New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-11
AMY FLYING MACHINE.
Disclosures about Professor Lang
ley's Experiments.
IRON THE TRIBUNE pUREAI-I

Washington. Nov 10.-Important disclosures re-
garding the Langley aerodrone. or, as 1t was pop
ularly known, the Buzzard which was unsuccess-
fully tried year ago, are made in the annual
report % the Army Board Of Ordnance and Forti-
hcations.
The report indicates that tho principle utilized
by the secretary OF the Smithsonian Institution
for accomplishing mechanical flight was never
tested that the machine itself was not concusveIy
shown to be failure. but. on the contrary. the
only defect far demonstrated was confined to
the auxiliary launching apparatus. The report
which contains essential facts before IN pos
session Of scientific men generally or the public
makes the following statement on the subject:
Early in the year 1895 board composed OF officers
OF the army and navy was appointed TO examine
by DR.. : P. Langley, secretary Of the Smithsonian
Institution, and TO report whether not, in it's
built and If so. whether IL would be OF practical
Valuf5 Inc report OF TINS p9aGd vas referred 70
ton. and DR.. Langley invited 70 appear before
the board and further explain the proposed con-
In view of the great utility of such device.
1885. made an allotment Of $500 for the constr4c-
Ion oeFsIopnehI5 ana test o. an aer9dIoIne 70 pe
understanding that an additional allotment Of the
same amount would be made later. on December
IS 1889 the additional allotment Of $500 was made.
The construction Of the machine was delayed by
which he was finally obliged 10 design, The aero
drUme completed about July IL, 1903. and prep
Potomac River about forty miles below Washing
pleted and tests made o. a quarter size model the
hrst attempt actual flight with the carrying
aerOdrOme made on October I. 1893
On this occasion there were present on behalf OF
the board Major NJ. VI. MaComb. artillery corps,
and G. n Powell. clerk OF the board. Major Ma
comb in his report 10 the board. stated that the
trial was unsuccessful because the front guy post
caught in its support the launching car. and
released IN time TO give free hight. as was
intended. but, the contrary. caused the front
Of the machine to be dragged downward, bending
the guy post and making the machine plunge into
the water about fifty yards In front OF the house
boat"
This accident made necessary the removal OF the
houseboat 10 Washington for the more convenient
repair of damages The repairs having been COM
pleted on December s. 1903 another attempt az q
Anacostia and Potomac rivers. General ". T.
Randolph and Major Macomb. members OF the
board and Mr. Powell were present Major Ma
comb reported follows: The launching car was
released at 4:45 p. m The car was set n
motion and the propelIers revolved rapidly. the
engine working perfectly. but there was something
wrong with the launching The guy pest
launching WAYS, and crashing. rend1nS sound.
followed by the collapse Of the rear wings showed
that the machine had been wrecked IN the launch
inr-iust how IL was impossible FOR me 10 see
March 3. 1901 the board stated that II was not
prepared 70 make an additional allotment at tnls
time Tor continuing the work" whereupon Dr.
Langley requested that arrangements be made 10.
Jointly from the funds allotted by the board and
by the Smithsonian Institution. DR.. Langley was
Informed that all Of the material would be lert n
his possession and available FOR any future worA
that he might be able 20 carry on IN connection
with the problem OF mechanical flight.