The Washington herald., 1908-08-28

Workmen yesterday put the finishing
touches on Wright brothers aeroplane,
which has been under construction in the
balloon shed of Fort 1Iyer throughout
the week
The heavier-Jhan-air machine is now
ready for a flight II was completed a
day ahead Of the time IL was supposed
70 be delivered at Fort 1Iyer-
The aerOpIane is a strange-lOOking
craft Il vas given a coat Of silver
tinting yesterday. and al first blush ap-
-peared 10 be constructed OF metal All
the framework is made OF West Virginia
spruce and ash, however The forward
steering planes and rUdders were ad-
1usted, the motor installed, and the pro
pellors put in position
First Test Planned for To-day
Il IS probable the motor VIII be tested
II the balloon shed to-day or tomorrow.
n order 10 keep the machine stationary,
NIr Wright says. IL VIII be necessary
20 fasten II 70 the floor Of the shed by
means OF large staples or screws. The
engine viii then be turned on at full
tilt. and run until properly tuned Up
for a fight
AIr. Wright said yesterday he would
leave the seropIaue in the corrugated
steel balloon sned until Monday morning
BY that tine il IS expected the Baldwin
dirigibIe balloon viii be debated and
packed for shipment. either 70 Fort
Omaha OF the Missouri Military Exposi-
ton
When the aeroplane IS transferred
from the shed 70 the tent distance
Of a mile, 1Ir- Wright VIII have the steer
ing planes and rUddsrs removed, as the
machine VIII be carried on a wagon He
believes this VIII be the safest and quick
est way
A weight tower about thirty-five feet
high was erected on the parade grounds
yesterday This tower and the weight
which viii descend through Il viii be
used IN starting the aeroplane-
AeropIane Starts from Tower.
We attach one end OF the rope 10 the
weight st the top Of the tower said AIr-
Wright. tie the other end 10 the front
Of the aeroplane. and then drop the
weight 70 the ground This pulls the
aeropIare forward and gives Us a start
os thirty miles an hour With the motor
working properly. the speed IS increased
10 forty miles an hour in a moment OF
Two. and We are on our way"
The body OF the aeropIale resembles
q huge box kite The main plane is four
teen feet long IN IL is the motor and a
radiator about four feet tall To the
left Of the motor. which IS supplied with
& gasoline tank with a capacity Of Jhir-
teen gallons. is q cushion large enough
for two persons To either end OF the
main plane is attached a wing tip. thir-
teen feet long The three planes to-
gether are forty feet long or across
JCtting ten feet out in front OF the
body Of the aeroplane is a smaller plane
with pointed tips They are controlled
BY q lever attached 10 the front OF the
main planes BY the manipulation OF this
lever the aviator is enabled 70 elevate
OF lower the machine These planes are
fixed horizontally IN front Of the main
planes Less than ten feet behind the
center OF the main planes are the rudders.
which are. Of necessity. placed perpen-
dicuIsrIy-
wing Tips Restore Equilibrium
BY the use Of the other lever in front
Of the machine. the aviator is enabled to
move the rudders from side 70 side, and
twist the ends Of the main planes. or
wing tips, as M Wright calls them
This Is one Of the most interesting fea-
rures Of the aerOplsne- Close inspection
couv5nces one that the top Of the planes
IS absolutely rigid, Yet with a simple
movement Of the lever the aviator pulls
wires attached 10 the wing tips. and
causes the ends TO bend down almost q
foot The ends are bent down 70 regain
balance when II is lost Z pull on the
lever twists one end Of the main plane
down and the other Up, thus restoring
equilibrium The twisting OF the planes
is also employed in making turns in the
air
Directly back Of the motor and about
six feet IN front Of the rudders are two
large laminated propelIers- They are Of
a duh. Erayish hue, and apparently weigh
fifty pounds each. but Wright says the
Two do not weigh more than twenty
pounds These prOpeIlers are slightly diff
fere-r in pattern from that used by Capt
Baldwin. but are called screw prOpeliers.
They are driven in opposite directions
by the motor The chains running from
the motor 10 the sprOckets Of the pro