Harold W. Trott of Hemlock NY Edits Magazine

Dr. Trott’s aviation interest dates back many years as is evidenced by the picture above which appeared in the Livonia Gazette of Sept. 18, 1931. This was the first autogiro to be demonstrated in the town of Livonia (Sept. 14, 1931) on Dr. Trott’s flying field in Hemlock, and Mrs. Trott was the first one to go up as a passenger in the local demonstration. Dr. Trott was largely responsible for the local interest shown. The figures in the picture are, left to right: Peter Barton, pilot; Mr. Herbert, salesman; Oscar G. Smith, Livonia; Mrs. Troot; Dr. Trott. Click the image to enlarge.

Dr. Harold W. Trott of Hemlock, already known in the publishing field because of his “Santa Claus in Santaland,” which enjoyed a wide sale, and an autobiography which he called “Campus Shadows,” has entered a new publishing field and appears this week as editor of “Helicopter Digest.” The first issue bears the date of June 1946 and consists of 64 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages with multi-color cover. Earle E. McGill is associate editor, and Virginia Smith art associate. The magazine is to be published monthly by Crossett & Williams Publishing Co., with publication and editorial offices at Hemlock. Printing is done by McGill Publications, Rochester.

The first issue has six departments - General Features, Private Flying, Helicopter Engineering, Jet Propulsion Engineering, Manufacturing, Departmental Features. It carries 28 articles, the lead consisting of the text of remarks made by Igor I. Sikorsky, engineering manager of Sikorsky Aircraft, at the national aircraft clinic in Oklahoma City, Nov. 21, 1945. The magazine is profusely illustrated. Under the department of general features is a story by Frank E. Gannett of Rochester, titled “Dream of Magic Carpet.” The magazine also carries an editorial page of interest.

Part of the publisher’s announcement reads: “Published in the interest of the Helicopter industry the appearance of this journal may strike some as premature, but those who have taken the pains to search beneath the surface for the great tendencies of the age see what a giant industry is struggling into being here.” This statement, says the publisher, is a word-for-word reproduction - with the sole exception of the use of the word “helicopter” instead of “horseless buggy” - of a statement made by E.P. Ingersoll of 15 Williams Street, New York city, in the announcement of his magazine, “The Horseless Age,” in the winter of 1895. Mr. Ingersoll then went on to say that he believed the horseless carriage would, within the next 50 years, supplant the horse for use in distances of more than 10 miles. In spite of his optimism, however, he warned against accepting promotion schemes predicated on the hiring of as many as 500 men in a single plant. The extent to which Mr. Ingersoll underestimated the possibilities of the “horseless carriage” is self-evident.

Now, a half century later, the publisher of the Helicopter Digest makes his prediction, which reads:

“We believe that within five years the helicopter will have proven beyond the question of a doubt that helicopter travel for any distance will be economical, cleaner, faster, more enjoyable, as easy to operate and safer than automobile travel - we believe that within ten years the above facts will be recognized and accepted by the general public and the helicopter will replace gradually the automobile for travel of distances of 10 miles and over and that within fifty years helicopter travel will become greater in distance flown each year than automobile travel. We are cognizant, of course, of the fact that some newly developed theory of flight may supplant the helicopter. We also believe that within two years private two-place airplanes will be available at not over $3,000.00 cost that will cruise at 500 miles per hour and land at 45 miles per hour. They will be powered with light weight turbo-jet motors or some qualification of the same, that will give possibly three horsepower to the pound and cost in quantity production not over $200.00 each.”

The new magazine is “dedicated to the development of helicopter, jet-propulsion and private flying,” and “contains all available data on the helicopter to date.” It is an interesting, timely, and forward-looking magazine.

Dr. Trott is a captain in the U.S. medical corps, and is stationed at the veterans’ facility at Batavia. At present he is on leave and he and Mrs. Trott are spending a vacation in Texas.