The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-09-11
WRIGHT BREAKS
ALL RECORDS.
AerOpIanG Makes Greatest Flight
in Worlds History.
IN AIR SIXTY-TWO MINUTES.
soars for Six Minutes With Lieuten.
ant Lahm as ompanion-HIeh Of.
ficers of Army and Navy consratu.
late American Aviator,

Washington, Sept. 10. - Orville
Wright, in three phenomenal flights at
Fort Myer, established new aeroplane
records that not only assure the sue
cess Of the official trials before the
army board, but indicate that aerial
fight is now only matter of develop
ment. War on land and sea will find
in the aeroplane, it is now conceded
by military men, valuable means Of
reconnaissance and possibly carnage.
Two flights of one hour each an.
other fight in which two men were
whirled through the air for upward
of six minutes, were the achievements
of the Wright aeroplane. That these
flights, record breaking as they were,
will even be surpassed by Orville
Wright during his trials at Fort
Myer, is confidently predicted The
first flight, in which the machine cir
cled the drill grounds at the fort fifty
seven times in ifty-seven minutes and
thirty-one seconds, was surpassed
later, when a flight of siXty-two min
utes and fifteen seconds was made.
In the first flight the aeroplane cir
clad the field nrty-dye times at an e,-
timated speed Of thirty-sevon mics
an hour. The power was not fully
turned on in any Of the flights 1t is
estimated that a distance Of 3S5
miles was covered in the longest
flight.
Not satisfied with breaking all dis.
lance and time records for heavier
than air flying machine, Mr. Wright
took Lieutenant Frank p. Lahm. the
aeronaut of the signal corps, for
spin around the drill grounds. and
making a new record for a two-man
/ flight All this happened so quickly and
unostentatiOusly that the spectators,
among whom were members of the
cabinet and high officers of the army
and navy, could hardly realize that
this time had been made and that a
new era in the progress of the civ
| ilized world was begun
/ The aerOplane rose grandly into
| space and sailed over the green sward
of the drill grounds. Higher and high
er it rose, turned at slight angle as
| the aviator brought it around at the
far side of the field and raced along
at increasing speed. There was hard.
| ly a CULVER of the aeroplane in the
| first few rounds of the field Round
after round the machine Travelled on,
| turning short turns or shooting along
| the stretches and presenting some.
] " T. n nj %
| racing about an imaginary course in
! the air.
Before the fight was begun a
watch was tied to the seat next to
/ Wright and when a little later he saw
/ that he had stayed a'oit for over an
/ nour, the time required in order for
/ him to fulfill his contract VITA the
/ government, he made for mother
/ earth" Swooping down in a sort of
bump the bumps fashion, the ma.
/ chine bore down in the direction of
! the crowds, which quickly scattered,
/ fearing that the aeroplane would run
/ them down Raising cloud Of dust
as it Slid along on the skids the aero,
+ plane, which weighs nearly a thousand
pounds, came to stop within twenty
feet of the crowd.
AS Mr.. Wright stepped from the seat
and removed his goggles he was
/ greeted with lusty cheers
Lieutenant SelfriGge was the first
to congratulate Mr. Wright. Score.
tary Metcalf of the navy, Secretary of
War Wright and numerous army and
navy officers, together with enthusi,
asts from every walk of life, gathered
about the wizard of the air to grasp
his hand,