The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-13
The Air Ship Flies With the
Greatest Ease.
1t Sails Through the Air Half a
Mile.
ALIGHTS GRACEFULLY
In the Water After Descending
in Circles.
We May Soon Abandon Bicycles
for AerOdrOmes.

Washington, May 13-The first public
statement regarding the flying machine
experiments conducted by Prof. Samuel
p Langley, the secretary of the Smith
sOnian institute, for some months past,
was made yesterday with the authority
Of Prof. Langley.
The well known scientist has been a
believer in the eventual practical use
of air vehicles for years, and for long
period he has been making experiments
with a device Of his own invention near
OccaQuan, Va
Much secrecy has been attached to
these trials of the aerOdrOme. and the
little that has leaked out has excited
intense interest among scientists
throughout the world.
Prof Langley has always been very
guarded about the experiments and the
result of his latest attempts with the
flying machine are embodied in the fol-
lowing statements prepared by Prof
Alex Graham Bell, the well known in
ventor, published with the sanction of
great interest:
Last Wednesday, Nay g. I witnessed
q very remarkable experiment with
Frof- Langley-s aerodrome, on the PO-
to1nac river Indeed 1t seemed to me
that the experiment was of such his
lorlcal Importance that it should be
made public
4 should not feel at liberty to give an
account of all the details but the main
facts, have Prof. Langley's consent
Tor giving you, and they are as follows.
The aerodrOme, or flying machine in
question is Of steel, driven by a steam
engine.
1t resembles an enormous bird soar
ing IN the air with extreme regularity,
IN large curves, sweeping steadily up
ward in spiral path, the spirals with
a diameter of perhaps 100 yards until
II reached a height of about 100 feet in
the air. At the end of a course of about
half mile, when the steam gave out,
the prOpelers, which had moved it
stopped. and then to my further sur
PRISE the whole, instead of tun bling
down, settled as slowly and gracefully
as 1t IS possible for any bird to do touch
ing the water without any damage and
to be tried again.
"A second trial was like the first. ex-
cepI Ihat the machine went in q diff
rerent direction moving in one continu-
Gus gentle ascent as it swung around
in circles like a great soaring bird. At
one time it seemed to be in DANGER as
ITS course carried it to a neighboring
wooded promintory, but apprehension
was aIlayed as it passed quickly a few
feet above the top of the highest trees
there and then ascending still further
Its steam finally gave out again and it
settled into the water of the river not
quite quarter of a mile from the point
where it arose
No one could have witnessed these
experiments without being convinced
that the practica bility of mechanical
nylng has been demonstrated
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL"
Prof Langley also made public a
supplemental statement giving some
important data.
The aerodrOme, or flying machine
has not gas to lift it as in the case Of
a balloon, but on the contrary it is
about one and one-third times heavier
bulk for bulk than the air on which
1t IS made to run and which sustains
1t somewhat in the way which thin ice
supports a swift skater"
The power is derived from a steam
engine through the means Of propellers.
out owing to the scale on which the ac-
taai aerOdrome is built, there has been
no cOndensing apparatus to use the
water over and over
Enough can be carried for a very
orlef night, a difficulty which does not
belong to larger machines than the
present example, in which the sup
ported surfaces are about IA feet from
tip to tip The distance for a time was
ABOUT half mile The rate Of speed
depends Gas in the case of any vehicle
on land) or whether it is going on a
level or up hill. In the case of this last
trial, on May 6, the machine was as
cending. that is to say it was going I'D
hill all the time"