Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09
FRENCH AVIATORS APPLAUD
Nearly Two Miles Covered Near
Lemans, France.
HE HAS PERFECT CONTROL
Expects to Do Greater Things Next
Week in His Second Trial
Abroad.

|
Wright of Dayton. Ohio. made a fight es-
timated at three klometers (about is
miles, in I minute and IS seconds with his
! aeroplane he-c this afternoon. This speed
was a little greater than a mile a minute
| Throughout the flight Mr. Wright had
| perfect control of the machine.
Afterward Mr.. Wright said to the AS
ISOLATED Press:
| Il am perfectly satisfied with my first
| flight l made one or two little mistakes,
| but | am confident that l will be able to
do all I hope for in later trials, probably
next week.
Estimates vary as to the distance COW
cred by the aeroplane, but the average
was three kilometers. about 1.0S miles
Hart O. Berg. European representative OF
the Wright brothers, gave the official time
| as minute AZ seconds.
| The populace of Lemans is enthusiastic
| over the experiment Many youngsters
! who had not been hidden to witness 1t
were perched in trees surrounding the
course and betrayed their presence by
| spontaneous yelIs as Mr.. Wright sailed
by them
No Attempt for Distance.
No attempt was made for distance
record. the only object Of the flight being
to try out the aeroplane. While flying
through the air Wright demonstrated. or
so it appeared to the spectators. that he
was absolute master of the airship, first
soaring. then shooting gracefully down.
ward. and then mounting again at Will,
! until finally, after completing two circles.
he came down easily to the, earth
The performance was greeted With a
burst of cheers from small number OF
people invited to view the experiment.
Wright was warmly congratulated by all
] the spectators. including few French
/ aeronauts, two Russian army officers ana
a number of other experts. who styled the
! flight a wonderful exhibition of aviation.
The successful flight made by Wilbur
Wright with his aeroplane today puts an
end to the long. anxious WAITING OF Iner7
lea and Europe to Wild. tug
brother. were capable of accomplishing.
In Europe tt,,-4-.,usstertoifs VFrigsts rave
been an abs,, ding problem for aviation
enthusiasts and they have interested the
Representatives of various governments.
Claims Justified.
The long postponement Of public exii-
bition of what the Americans had to show
the world aroused the liveliest comment,
and from some quarters touch OF skep-
ticism, a Paris newspaper only last night
referring to the bluff Wright brothers,
of whom everybody has been talking for
many years. but who as yet have not
made good.
Nevertheless the silent Wright prepared
long patiently and carefully Tor the great
occasion when he was to dispel these
doubts and uphold the name of America.
Though disabled as the result of an ex-
plosion of tube. Wright labored steadily.
Iyo n her In a Sb ell
field just outside Lemans, sleeping by
night beside the invention.
Weather conditions for the test were
splendid. The sky was blue and without
a cloud and gentle northwest breeze
was blowing.
1t was shortly before 3 O'Clock this
afternoon when the aeroplane. which is
the same as that used in the United
States, was brought out of its shed and
mounted on a small single-wheeled char
lot, which, in turn, was resting on
single rail on the ground. After a pre-
liminary test Of the apparatus. MIR.
Wright declared all was ready and took
a position beside the motor.
Graceful Start.
By means of a falling weight rugged on
a beam erected in the ground and con-
Meeting with cords running to 1t the
chariot was started running over the rail.
and the aeroplane, thus having been
given a forward motion. suddenly left
the chariot and 'ascended like bird to n
height of about forty feet. Then it
swerved and turned in it's course and
sailed up the field.
1t dipped gracefully up and down. at
tanning Il height OF sixty feet, and then
descended to between thirty and forty
feet.
Mr.. Wright thus twice circled the field
and then stopping the motor, brought
the aeropIane directly in front of the inn
provised grandstand. which was filled
with wildly cheering spectators. The
descent was sure and easy and was car
ried out with great nicely without causing
shock to either the machine or its opera