The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-12
FLEW 4 QUARTER OF 4 Mile.
The Langley Air Ship Rodel at
Wide Water, Va.

Wide Water, Va, August S.-A part
ly successful experiment with the ff-
teen foot Langley air ship was made
this morning from the house boat in
the Potomac River, off this point.
The aerodrome started well in a
straight line south with a velocity of
seventy feet per second and flew for
distance variously estimated at from
four to six hundred yards. Some de-
Fiction in. the wings soon after the
launching caused her to take down
ward course, which she followed rapid
", and was impelled into the water
under the full power of her engine.
There as sufficient steam generated for
rapid fight of half or threee-quar-
tres of mile. Under the full pressure
of this force the machine struck the
water and a moment more bad disap-
peared from view. The machine was
recovered. It was considerably dam
aged.
The machine was taken to the house
boat, where extensive repairs will have
to be made before another test can be
made.
At a given signal the model was dis
patched on it voyage. The launching
car was pulled back to the leeward of
the superstructure and sent forward
on it's track at rapid velocity. When
the windward end was reached the
machine shot forth. A better launch
ing could not have been desired. The
Smithsonian scientists believed that
the highest hopes were about to be
realized, but after the first few seconds
of fight the wings were DETECTED and
the flying machine went downward un-
til her course was ended on the bot
tom of the Potomac. She was travel
ling at rate of about forty miles an
hour.
When the machine was raised from
the water a workman attempted to
cover it with cloth, but fora long
time was unsuccessful. Its mechanism
and dimensions were plainly seen from
the press boat, twenty-feet away. 1t
was equipped with four wings, two on
each side, about four by six feet,
made of the finest oil silk and held
upon delicate wooden rods. The wings
were shaped like tent. The body
consisted Of an intricate arrangement
of fne steel rods, with cylinders,
motor and boilers carefully balanced.
Between the two sets of wings were
situated the propellerss two in num-
ber, equipped with two blades. The
steering gear was situated at the rear
and was constructed from material
like the wings. The motor is sup
posed to generate something in excess
of two-horse power. Several photo
graphs we're secured of the machine
in fight. The wind against which it
flew was about four miles an hour.
Chief Assistant Manley, of the
Leangley. expedition, made the follow
ing statement:
"Tbe experiment was entirely sue
cessful. All the data which this
machine was designed to furnish were
obtained. The equilibrium was per-
feet, the power adequate and the sup
porting surface ample. No accident
occurred. Some of the woodwork OF
the wings and raider was slightly
damaged by the graphing hooks used
in taking the aerodrome from the
water, but no essential parts were in
iured. We're another test desired this
afternoon the same machine could be
used. l have nothing further to say
at present. I shall make full report
of the test to Secretary Langley"