The Washington herald., 1909-07-20
WRIGHT BIPLANE
ANSWERS RIVALS
Continued from Page One.


circles reaching to the very limits Of the
course. Then he turned his rudders and
warped his planes until he revolved IN
circuits so small that his progress was
continual curve.
Eats Out of His Hand.
He scared $50 feet above the surface Of
the earth. He came down so low that
his wingtips grazed the grass. He had
the aeroplane "bluhed." and the machine
simply coughed up its power in con-
tinuous blast OF exhausts, and said, "oh,
you Orvine!"
When the final landing In the darkness
was made, IN an area OF macadam stones,
but without injury to the skids, the two
brothers allowed two broad smiles 10
spread over their faces Orville took his
smile with him, and left hurriedly to
escape the congratulations OF the multi
tude Wilbur wasn't there either when
the congratulations arrived, but he had
time to give out one Of the most illuminat-
ing interviews he has ever allowed 70 get
away from him.
With reference to the unsuccessful at
tempt Of the Frenchman Latham 10 sail
across the English Channel, Wilbur was
asked II he had any ambitions OF the
same sort himself. He grinned-
NO" he said. MY ambitions don't
run in that direction. II they did,
should have been over there long ago
Not Afraid to Try II.
Which, coming from Wilbur, means
that he believes he can fly the English
Channel any day OF the week the wind is
$3.50. and that he looks with placid COM
placency on the efforts OF others who
are not so we'll equipped for the Job.
Il don't see how Latham stayed out
OF the water as long as be did with that
engine OF his" continued the boss OF the
Wright combination. His motor has
never been known 10 run for more than
five minutes at time except once.
The reports are wrong when they say
the air currents above The waters OF the
channel are bad They are remarkably
good. The air there is cool. and 1t is the
warmer air that causes all the trouble
About two years ago people were max
Ing bets IN regard 20 the possibility OF
flying across the English Channel within
five years from that time. 1 told a
number OF friends the flight would be
made we'll within that time, and advised
them TO place their money accordingly"
Which again means that II any per-
sons are surprised when they hear OF
somebody's flying across the English
Channel before the year Of grace 1872,
Wilbur Wright viii not be among those
surprised
Nearly Ready for Tests.
In speaking OF the aeroplane. beside
which he was standing, the older brother
said
The bearings are wearing down II
good shape. and will soon be running
perfectly smooth. The engine Is still
not giving its full power. but we expect
to have it running full tilt in a few days
We have made no plans yet IN regard
20 the date OF the official tests, nor have
we decided who will be the passenger.
shall not go up"
The general expectation Is. however
that Lieut.. Foulois will be the first pas
senger carried, inasmuch as he Is 20 be
the first Signal Corps officer trained n
the operation OF the aeroplane after the
official tests are completed.
An unusually large crowd applauded the
flights. IN the ranks OF which were Secre-
tary OF the Navy Meyer, Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth, Theodore Roosevelt, jr.. the
-AANAN+e-AA <AAAAhc99e-f@eA ~C-A-A At-- AN~~u IL
rector Of the International Bureau OF the
American Republics. Gen. Aleshire. Quar-
termaster General. and Gen CroZier,
Chief OF Ordnance.
High Wind During Day.
Through the day high wind had rudely
jostled the silver cups OF the anemo-
meter, or wind gauge. and It was nearly
$50 o'clock before It had dropped suffi-
ciently to allow a flight The aeroplsne
was wheeled TO the starting derrick and
adjusted over the monoran. After a
warming-up run OF the engine, Orvine
climbed into his seat. The Signal Corps
men fell back. and only Wilbur was left
standing tense at the right wing tip. with
a stop watch in one hand and his other
hand resting on the canvas-covered
frame. At 6:34:45 Orville released the
1,5OO-pound weight, which came crashing
TO the ground while the giant bird leaped
down the track
The. machine quickly took an altitude
Of fifteen feet, lowered there for a DIS
tanco of a hundred yards. and then scared
Up for the first turn to the left The inner
wing swayed downward toward the
ground The aeroplane swept 10 the left
rose, turned, and headed back. With a
volley Of handclapping the crowd realized
that the ascent had been successful and
that a flight was assured
Spectators Are Thrilled.
1t remained for the spectators to fec
thrill Of admiration as Orville showed
almost Immediately that, having the aero
plane where he wanted It, he was going
to put it through its PAGES in the good
old way Of last fall Intense enthusiasm
took hold Of the spectators, and as time
after time the daring aviator swept down
the north end of the field. 100 feet in the
air and directly in front of the tents, with
sudden on-rush Of explosions from the
iron-sinewed motor. he was greeted with
handclapping. which he could not hear
and with the waving Of handkerchiefs
which he did not glance aside 20 see.
The flight was brought to an end with
pretty landing at 7:OO;Os o'clock. after
the machine had been in the air twenty
five minutes and eighteen seconds VII
bur estimated the speed at forty-one OF
forty-two miles an hour. although II
seemed TO the spectators that the flyer
had travelled faster than ever before. The
engine seemed to be in the pink OF con-
dition. and missed hardly an explosion
Flies in the Dark.
The second flight was commenced al
7;S4:11, and ended at s:O4:11, after the ma
chine had been in the air exactly halt
an hour and had made twenty-nine and
half circuits OF the parade ground AS
the darkness grew deeper and deeper II
seemed inconceivable TO the spectators
that Orville would attempt to better the
time made in the preceding flight. AS the
record Of the previous trip was ap-
reached T.,