New-York tribune., 1908-09-22
A. NJ. HERRING'S OFFER
WOULD FLY FOR WRIGHT.
Begins His Ozon Aeroplane Tests at
Fort Myer Nent Month.

A. NJ Herring said yesterday that. If Wilbur
Wright could not return from France to complete
| the series of tests for the government In the
Wright aeropane and no other man could be found,
| he would most gladly operate the machine provid-
! ing arrangements satisfactory to the Wright broth
| ers and the government could be made.
only the government tests remain to be made, y
said Mr.. Herring "and what 1 mean is that 1 know
| pretty we'll what the Wright aeroplane is. and l
also fully the danger at Fort Myer from
| treacherous air currents. The machine has done
practically all that the government requires. Per
haps their assistant, Mr.. Furniss. may complete
the official trials.
Il deeply deplore the sad accident of last week,
which, however-and / cannot impress this too
stronghold not prove that there was anything
wrong with the design of the machine. The pro-
peler broke. similar accident might happen to
any kind of machine. a mans suspender but
ton snaps off. It is testimony against the mans
moral stamina"
Mr.. Herring is to begin experimenting at Fort
Myer with his aeroplane, which many experts
believe will eclipse anything yet shown by aerial
navigators, October 13. He spoke fearlessly
yesterday concerning his ability to meet the gov
ernments specifications, and remarked that his
workmen were begging him for the honor OF riding
in the machine with him the preliminary tests
He pointed out, however. that prime requisite
In an aviator was mistaken nerve and with refer
ence to the breaking in of members of the aero
nautc detachment of the army, said that If it were
possible for the first lessons to be given at some
less dangerous place than Fort Myer, 1t would un-
doubtedly be better for all concerned. He suggest
ed the sand dunes at Kitty Hawk, N. c., or the
prairies of Illinois, where long turns could be
made and the machine kept within eight or ten feet
of the ground.
Discussing the accident that caused the death
of Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, Mr.. Herring
said:
I'm turning corner with the machine especially
in making quick turns, the gyroscopic resistance of
propeller varies. This sets up throbbing ac-
ton. twice each revolution which makes the
chine and all its wires vibrate. The accident how
ever, undoubtedly caused by this at the same
time that the machine struck by wind gust
DETECTED upward by the shed over which the ma
chine was passing The conditions occurring
at the same time probably increased the vibration
of the wire enough to come within range of the
propeller blade.
The accident, to ns' mind. would never have
CURED in straight flight over obstructions,
and 1t brings out the desra bility of holding all
further tests-especially where a operator is
being instructed-over level ground over a marsh
wide prairie stretch. because under such condf-
tions neither sudden turns high flights would
be necessary In fact. during instruction. the
chine could be operated at such low altitude that
there would be no danger from sudden landing,
because there would room enough for the
machine to get far out of balance before it would
touch.'
Mr.. Herring explained that at Fort Myer 1t was
necessary to go hundred and fifty feet or
above the ground to get of range of the dis
turbances up by the houses sheds and trees one
had to pass over, else the making of excessively
short turns keep over the military parade
ground. Even this he said, intersected by
trolley line that made necessary the travelling at
higher level than a prairie.
IF you going teach man how to row.
you wouldn't put him in the rapids of Niagara for
his first lesson" said Mr. Herring That is what
you are doing when you put novice at flying into
aeroplane at Fort Myer. do not like to think
that unnecessary danger should be faced by those
men whom the signal corps of the army may select
to accompany me on my flights next month"