The Washington times., 1908-12-21
Father of Lieut.. Lahm and
Pres. Bishop Back
From Abroad.
INTEREST IS KEEN
AMONG FRENCHMEN
Tells of Flight Made IN American s
Machine and Describes
Experiences.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-Corti2njt Field
Bishop. president OF the Aero Club Of
America, returned on the French liner
Provence from a long stay abroad.
Mrs Bishop was with him. The went
abroad on the Provence last April.
Since then they have motO-ed through
Europe
One al the objects OF MIR. Bishops trip
Was 10 study aeropiane flights. as the
Aero club is to devote much attention
20 the heavier-than-air branch OF aero
nAutics. 4 fellOw-t traveller with Mr.. and
Mrs Bishop or the Provence was Frank
8. Lahm, father OF Lieutenant Lahm.
u. s A, one Of the winners DC the
BALLOON cup in Europe several years
ago. Mr.. Lahm has been Interested IN
aviation, and recently made flight
with Wilbur Wright. He said il was
like Coastiug.
Mr.. Bishop said ne had just heard OF
the last flight of Wilbur Wright, which
broke al records. He added that it as
Sured the aeronaut Of winning the
prize OF 5000 Farman will finish IN
second place, he said
Much Interest IN France.
Every one in France s interested in
aerial navigation. Prizes are offered,
and everywhere there is enthusiasm" q"
said Mr.. Bishop. In France about $780,
V00 is given 10 encourage and develop
that branch of sport So far we have
not been able to do anything This
Government has a sort Of tentative
agreement with the Wrights. and in the
spring ii is expected that it viii come
To- elimination.
Mr. Bennett has offered a cup trophy
race. Three competitors Will be allowed
10 each country, and we expect TO haze
three entries. OTvIlle Wright, now re
covered from his fall, VIII sail next
week for France 10 educate the people
in the art of aviation. He VIII teach
. at Pau. in the south Of France. a great
resort and one that attracts many Eng
HShmen.
The brothers expect 70 deliver ma
chimes at 5000 each. The machines
viii be made by a French mauufactur-
er- \ French company has the patent
rights.
AS To the dirigiDIe balloon, Mr. Glenn
cnt is -eNpenuinE 5000 10 fly 20 or so
miles Now he makes flights of thirty.
i've miles, but in the spring ne is con
ndent he Will he able 10 90 to London
and Berlin. one drawback 10 his form
OF flight Is the cost. one could get Al
aerOplane at cost Of SlG1O. while Tor
a balloon the cost Is indefinite
Tells of His Flight.
Mr.. Lahu., who is here TO visit his
daughter at Fort Ethan Allen, and his
son, at Fort Myer near Washington.
described his flight with Wilbur Wright
as being delightful
1t was the sensation Of nv life" he
said My experience was interesting
because it WAS really the first time that
Mr.. Wright had flown over the heads
of the watching crowd and the car
riaEes and automobiles We circIed
around over them. and the horses were
frightened at the whiTl Of the great
machine
The sensation was like cOasting
without the slightest shock; like sail
ing On placid sea; like sitting in an
arm chair with the breeze going past
Ne rose to 100 feet. We came down at
The rate Of a mile a minute / was
not alarmed as / would have been mad
J. not seen Wright make other Iandi1 rs.
As We ncared the ground the machine
suddenly paralleled il and the landing
Was happily disappointing.
Wright has mastered his machine
and will be able to do what he wants
10 within the limits of the fuel he can
carry l feel that the experimental
stage Is past, and now IS the time for
practical demonstration and commercial
interest" -"
Mr- Lahm expects that soon aeroplane
Nights VIII be made across the English
channel and return.