New-York tribune., 1903-08-09
LANGLEY'S SHIP FLIES
BUT FALLS INTO RIVEP
The Professors assistant Says III,
Test Vas Successful.

Wide Water, Va Aug S.-An experfrn.,.
with the 15-foot Langley airship was made thi,
morning from the hOuseboat in the Potomac
River OF this point. The aerodrOme startss
we'll in a straight line south with velocity a.
seventy feet a second and flew for a distapcs
variously estimated at from four hundred to Sin
hundred yards. Some detection in the VIM
soon after the launching caused It to taxi
downward course which II followed rapidlv
and was impelled into the water under the fun
power Of the engine Sufficient steam was gen..
Grated for rapid flight Of half or three-quar
ters of a mile. Under the full pressure OF this
force the machine struck the water. and in a
moment more had disappeared from view. II
was recovered. considerably damaged. and re-
moved 10 the hOusebOat, where extensive repairs
will have 20 be made before another test can
be had.
At signal the model was dispatched on IT'S
voyage The launching car was pulled back
to the Ieeward Of the superstructure and sent
forward on its track at 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 until the course was ended on
the muddy bottom of the Potomac II was
travelling at a velocity OF about forty miles an
hour.
When the machine raised from the water
a workman attempted to cover II 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 II IS
equipped with four wings. two each side
about four by six feet made of the finest oil
silk and held up on delicate wooden rods The
wings are shaped like tent The body con-
sists of an intricate arrangement Of fine steel
rods with cylinders motor and boilers carefully
balanced. Between the two sets OF wings are
the propellers. two in number, equipped with
two blades. The steering gear is at the rear,
and is constructed from material like the wings.
The motor is supposed to generate something IN
excess of two horsepower. Several photographs
were secured of the machine in flight The
wind against which it flew. was blowing about
four miles an hour.
Mr.. Manley. Professor Langley's chlef as
sistant said after the experiment:
The experiment was entirely successful All & tns
data which this machine was designed 70 IurIllSn
were obtained. The equilibrium was perfect the
power adequate and the supporting surface aLnPe;
No accident occurred Some OF Ihs Ns - -. -
the wings and rudder were slightly damaged oy the
grappling hooks used ia removing the aerodTone
from the water but 10 ibis psftsrnoon the
same MACHINE could be used nave notnIng S . Iur,
ther to say at present ! shau MAKE iuIi iepo''
of the test to Secretary Langley
Soon afterward the houseboat was closed and
the party went to Washington on the tug d. NJ
Key. Before leaving Wide Water both the large
and small launching carriages were removed
from the superstructure.