Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
NO DATE CAN. Be SET
When Prof. Manley Will Sail
Cerulean Seas.
HARD TO FIX A TIME
FRAGILE CONSTRUCTION OF AIR
SHIP CAUSES DELAY.
Certain New Fixtures of Conical
Formation Are to Be Placed
Amidships.
HARD TO FIX A TIME
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
Underwater, Va, August 26-The ex-
act time when Prof. Langley's flying ma
chine will be launched is not even known to
the inventor or any of the members of the
Smithsonian party. A provisional date is
all that can be selected, but in this case
the term means much more than it does
in common usage.
The conditions for trial of the flying
machine are SO exceedingly uncertain that
1t may be said that the scientists them
selves are scarcely acquainted with the
probable date for a test
1t is known that more than one occa-
sion the experts had gotten matters appar-
emily well under way for an actual aerial
experiment. but it had to be put off from
day to day for one reason or another.
The Weather Intervenes.
Often 1t is the weather which interposes.
A strong breeze springing up suddenly
after the prediction of a calm by the
weather bureau is quite sufficient to abso-
lutely inhibit a flight even though the ma
chine is on the launching carriage ready
for the start. And the exceedingly delicate
construction of the machine itself is con-
slant source of uncertainty.
The Air Ship is Fragile.
Prof. Langley calls attention to the fact
that his product had to be built SO light
that 1t is always on the point of breaking
down and diSas
1t lacks. he says. the factor Of safety
which engineers and architects put in other
construction. so that even with propitious
weather conditions and everything appar-
emily in trim for an experiment some weak
ness may be disclosed at the last moment
which may prevent a launching.
Such are the uncertainties under which
Prof. Manley and his associates are now
laboring. They serve to explain In part
why launching Of the big machine has
not been attempted before this.
OF course. the experiment with this air
ship is so much more important than tests
OF the models that many more precautions
have to be taken, rendering the progress
extremely tedious.
Added Material Secured.
When 1t was thought that practically
everything was in readiness for test of the
sixty foot flying machine Prof Manley had
his attention directed to the possibilities for
Improvement in the machines floating and
balancing properties.
Accordingly he ordered three new conical
empty bodies about three feet long and
closely resembling the floats already at
tached to the airship. OF these there were
five equally distributed from stern to bow.
ones Prof. Manley was not satisfied with
the equipment. He sent word to Washing
ton for two more to be constructed very
much as the others were, but to be nearly
twice as large They arrived at Quantico
and were brought down to the houseboat
on the tug Key.
These cones are empty and are designed,
it is thought, to be stationed one on each
side OF the flying machine about midships.
More Work on the Wings.
More work with the wings was done this
morning by the Langley airship's experts.
Two were carried to the superstructure,
where there are two more in the compar:-
ments. The boxes then contained a COM
plete set.
They were covered with canvas for pro
lection from the weather until the time
for When that will be remains a
mystery. 1t might have been this after
noon, but squall struck the hOuseboat
from the northwest.
DIR. John Manly had been taking readings
with the thermometer. and the breeze which
had stiffened considerably since morning
was found to be blowing irregularly at
about eight miles an hour. Mr.. Reed look
ed dubious when the chronographic read
ing was announced.
A little later whatever hopes they had
of pulling off a test were shattered by the
squall. The houseboat now contains a full
force. Two extra men arrived today.