Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-10

Myer today, establishing new aero
plane record that not only assures the
| success of the official trials before the
| army board, but indicates that aeria
| flight is now only a matter of develop
| ment. War on land and sea will find in
the aeroplane, it is now conceded by
military men, valuable means Of
reconnaissance and possibly carnage.
Two fights of approximately ono
hour each and another flight in which
two men We're whirled through the all
for upward of six minutes were the
achievements of the Wright brothers
aeroplane today. That the flights, rec
ordbreaking as they were, will even
be surpassed by Orvllle Wright during
his trials at Fort Myer, is confidently
predicted. The first flight, made this
morning, in which the machine circlod
he drill grounds at the fort 81 times
in 81 minutes and 81 seconds was sur
passed this evening when flight of 81
minutes and Is seconds was made.
Not satisfied with breaking all dis
lance and time records for a heavier
than air flying machine, Mr.. Wright
took Lieut. Frank T. Lahnl. the aero
naut of the signal corps. for a spin
around the drill grounds. making a
new record for two-man flight All
this happened so quickly and uiuStcn-
tatiously that the spectators. among
whom were members of the cabinet and
high officers of the army and navy.
could hardly realize that history had
been made and that new era in the
progress Of the civilized world was hc-
gun.
The morning fight was witnessed ty
only a handful of enthusiasts but the
news spread so rapidly that fu,ly 1910
people gathered on the military reser-
walton across the Potomac from the
national capital to see the afternoon
event.
At SIC. as the sun was disappearing
below the Virginia horizon. the latest
invention OF men to challenge the laws
of nature. rose gradually into space and
sailed over the greensward of the drill
grounds, Higher and higher it rose,
turned at a slight angle as the aviator
brought it around at the far Side of the
field and raced along at increasing
speed. There was hardly CULVER of the
aerOplane in the first few rounds OF the
field, Mr.. Wright evidently having the
steering apparatus well in hand. Rising
and lowering at will, the sight OF the
man built bird was most impressive
Round after round the machine travel
ed on, cutting short turns, shooting
along the stretches and presenting
somewhat the appearance of an auto
mobile racing about an imaginary
course in the air. The aviator seemed
oblivious of the crowd below until hay
ing broken the record of 81 minutes and
81 seconds, established by him This
morning, the crowd raised a cheer that
told him of his new achievement Then
Mr. Wright waved his acknoM ledge
ments AS he alighted at the conclu-
sion of the trip a letter from his broth
er, Wilbur Wright, who has been max
ing flights at LIE Mans, France, was
handed 70 him. Mr.. Wright smiled as
he broke the seal. 1t was the first let
ter he had received from his brother
for nearly two weeks and it seemed to
interest him more than the record
breaking flight he had just completed.
Lieut.. Selfridge, who operated the
first successful aeroplane of tho Aerial
Experiment Association at Ham
mondsport, N. Y, was the first 10 con-
graduate Mr.. Wright. Secretary Met
calf Of the navy, Secretary of War
Wright and numerous army and navy
officers, together with enthusiasts from
every walk of life, gathered about the
wizard of the air to grasp his hard. AS
three cheers We're given, Wright calmly
gave orders for placing the machine on
the STARTING track to prepare for an
other fight.
Turning to Lieut.. Lahm. one Of the
leading aeronauts of the army, Mr..
Wright said: A1Asa
How would you like to go up with
me?"
1t was an invitation that needed no
repetition.
With the two men, Mr.. Wright and
Lieut.. Lahm. in their places. the start
was made at GAP, the machine appar
emily rising from the ground as easily
with its increased burden as it had
with only the inventor aboard. AS it
sped along the road bordering Airing
ton cemetery, it came in direcr line
between the on-lookers and the full
moon. D.p - asfl
AS the machine completed the first
round, the motor skipped" on one
cylinder, but on the succeeding five
trips there was no evidence that the
Engine built by the Wright brothers ,
was over-taXed by the great strain ira
posed upon it. After the sixth lap, q
beautiful landing was made within 100
feet of the Serial garage" where the
machine is sheltered from the -ele-
nents
Mr. Wright. as usual, displayed no |
emotion hut Lieut. Lanm was most |
1T beats spherical ba;
oonirlg," was his first comment II had |
4 fine trip but did not attempt to man
pulate any of the levers. I watched |
Mr.. Wright closely as he handled the |
apparatus. We could see
Washington in the distance and every
hing that went on below. 1t was a
great sensation and / am impatient