The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-19
Wilbur'S AScenSions in
France Prove Him Leader
in Aeronautic World.
TWO NEW RECORDS
ARE ESTABLISHED
American Inventor Stays Up Longer
and Goes Higher Than Any
Other Flyer.

IL view OF the fact that the War
Department has just made an urgent
request, in the annual report TO Con-
EreSs, for more funds for aerial ex-
pertinent work, army officers here to-
day are enthusiastic in their praise or
the work OF Wilbur Wright in France.
who yesterday broke two more rec
ords for aerial flight
The particular interest attaches to
Wright. not only because OF his won
derful work with a heavier than-air
machine. but because. being an Amer
lean and brother OF Orville Wright.
under contract 10 furnish a similar
machine to the United States Govern
ment. the achievement is one that re-
bounds 10 the credit OF the American
people
Paris papers. which for d long time
delighted ia calling Mr. Wright the
American buffer" are now calling
him Record man Wright They cam
not find enough superlatives TO tell
what they think about his work.
Wright mace both lights in an at
tempt 10 win prizes one is the Mich
elm Cup, 10 be awarded 20 TIE aero
naut who makes the long est-sUstaIued
flight IN an aeroplane curing the pres
ent yer-r.
Carries s., 700 Prize.
II carries with ii I money prize or
Si.0fs. The other is the De La Sarthe
Aero Cub Cup, for The highest flight II
has q money value OF 800. These two
prizes, apart from the purses, have
been the trophies most sought after BY
every aeronaut using an aeropisns.
virgins performance makes him
Fsrg
aJors. and Il j. a fOregOne conclusion
Jhal 'tese coveted prizes will 90 10 him.
Ia spite Of vino blowing twenty feet
o second, Wright brought out hts bird
like machine from ats shed. and AZ a
few minutes after 10 O'Clock scared
lin Cup. As the aeroplanc circled
around the camp 10 was timed by mem
Ders OF the Aero Club and watched by
enthusiasts who had come from Parts
20 witness the flight The ma.i Inc cir
Cied with ClOCklike regularity at a speed
Of about, thiTty-tour miles an hour.
sometimes disappearing behind tie trees
al one end Of tho field hut always com
ing into view Al the same point As the
officials counted OF the minutes their
wonder grew. Wright never lifted his
T'dcnine higher than 100 feet Eor allowed
IL 10 50 lower than seventy-fye.
Comes Down Easily.
After one hour. Iifty-three minutes
and nfty-nine seconds Wright came
easily TO earth at the place ne started
from.
4 committee. which included Leon,
Bollee, Pellier. Durand and Verney.
crowded about him TO cor gratls ate him
on his remarkable performance
The distance traN eled is officially given
as Hinety-nine kiomeJers or about
ElNty-three miles. but the actual dis
lance was somewhat greater. The aero
field.
In the afternoon Wright again took
out his machine 10 t-y for a record in
a altitude. Balloons had been attached 10
ropes lo0 meters lover so feet) long
Wright flew easily over these and came
again 10 earth, after being in the air
only a few minutes
His high fight aStOHished no one. FOR
only fey days ago he went within "A
few yards Of the same mark. but the
distance was nearly three times a : great
As his Longest previous journey, which
even then was far IN advance az all
other aviators using aeroplaues.