The Washington times., 1903-07-18
FAILURE NOW WOULD
END LANGLEY'S DREAM
Utmost Care in Preparing
for Airship Test.
ALL TRUST IN THIS TRIAL
Score of Workmen Under Prof. Lang
ley's Direction Busy Night and
Day at Whitewater.
ALL TRUST IN THIS TRIAL
Special % The Washington inns !

Underwater, Va, July 1S.-The third
day since anchor was dropped from Prof.
Langley's ark at widewater-the ark
which contains his interesting but still
uphatched "bird"-was passed by the
workmen on board in putting in readi-
ness the car from which the airship
is to be projected into the air, and also
In work upon the machine itself.
From time to time strange wheeling
noises came forth from the interior OF
the ark, and the sound OF bellows aud
iron striking upon iron told that some
of the connecting bars of the machine
had not yet been arranged IN perfect
order.
One thing Prof. Langley has decided
upon above all else is that there shall
be no hitch in his aerial tests due 10
any imperfection in the construction of
his machine. 1t will be strongly built.
and the success or failure of the tests
will depend entirely upon the correct
ness of his idea. This idea. mother to
his invention, and for which Prot
Langley has labored twenty years OF his
life and spent more than s20. 900 of his
own money. will receive as perfect tests
as it is in the power OF human skill to
give.
Track Ready for Work.
The track upon the top of the ark and
upon which the aerodrome is to get its
first impetus toward flight has been
completed. 1t projects several feet be-
yond the ends of the ark and is about
ninety feet long. This track is about
thirty feet above the level of the water
and about four feet above the ark. The
machine will rest upon the top OF the
car.
1t Is plain from the preparations under
way that Langley must start his ma
chine on a track less than a hundred
feet long and the airship must be self
sustaining before its forward impetus.
due TO the car. has ceased. and before
it has dropped thirty feet below the
plane upon which IL is TO be started.
The track is horizontal and thus neither
lends assistance in gaining momentum
nor will it retard the car in its motion.
AS soon as the machine is placed on
the car, its twenty-five horse power
gasolene motor will be set in motion
and when the right amount of speed is
attained the car will be released and its
motion viii be aided by both the motor.
which Is 70 propel the machine in space.
and by an additional power given from
8 stationary motor on board the ark.
1t is believed by the inventor that we'll
creased tracks, together with the power
ful motors, will make It possible to OBJ
tain fairly high rate Of speed before
the machine leaves the car.
Mystery in Method of Start.
whether Prof. Langley in starting the
machine intends to rely upon the abili-
ty OF its silken wings TO sail short
distance, aided by the stationary power
on the car and a clever arrangement OF
planes. or whether the wings viii be set
in motion as soon as tbe machine is
hurled into the air, remains to be seen.
II Is probable. however that the wings
viii be started simultaneously with the
departure Of the machine from the car
in order to maintain its advantage of
thirty feet or more above the water.
The pilot must then set his course
toward higher airs. The response will
mark the success or failure OF the air
ship
Takes Lesson From Birds.
The question Of successfully launch
ing into the air a machine that weighs
In the neighborhood of 200 pounds is a
serious one. II is noticeable that all
large birds when about TO fly run a
short distance and rise into the air With
a prodigious Tapping OF wings When
once well launched on their fight, how
ever. they find II possible to sail easily
with outstretched wings. This may be
the case with the aerodrome
Beyond the work already mentioned.
the day has been quiet here. The ark
vas even more crowded with workmen,
and Prof Langley's assistants from the
Smithsonian, than It was yesterday.
Last night the ark was well lighted
and an armed guard was on duty TO keep
away all intruders.