Evening journal., 1908-09-09

there being only an occasional slip. I
shall try another flight as soon as I
can load up the gasoline tank and look
over the engine"
This mornings fight started at SIS
o'clock, the aeroplane launched as usual
from a track laid upon the ground and
by means of counter balancing weights.
Weather conditions could not have
been more favorable. The sun was
shining brightly. the atmosphere was
crisp and eXhilarating, only a slight
breeze was blowing.
Attracted by the announcement that
Wright was to try for a record flight.
a crowd of army and navy officers and
citizens had gathered on the parade
ground.
Sailing along at express train speed,
he bird-like craft responded immed-
5 ely to the slightest touch of the steer
.ag lever and maneuvered higher or
lower, as the planes were managed by
the operator. Fifty-eight times Wright
circled around the course, while the
spectators breathlessly followed its evo-
lutions.
When it became known that Wright
had broken the worlds record of 81
minutes continued flight, and there
was, apparently. no desire on his part
to return to earth a rousing cheer went
up. From then on every person who
owned a watch kept tab and hurrahed
for the minutes to speed by.
Government to Accept Aeroplane.
This performance ensures the accept
ance of the aeroplane by the United
States government, at the contract
price of $4,000.
Under the terms Of the agreement,
Wright was to have until the last of
September to comply with the govern
ment's requirements, as to speed and
endurance. The machine was TO make
speed Of 40 miles an. hour on a
straight-away course Of five miles and
return. and was to be able to re-
main in the air for one hour.
Although today's test for endurance
was not official, no one who saw the
remarkable flight has any doubt that
Wright can duplicate the feat at any
time. His average speed today was S5
miles an hour but is believed that
there is no question but what he can
make 40 miles on a straightaway course
whenever he cares 10. Wright was not
striving for speed today and the neces-
sarily had to lower the momentum in
taking the curves around the parade
ground
The aeroplane, which is an improve
ment on the one now being tested in
France by Wilbur Wright, weighs in
the neighborhood Of 500 pounds. ex-
elusive of fuel or passengers, and there
are accommodations for two of the
latter II measures eight feet high,
forty feet in width and thirty three feet
fore and aft. and its planes have an
area Of 500 square feet. The motor
especially invented by Wright brothers
lis rated at from "a TO 80 horse power
and is capable OF 1,400 revolutions a
minute. It operates two propellers
driven in opposite directions at the
rear OF the machine each of which
theoretically attains a speed OF more
than 500 revolutions a minute.
To remain in the air the aeroplane
must run at least 26 miles an hour.
The frame work of the machine is
constructed OF spruce and ash, strong
and vet light, covered with muslin
nearly as heavy as regulation balloon
cloth. The planes form what Wright
| calls a 'heliOcord"-or in other words
they are twisted down on the ends
The control Of the upward or down
ward motion Of the machine is achieved
/ by a boxlSite arrangement which pro-
iects a number Of feet in front Of the
main frame work. 1t is also covered
with muslin.