Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-08
ANOTHER FAILURE.

the climax Of years of exhaustive study
in the efforts of Prof. Samuel +. Lang
ley, secretary of the Smithsonian Insti
tuition, to solve the problem Of mechan-
ical fight in midair was launched near
Whitewater yesterday, and the expert
ment, carefully planned and delayed for
months, proved complete failure, the
announcement of which was made in
Yesterdays Gazette. The immense air
ship sped rapidly along its 7O-foOt track,
was carried by its own momentum for
100 yards and then fell gradually into
the Potomac river, whence it emerged
a total wreck. Pr ,fessor Charles NJ.
Manley, who has been Professor Lang
ley's assistant in the work preliminary
to the attempted fight, made the ascent
in the aerodrOme aud escaped with a
ducking. At no time was there any
semblance IF fight, the initial momen-
tum, the lightness of the machine and
the sustaining surface Of the wings fur
nishing the conditions which account for
the 1OO-yard transit Of the air bird from
its 60-foOt elevation to the water An
official statement made after the test
admitted that the experiment was un-
successful, but asserted confidence in the
ultimate success of the invention.
The launching took place at 1915
O'Clock yesterday afternoon from the
superstructure of the houseboat moored
in the Potomac river, two miles from
Whitewater. Fifteen minutes before
that everything was cleared for action.
Professor Manley was clad i'll his
aeronautical suit of white duck trousers
and cork lined Jacket. Professor Lang
ley, who has visited the scene of the
test but inffequently since the house
boat carrying his device and his assis-
tants was taken to Whitewater, did not
witness the failure of his machine yes
terday, but remained in Washington,
where he awaited the result.
When all was ready Professor Man
ley took his place in the navigator car,
which was situated close to the gasoline
motor. This motor was well below the
principal surface of the machine. 1t
was of the explosive type, weighed 200
pounds and was designed to generate
approximately 27 horsepower. Long
rods connected it with other propellers,
whose blades were about three feet long.
Toe framework of Professor Manley's
car was covered with canvas. Professor
Manley started the motor, which
worked well, the revolutions reaching
l. 200 q minnte. The big machine
moved easily along the 70-fOot track in
the launching apparatus and took the
air fairly well. A five mile breeze was
blowing, and for moment the machine
stood up well, but its failure was i'm
mediately apparent.
1t turned gradually downward. The
declination was so positive that Pro-
fessor Manley saw at a glance that but
few movements of the second hand Of
the stop watch he wore on his left knee
would be recorded before both he and
the scientific ship would be foundering
in the waters of the Potomac. Just be-
fore the machine struck the water he
shut off his motor, which had worked
admirably at the outset. The machine
disappeared 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 i'm
mediately reappeared above the water.
1t was moment of anxiety for the
safety of the navigator, but fears were
instantly relieved as his head emerged
above the surface. He had sustained
no injury. His face reflected his disap-
pointment at the result. He climed in
to a rowboat which had been kept close
at hand and was conveyed to the deck
of the tug Bartholdi. There he ex-
changed his dripping clothes for diy
garments. An hour later Professor Man
lev gave out the following statement to
the newpaper men:
at must be understood that the test
was entirely an experiment and the
first of its kind ever made. The expert
ment was unsuccessful. The balancing
upon which depends the success Of the
fight was based upon the tests of the
models, and proved to be incorrect; buton-
ly an actual trial of the full-sized machine
itself could determine this. Ny conf
dence in future success Of the work is
unchanged. l can give you no other
information. shall make formal re-
port to secretary Langley"
The work of removing the wreck was
Immediately begun. Within 10 minutes
of the mishap the tugs were pulling
away at the debris. By 2 o'clock the
disabled machine had been put away in
the interior of the houseboat. As it was
lifted on the derrick from the water the
complete disaster was evident The big
broad wings which had extended II by
% feet were hanging limp beside the
frame, the rudder was wreck, the wire
framework tangled mass, and the main
body of the 1900 pound machine was
badly damaged, though not beyond re-
pair
At practically the same srot fying
4 machine exnerinenfs vvara oo,ductad on