The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-05-29

to keep close to the earth. They do
this for two reasons. In the first
place, if they are to fall, they would
rather fall a short distance. In the
second place, it is really more diff
cult to navigate close to the earth,
just as it is harder to navigate a
ship close to a dangerous shore.
And they want practice in navigat-
ing their machine.
They make flights in circles and
curves, aiming to return to the
starting point. There is no reason,
however, why the machine they
have made would not soar 10000
feet into the air, and travel on a
straight line for Is or 20 miles. But
they have never tried any such
spectacular stunts.
The Wright brothers began their
experiments in aerial navigation in
1896. They first built a double.
iecked glider, and, with the help of
two men to launch it, the operator
found he could leave the side of a
steep sand hill and slide down
hill on the wind
This machine was % feet long
and IA feet vide, including the
rudder, and was about six feet high
1t carried no engine or motor of
any kind, and it's purpose was to
fly in the wind more like a man
carrying kite than anything else,
Experiments with gliding ma
chimes of this sort lasted from 1900
to 1903.
Then the Wrights decided il
was time to take the next step,
and add a motor to their gliding
machine.
1t was December of that year be-
fore they were ready for the first
test of their man-carrying motor
driven apparatus. But on Dec. II
the test was made, and the machine
| flew.
That date really marks the begin
ming of mans mastery of the air,
SO long essayed in vain. The flight
was very short one, being about
as long as a city block; but it. was
enough to show that the principle
was correct. 1t showed the Wrights
that it was possible to build a ma
chine which could carry man, ami
propel itself with its own power
fuel, etc, and be subject to the con
troll of the operator.
| Nearly five years have passed
since then. A number of machines
have been built by the Wrights, and
flown, some at Kitty Hawk, and
some at their home in Dayton. One
minute was a long time to remain
in the air in the first flight; SO min
utes is the time record up to date
The distance covered has grown
from 852 feet to between "a and
Is miles. Now the machine will
carry two men instead of one
| During all the time since 1900 the
experiments of the Wrights have
been known about AMI watched
with interest by such men as Prof
Alex. Graham Bell, Octave Chanute
and the late Prof. S. P. Langley
secretary of the Smithsonian insti
tuition. These men have talked t.
the writer and have assured him o.
their entire confidence in the worl
of the Wrights, and have added
their opinion that it's importance
will be realized in future years tt
be as great as that of the inventor.
of the steam engine, the locomotive
and similar revolutionizing liscov
cries.
An extra amount of credit is due
the Wright brothers by reason o
their absolute independence il
working out the problem of mar
flight. They are by trade bicycle
mechanics, and have supported
themselves, while working on fiyin'
machines on the side, by selling an,
repairing bicycles in Dayton.
They have worked the machine
out with their own hands, and with
out any subsidy from public or iprl
vate source.
|