The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-09
SHIP TOOK FLIGHT
LANGLEY MACHINE MAKE TRIP
HUNDREDS OF YARDS.
OWED TO RIVER BOTTOM.
WAS DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT HAP
PENING TO WINGS.

AerOdrOme WAS Launched From
HOusebOat on Potomac River.
Ship Travelled at Rate of 40 Miles
an Observation-Disclosures Scientists
Had High Hopes Shattered-Ma-
chine Photographed Despite Eff
Experiment "a Success.
Whitewater, Va, Aug S.-A partly
successful experiment with the 15-foot
Langley airship was made this morn
ing from the house boat in the Po-
tomAc river off this point. The aero
drome started well in straight line
south with a velocity of seventy feet
per second and flew for a distance
variously estimated at from four to six
hundred yards.
Some DETECTION in the wings soon
after the launching caused her to take
a downward course, which she followed
rapidly and was impelled into the wat
er under the full power of her en-
CINE.
There was sufficient steam generated
for a rapid flight of half or three
quarters of a mile. Under the full
pressure of this force the machine
struck the water and in a moment
more had disappeared from view. The
machine was recovered. 1t was consid-
erably damaged. The machine was
taken to the house boat where extern
sive repairs will have to be made be-
fore another test can be pulled off.
Launching Was Perfect.
At a given signal the model was dis
patched on its voyage. The launching
car was pulled back to the 1eeward of
the superstructure and sent forward on
it's track at a rapid velocity. When the
windward end was reached the machine
shot forth. A better launching 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 flight the wings were detected and
the flying machine went downward un-
til her course was ended on the bottom
of the Potomac. She was travelling al
a clNC VI eSbO0b LII ~ AAAiANo eAAA ACNA
How Ship Is Made.
When the machine was raised from
the water a workman attempted tt
cover it with a cloth but for a long
time was unsuccessful. It's 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 con-
sisted of an intricate arrangement Of
fine steel rods with cylinders, motor
and boilers carefully balanced.
Between the two sets of wings were
situated the propellers, two in number,
equipped with two blades. The steer
ing gear was. situated at the rear and
was constructed from material like the
crate something in excess of two horse
rover. Several photographs were Sc
cured of the machine in flight. The
wind against which it flew was about
four miles an hour.
SIanIey Is Satisfied.
Chief Assistant Manley Of the
Langley expedition made the follow
ing statement:
1.-THE experiment was entirely sue
cessful. All the data which this ma
chine was designed to furnish was
obtained The equilibrium was per-
feet, the power adequate, and the sup
porting surface ample. No accident
occurred. Some of the wood work of
the wings and rudder was slightly
damaged by the graphing hooks used
in taking the aerodrome from the wa
ter, but no essential parts were injur-
ed. Were another test desired this
afternoon the same machine could be
used. l have nothing further to say
at present. I shall make a full report
of the test to Secretary Langley"
Soon after the house boat was closed
and the party went to Washington on
a tug. Before leaving both the large
and small launching carriages were
removed from the superstructure.