controls direction [Music] for 20 years he's been watching the chili Newburg and has finally discovered what makes it fly all it takes is a tank full of oxygen a left-handed monkey wrench and a couple of nuts here we go history in the making it's the happiest day of the professor's life let's hope he's put salt on its tail going going that's all something new to make flying safer stabilizers like these keep the plane level while in flight the pilots taking up the gym to show you how the device works there he is getting out of the cab completely under automatic control more convincing proof of the amazing and rapid progress of aviation you wouldn't want I'm sure then this demonstration at Baltimore today J Carl Bauer and Louis Huber went to work in their spare time to construct this poor man's dream a plane propelled by bicycle pedals it's a momentous occasion all radiation stops to watch someone's day they laughed at the Wright brothers well this pair will try again to maybe make a bicycle out of airplane parts [Music] Paris offers a real novelty an aircraft it's called the elliptical plane and it's based on the principles of a flying mosquito with a sting left out its tail sticks up in the middle and is supposed to prevent slips and nosedive now we will see what we will see [Music] [Applause] it works the brainchild have been better be called a Rouge speed 60 miles an hour for five years the vehicle has been laughed at but now it is he who has the last [Applause] [Music] [Applause] folks Here I am with a new device called the ornithopter this device I fixed to obtain white in the air through a system of leverage advantage plus a man's physical power I believe it's possible to fly it as a bird and Here I am you can look festivai it's over it appears heavy his light well that sounds ok if it works but a birdie doesn't fly when he makes that jump he's going to get a real cold bath here he goes splash oh well he got the bath alright but as little water discouraged not a bit just wait a moment you'll see now his feathers are all dry again he'd had a good dinner of canary seed so maybe this time you'll really do it he's got a sword gracefully off the rock so he says keep your eye on the birdie cuckoo cuckoo [Music] here you see another type kela copter or direct lift air machines are stressful as you will see is a flat plate or disc type propeller moving the air fast enough to produce a lift our engine is connected to our transmission by a jack shaft driven by chain our transmissions rotates and reciprocate our propeller as the performance goes up we get our lifting power on the down reciprocation find any general is going on this work [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Jack : the plump chap there is the butcher by trade but in his spare moments he's a student of aerodynamics and right now he's demonstrating in a small way the principle of a new rocket device he's working on gone haywire but here's the real thing Jax bicycle rocket glider and he's all set for a tryout here at the Metropolitan Airport if it'll just work as he hopes he'll be famous tomorrow then goodbye loin chops and rump steaks the dog collar he's putting on is an ingenious arrangement which will enable him to aid the flight of his craft by a gentle flapping of the wings so from everything but gravity Cohen gets his remarkable flying machine under way a terrific speed that is it'll get up speed if the assistance rocket engineer will only hurry up and put a match to the powerplant [Music] there goes another dream up in smoke wasn't so hot but Cohen's burning up what he should have next time is a pair of asbestos pants [Music] [Applause] [Music]
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