The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-09
But Duck-Like She Soon
Takes to Water.
PLUNGES INTO TIE RIVER
This Aquatic Performance is Caused by De-
h ction n the Wirgs Of the Aerial
Craft Soon After Her
Launching.
(By the Associated Press.)

Whitewater, Va, Aug. S.--A partly sue
cessful experiment with the IS foot Lang
ley airship was made this morning from
the house boat in the Potomac River off
this point The aerodrome started well III
a straight line south with a velocity of 20
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 impeled into the
water under the full power of her engine.
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
a moment more had disappeared from
view The machine was recovered. 1t
was considerably damaged.
The machine was taken to the house
boat, where extensive repairs will have
to be made before another test can be
pulled off.
At a given signal the model was dis
patched on its voyage. The launching car
was pulled back to the leeward OF the
track at a raised velocity. When the
windward end was reached the machine
shot forth 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 until her course was ended on
the bottom of the Potomac. She was
travelling at a rate of about forty miles
| an hour.
| When the machine was raised from the
water a workman attempted to cover it
with cloth, but for a long time was un-
successful. 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 on silk and
held upon delicate wooden rods. The
wings were shaped like a tent. The body
consisted of an intricate arrangement of
fine steel rods with cylinders, motor and
boilers carefully balanced Between the
two sets of wings were situated the pro-
! pellers, two in number, equipped with
| two blades The steering gear was situat-
ed at the rear and was constructed from
material like the wings. The motor is
supposed to generate something III excess
of two-hOrse power. Several photographs
were secured of the machine in flight
The wind against which it flew was about
| four miles an hour
Chief Assistant Manley, of the Langley
! expedition, made the following statement:
THE experiment was entirely successful
| All the data which this machine was de-
signed to furnish was obtained The
equilibrium was perfect, the power ade-
quate and the supporting 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 water but
no essential parts were injured Were
another test desired this afternoon the
machine could be used l have nothing
further to say at present l shall make
full report of the test to Secretary
| Langley"
Soon after the house boat was closed and
the party went to Washington on tug
Before leaving both the large and small
launching carriages were removed from
the superstructure.