Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-12-20

apparatus that would life man, and
although they have kept the result Of
their trials secret, there is no doubt
that they have made great advance
in the last year or two.
"Of course I am only going on
what I heard, but think they have
succeeded in producing a flying ma
chine of practical value. A great deal
of scepticism has been expressed
about their flying twenty-four miles.
That is a very considerable achieve
ment.
"Yet, personally, think they have
done it and now, SO far as they are
concerned. it simply becomes a ques-
tion of working out the details.
However, it all amounts to this:
The flying machineis an accomplished
fact, as several others beside the
brothers Wright have arrived at good
results. l think we will soon see a
workable machine. You see when
once you get a machine that will lift,
improvements are sure-some very
rapidly.
"The objection I see in the aero
plane at present is its lightness and
construction, but this will be grad
ually overcome, l have no doubt. In
order to clear any obstacles near its
starting point 1t must be light, SO
that it can lift rapidly, and on this
very account the machine can be cas-
lily damaged.
"This has occurred with M. Santos
Dumont Still. when once we have
got to the principle of the thing, i'm
provements are only a question of
time. There Is no doubt that the
dirigiblo balloon will be valuable for
war purposes, but we can never hope
to produce it at small cost, and the
future rests with the aeroplane.
There is no reason to doubt that
an aeroplane can be driven against
the wind, and the great thing wanted
in it now is stability. In this lies
the weakness of this demonstration.
But, of course, one is sure to try to
overcome JU6SG ullllCuilleS.
"Still, until the aeroplane is kept
In the air for longer time than M.
SantoS-Dumont surceaded 4" oo'hs'
It IS not possible to say that. through
some fault of its construction, the
machine will not tilt. There are oc-
casionally strong gusts of wind, and
any one of these might turn the aero
plane over.
"In dealing with aeroplanes, it
must be borne in mind that you are
travelling near the ground and, to be
successful, the machine must be built
so that it will go sufficient height
from the ground to clear houses.
trees and anything else that may
come in the way. These difficulties
will, of course, be overcome in time.
But the solution of the aeroplane
Is dependent upon actual experiment.
Theory helps us to see the limitations
of any particular form of construc-
tion, but we do not know enough at
present to say what is the best form
of construction. Therefore, 1t is by
experiment and by this method alone
that we shall learn.
"Still, l think that we'll within the
next five years a very considerable
advance will have been made in this
particular branch of aeronautics.
Not so very long ago people secuted
the idea of sending messages across
the sea by wireless telegraphy. Yet
it has been done, and in the same way
travelling through the air will be-
come a reality"
M. Georges Besancon. of Paris,
secretary of the Aero Club, an editor
of the Aerophile, has received long
letter from the Wright brothers, of
Dayton, Ohio, explaining their ex'
periments in the last few years.
This letter adds little to what Is al.
ready known of the claims of the
Wright brothers, beyond bringing out
more clearly than ever the fact that
considerable trouble has been met
with in finding the correct way of
maintaining ones balance in the air.
1t is this problem, in fact, with which
M. Santos-Dumont is now struggling.
At the Aero Club good deal Of
scepticism reigns concerning the
claims made by the Wrights, especial
ly with regard to the oft repeated
statement that the French Govern.
ment has practically purchased the
apparatus.
M. Besancon said that so far as he
knew the offer made by the Wrights,
that they would display the apparatus
to any one willing to pay million
france ($200,O00) for its purchase
in case they succeeded in flying fifty
kilometres (thirty-one and one-fourth
miles) in an hour, had never been
withdrawn. He considered it aston.
ishing that the offer had never been
accepted, seeing that no risks were
to be run.
M. Jacques Faure, hero of several
sensational cross Channel balloon
trips and other long distance flights,
seen by a Herald correspondent con-
cerning the Wrights, said he had
never from the commencement had
the slightest confidence in the state
ments made concerning their long
distance flights. Missions had been
sent over from France to investigate
the statements made, and had re-
turned with averdictof mot proven. "