![]() | Berliner-Williams helicopter 1908 | ![]() |
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The first manned US vertical flight machine appears to have been developed by Emile Berliner and John Newton Williams. Berliner was an inventor who developed the disk-type phonograph record and designed what may be the first production rotary aircraft engine, the 36hp Adams-Farwell engine. In 1908, Williams constructed a coaxial machine for Berliner using two of these rotary engines. It reportedly lifted both Williams and the machine – a total of 277kg – but was probably steadied from the ground. In May, 1908, Williams built another stand in Hammondsport, New York, as a member of the famed Aerial Experiment Association (which included Alexander Bell and Glenn Curtiss), using a 40hp Curtiss engine. It made hovers around 1m, again steadied from the ground.
Brooke Williams, e-mail, 22.09.2020 ![]() Hello Charles, I am doing some research into my family history and saw this thread. John Newton Williams is my great, great grandfather. We should share information. Thanks. Luke Perez, e-mail, 16.03.2023 ![]() Charles, Brooke, and Alexander, my name is Luke Perez and I am the curator at the College Park Aviation Museum. We have a collection on Emile Berliner and Henry Berliner, around the helicopter they built and tested at College Park, MD 1919-1924. alexander acevedo, e-mail, 18.09.2021 ![]() Saw your post and will be happy to share photo Luke Perez, e-mail, 16.03.2023 ![]() Charles, Brooke, and Alexander, my name is Luke Perez and I am the curator at the College Park Aviation Museum. We have a collection on Emile Berliner and Henry Berliner, around the helicopter they built and tested at College Park, MD 1919-1924.
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Charles, Brooke, and Alexander, my name is Luke Perez and I am the curator at the College Park Aviation Museum. We have a collection on Emile Berliner and Henry Berliner, around the helicopter they built and tested at College Park, MD 1919-1924.
We don't have any solid information or artifacts on John Newton Williams and would love to fix that. Please email me back if you would like to start a conversation and share your family history.
Luke Perez
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