The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-12
WRlGh1'S NEW PLANS.
He Is Making Important Changes in
His AerOplanc.

Washington. Sept. 12.~crvillo
Wright's assistants, c. w. Taylor and
G. W. Furnass, spent part of today
making a few changes in the aero
plane which were decided upon by the
aeroplanist after the flight made yes
terday for the purpose of determining
the rate of speed at which the ma
chine has been travelling. The sprock-
ct of the shaft now has ten teeth. The
gearing will be reduced by substitute
ing a sprocket with nine teeth. Thi:
will result in a greater number o.
revolutions of the shaft in proportion
to the propeller thereby increasing tht
power, but diminishing the speed. Tho
latter will then be increased by giving
greater speed to the motor.
In his flights so far Mr.. Wright mas
used his motor at 1,240 revolutions pc.
minute but when the new sprocket i.
in place he intends to increase this to
1,450 revolutions.
With this change the aviator expects
to maintain an average of at least ~
miles per hour. which would give nun
bonus of $4,000 if this speed were
averaged in the official speed trial. 50
far the motor has never failed and
during the longest flights has neither
become overheated nor shown any IN
dications of skipping to any serious ex :
tent. On one or two flights after II
had been running for over an hour the
motor skipped one cylinder out of the
four in every 10 seconds or more. This
made no apparent d1Herence IN the
speed of the aeroplane and Mr.. VIRGIN
considers it of no consequence. 1t mas
been suggested to Mr. Wright by sew
eral officers that he put rim around
his propellers, thus securing gyro-
scopic effect.
THAT would be a great disadvan-
tage," was Mr.. Wright's comment.
THE machine would then travel in
f-1,4 lipa iS inst what we
don't want. We want to have its con-
troll absolutely in our power
Mr.. Wright explained that having
the two propellers turn in opposite dl-
rection was not for any particular pur-
nose but was necessary because the
rudder and wires which control it are
in the center of the craft, thus pre-
venting the use of one propeller.
I'VE will try only one propeller later
on he said.
Orville Wright has shown CONSIDER
able anxiety over the health of his
brother, Wilbur Wright, who is max
ing flights at Lemans, France. He has
heard that Wilbur is suffering slightly
from fever.
Mr. wright is being overwhelmed
with requests from enthusiasts to &C
con1nany him on one of his flights.
Mr.. Wright said that he is going to
Furope Immediately after his official
flights at Fit. Myer and, while ne IS
non-committal, he does not deny tna1
his object is to make an effort to cap
ture the prize of $4,000 offered by the
London Daily Mail to the aviator MAX
the first flight from London to Man
chester, England. The distance is about
100 miles and as two stops are al
lowed for replenishing the fuel supply
IT would consist of three flights OF SO
miles each Mr.. Wright feels confdent
that he can fulfill the conditions with
the same type of machine he is using
at FIT. Myer. Secretary or War Wright
has approved the recommendation of
the signal corp that A. NJ. Herring Of
New York, be granted an extension of
time of 80 days from September ID to
have his aeroplane at FIT. Myer ready
for official tests. The extension is be-
cause of the incompletness of his ma
obi