New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01
ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE WRIGHTs

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR IHb "fIuH -.
Widespread satisfaction will lie felt over the
decision of the Secretary of War to extend the
time in which the Wright brothers may fulfil
their contract with the government. The act is
nothing more than simple Justice The recent
accident was in no sense attributable to the
principle of the aeroplane, and the unofficial
trials at Fort Myer had already shown that tie
DAYTON inventors were able to comply with
practically all of the War Departments require
ments Besides, postponement Of the formal
tests until next summer may work TO the ad-
vantage of the government. The new machine
may be better than the old. 1t would be strange
if this years experience did not suggest TO the
fertile minds Of the Wrights a number of minor
improvements aud the advice OF friendly critics
may also prove helpful.
question which was raised by the fall Of
the Wright machine a fortnight ago relates to
the effect TO be expected when one propeller OF
an airshp becomes disabled and the other "on-
tinues in operation. Twin screw steamships
often break propeller or propeller blade, but
without suffering serious consequences. Their
speed is diminished slightly, and the unbal-
anced thrust Of the one screw which is kept T.
service tends TO throw the ship off her course
The deviation is lateral only and y easily offset
by steering. As the ship is on the surface of the
medium against which her propellers act there
is no tendency to turn over sldewise. 1t Is con-
ceivabIe however. that If the vessel were q
small submarine and were wholly submerged,
the stoppare Of one screw while the other was
running would have another effect. There might
be & tendency on the part Of the craft to rotate
On the shaft which was still in use. As an air
ship is entirely immersed in the medium in
which il moves, the second of these cases better
illustrates the conditions governing its behavior
than the first Both the submarine and the air
ship might be so we'll ballasted as fully TO pre-
serve their equilibrium. and the rotatory ten
dency might be too small TO do any harm. Still,
the question deserves consideration, the more so
since IT seems to be equally applicable to aero
planes and dirigibIe balloons
In future flights with aeroplanes it is to be
hoped that attempt will be made to gain a
greater elevation than the Wrights and Farman
attained Orvile Wright has more than once
been vexed by the eddies and gusts which pre-
vail al low levels especially in the vicinity OF
buildings. Danger from this source would ap-
parently be diminished by going up further
Moreover. If the propelIing machinery becomes
deranged. the higher the airship Is at the mo-
ment the more time the pilot has TO utilize the
side planes which restore equilibrium. Para
doxical as the statement may seem, II is prob
able that the greater the height from which q
machine Ike the Wrights' descends, after power
has been shut off, the less will be the damage
Perhaps Mr.. Herring. whose aeroplane was TO
be tested at Fort Myer this month, will be able
to throw some light on the question before the
season closes.