Evening journal., 1903-10-08
FLYING MACHINE
COMPLETE FAILURE
Langley's Sixty Foot Steel
Flyer Wrecked at the
Test
FELL INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER

whitewater, Va, Oct. S.-The 60-foot,
steel-built flying machine, the climax
Of years of exhaustive study in the ef-
forts of Professor Samuel F. Langley,
secretary of,the Smithsonian Institute,
to solve the problem of mechanical
flight In midair, was launched, and the
experiment proved 2 complete failure.
The immense airslhp sped rapidly
along it's 70-foot track. was carried by
its own momentum for 100 yards and
then fell gradually into the Potomac
river, whence it emerged q total wreck.
Professor Charles NJ Manley made the
ascent in the aerodrome and escaped
with ducking. At no time was, there
any semblance of flight, the e'initial mo-
mentum, the lightness Of the machine
and the sustaining surface OF the wings
furnishing the conditions which ac-
count for the 1O0-yard transit OF the air
bird from its 60-foot elevation to the
water An official statement made af-
ter the test admitted that the expert
ment was unsuccessful, but asserted
confidence in the ultimate success of
the invention.
The launching took place from the
superstructure of the houseboat moor
Ell in the Potomac river two miles from
this place. Secretary Langley did not
witness the failure of his machine, but
remained in Washington, where he
awaited the result. When all was
ready Professor Manley took his place
in the navigators car, which was sit
uated close to the gasoline motor. This
motor was well below >the principal
surface Of the machine. u was of the
explosion type, weighed 200 pounds,
and was designed to generate approx
mately 27-horse-pow T. Long rods con-
nected it with the propellersA whose
blades were about three feet long. Pro-
fessor Manley started the motor, which
worked we'll. the revolutions reathins
1900 a minute The big machine mcWea
easily along the 7O-foot track, in she
launching apparatus, and took the aSr
fairly well. A five-mile breeze was
blowing, and for a moment the ma
chine stood up well, but its failure was
Immediately apparent 1t turned grad
ually downward. The declination was
so positive that Professor Manley saw
at a glance that but few movements
Of the secondhand on the stop watch
he wore on his left knee would be re-
corded before both he and the scientific
ship would be floundering in the waters
of the Potomac. Just before the ma
chine struck the water he shut off his
motor, which had worked admirably
at the outset. The machine disap-
peared beneath the waves, but only
momentarily. The five conical-shaped
floats which had been distributed about
the machine to avert its sinking per
formed their functions well, and the
bridges of the machine almost imme-
diately reappeared above the water. 1t
was a moment Of anxiety for the safety
Of the navigator, but fears were in
stantly relieved as his head emerged
above the surface. He had sustained
no injury. His face reflected his dis
appointment at the result. He climbed
into rowboat which had been kept
close at hand ard was conveyed to the
deck of the tug Bartholdi.
The work Of removing the wreck
was AhihculdeelS DSbuu. 40 eHo al
ship was lifted on the derricks from
the water the complete disaster was
evident. The big broad wings, which
had extended II by % feet, were hang
ing limp beside the frame, the ruddel
J was a wreck, the wire frame a tangled
} mass, and the main body Of the 1900
pound machine was badly damaged, al
! though not beyond repair.
, At practically the same spot fyinl
! machine experiments we're conducte,
on May 6, 1896, at which time Secretar!
Langley reported that his aerodrom
had twice flown over a distance Of hal
l. n mile