The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09
WILBUR WRIGHT
 FLIES IN AIRSHIP Chic Boy Makes Good With
 His Own Invention
FAST TIME IS RECORDED
American Makes Successful Test of His Aeroplane Before the People of a Little French Town,
 Who Are Enthusiastic.

Lemans, France, August S.-Wilbur Wright of Dayton O., made a flight of three and one-half kilometres (2.17 miles, with his aeroplane here this afternoon in three minutes and five seconds. Through out the flight MT. Wright had perfect control of the machine.
 The successful flight made by Wilbur Wright with his aeroplane today puts an end to the long wait in America and Eu- rope to see what the Wright brothers were capable of accomplishing In Europe the mysterious Wrghts' have been an absorbing problem for aviators, and they have interested the representatives of va rious governments. The long postpone ment of a public exhibition of what the Americans had to show the world aroused the liveliest comment, and from some quarters a touch of scepticism, 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 pre- pdlSu lOnS anu pdllSLlly duu CdISluuy for the great occasion which he was to dispel these doubts and uphold the name of America. Though disabled as the re- suit of an explosion of tube, Wright labored steadily. He put his machine to- gether in shed in a field just outside Yention.
 Weather conditions for the test were splendid. The sky was blue and without a cloud, and a gentle northwest breeze was blowing It was shortly before 3 o'clock this afternoon when an aeroplane, which was the same as that used in the United States, was brought out of its shed and mounted on a small single wheeled chariot, which in turn was rest ing on a single rail on the ground.
 After preliminary test of the ap- paratus, MT. Wright declared all was ready, and took a position beside the motor.
 By means of falling weight rigged on a beam erected in the ground and con- meeting with cords running to it, the chariot was started running over the rail, and the aeroplane. thus having been given a forward motion, suddenly left the char tot and ascended like d bird to a height of about 40 feet. Then 1t swerved and turned in its course and sailed up the field. It dipped gracefully up and down, attaining a height of 50 feet. and then descended to between % and 40 feet. MT. Wright thus twice circled the field. and then stopping the motor, brought the aeroplane directly in front of the impro- vised grandstand, which was filled with wildly cheering spectators. The descent was sure and easy, and was carried out with great nicety without causing shock to either the machine or its opera tor. Afterward MT. Wright said to the Asso- ciated Press:
 T am perfectly satisfied with my first flight. l made one or two little mistakes, but I am confident that I will be able to do all I hope for in later trials, prob ably next week"
 Estimates vary as to the distance GOV cred by the aeroplane, but the average was three kilometres, about Is miles. Hart O. Berg, European representative of the Wright brothers, gave the official time as l minute and 56 seconds. The populace of Lemans is enthusiastic i over the ascension Many youngsters ] who had been bidden not to witness it | were perched in trees surrounding the | course, and betrayed their presence by l spontaneous yells as MT. Wright sailed by