Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-11
WRIGHT SCARS FIGURE EIGHT
HIS FLYER SOMEWHAT BALKY
IN SECOND TRIALS.
Flops to Earth First Time, Then
Flies Twice Successfully Over
Tree Tops.

LIE MANS, August 11.,Wilbur Wright
made further experiments with his aero
plane here yesterday. but was not as sue
cessful as on his first flight. His first
start was a failure. The second time he
remained in the air for forty-two seconds
and on the third trial he caused the ma
chine to describe a beautiful figure eight.
The last flight occupied one minute and
forty-three seconds. Mr.. Wright said he
stopped because he wanted to.
1t seemed to the spectators when the
first attempt was made that the man
holding the end of the lower plane to
keep it level so it would move along the
fixed starting rail failed to let go at the
right time At any rate that end of the
plane struck the ground slightly and the
machine slowed around.
Wright Explains.
Wright shut off the power at once. He
explained that he had raised the end of
the plane to pass over an uneven bit Of
ground. He had then leaned over to the
motor to increase the speed and straight
en- the planes, but forgot to raise them
again in time to pass over the uneven
ground.
AS the car remained for only four sec
onds on the starting rail there was not
much time for reflection.
The second start was successful The
car ran along the rail for three seconds
rose and sailed up the course. 1t turned
to the left and rose higher and again
turned to the left. but soon after it SEEM
ed to sWerve rather than to turn and
landed gently after describing a semi
circle.
Wright was delighted with this semi
circle, the diameter of which was one
hundred feet. the shortest on record. He
full trn6 10 Coid hn hod
stopped because he found himself too
close to the trees to rise over them. This
flight lasted forty-f1ve seconds.
Makes Figure 8.
1t was getting dark. but Wright. to
please Nine. Berg. the wife of his business
associate, began another flight. which was
successful. He made a large f1gpre s
and remained in the air one minute and
forty-three seconds flying at one point
over some pine trees.
The aeroplane started at the rate of
about thirty-one miles an hour. The spec
tators got the impression that the flight
could have been continued indefinitely.
No record of the distance travelled can be
given except by guesswork based On the
time the machine was in the air and an
average rate of thirty-one miles an hour.
The apparatus was taken out of the
shed at IL o'clock for the benefit of a
having cameras pointed them toward the
aeroplane, whereupon an order was given
that no photographs be made when the
machine was stationary. Snapshots when
it was moving would be allowed. This
order caused several angry scenes, es-
pecia!ly in the case of a captain in the
French army, who is also a writer on
aviation for the press, which ended in the
confiscation of his plates and his de-
parture.
Wants Calm Conditions.
Wright was desirous of getting some
practice in calm weather. he being sure
of success when the wind was blowing.
Some 1900 persons were present in the
afternoon, including Delagrange, the avia-
tor. Everybody waited until the start
was made at about $50 O'clock when the
calm was absolute. The tree tops showed
no movement and the leecy clouds seemed
to be motionless, too.
The presence of the crowd was by no
means to Wright's liking. He refused to
begin until NJ. Bollee pledged his word
on behalf of the company that nobody
would go on the track during the flights.
The crowd was silent as Wright descended
from the first start. hearty cheer
greeted him the second time.
The motor worked badly until the last
flight, requiring eight minutes manipula-
ton before the first attempt at an ascent
was made.