The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-31
Final Test is Successful h Flight Across the Open
 County
ALL RECORDS ARE BROKEN
 IN SPEED AND DISTANCE
Thousands of Spectators Cheer orviile Wright and His Passenger as They AIight Easily from the
 Bird-Like Airship.

Washington. July 30.--Orville Wright this evening attained the zenith of hard earned success. In 1O-mile cross-coun- try flight in the famous aeroplane built by himself and his elder brother, Wilbur, and accompanied by Lieut.. Benjamin D. Foulois of the signal corps, he not only surpassed the speed requirements of his contract with the United States govern ment, but accomplished the most difficult and daring flight ever planned for a heavier-than- air flying machine. Inci- a measured course. And he established beyond dispute the practicabillty of an aeroplane in time of peace and in time of war.
 His speed was over 42 miles an hour. He made the 1o-mile flight to. Shutter Hill and back in IA minutes and 42 sec onds, including the more than 20 seconds required for the turn beyond the line at Shutter hill, the southern end of the ing the valley of Four Mile run of nearly 300 feet, and the average altitude of his practically level course was about 200 feet above the ground.
 President Taft who has become an en- thusiastic spectator of the aeroplane trials, although two years ago when Sec retary of War he Is said to have &<- pressed to officers profound skepticism as to the accomplishment of such feat as that of which today he saw the com pletion, arrived upon the parade ground Ir. plane land and then participate in the : wild demonstration which welcomed the triumphant aviators He sent an office I to bear his congratulations to the yictoss. Weather Just Right.
 terrific wind and rainstorm early in . the afternoon seemed proyidentially pro- vided to clear and quiet the atmospheric conditions in preparation for the flight, which was delayed only by the failure of the army field telegraph line from Fort Myer to Shutter Hill. It was still out of commission when Orville Wright seizng the moment of the best weather condi- tions he had yet had for the speed test, had the machine placed on the starting rail and gave the motor final test
 The engine worked perfectly and the crowd seemed to realize that an epoch making moment was at hand.
 They pressed forward against the lines which held them back. breathless, intense, eagerly watching every movement of the aviator and his machine. The signal corps detail hoisted the great weight in the starting derrick, which gives the ma chine it's initial impulse.
 Orville Wright inspected personally every detail of preparation. Wilbur walked about neryously, himself inspect ing each minute particular of the mechan- ism upon whose fidelity depended his brothers life. Miss Katherine Wright, the devoted sister made little conceal ment of her excitement. Indeed, she was one of the group which crowded so close to the machine as the crucial moment drew near, that Wilbur Wright was com pelled to ask them to step back.
 Start of the Machine.
 Lieutenant Foulols, 1.-the. wiry, brown as berry, in his khaki uniform and leg gings, at a sign from Orville, climbed into the passengers seat beside the motor. Wilbur and Charley Taylor, the Wrights' mechanician took their places al the pro- pelors. Orville turned on the sparker of the motor and 1t whirled the blades around. The motor picked up the im petus, Orville turned on the speed. and for the first time the propellors of the Wright aeroplane were whirling at their maximum capacity.
 The smooth and even song of the engine aroused the crowd to excited cheering. Orvilie clambered into his seat and gripped the levers. Wilbur. at a nod from his brother. slipped the cable which re- leased the weight. the aeroplane shot down the track rose before 1t reached the end and skinned over the surface of the ground for hundred feet or more. As If drawn up by invisible powers. the white win sed man bird rose higher and higher, eched. the en of the field. turned a a slight angle bld faced about
 Clmbi 6 up as 1t were on the air. high CT and yet higher. Orville brought tho machine at great speed once again fully round the field. Then with short turn he swept about and started southward over the center of the drill Id
 They're off" thousand Soiced shout ed as one.
 Like giant bird. circlin.s the sky until it marks its prey, this man-bird then darted off toward Shutter Hill five miles to the south.
 On Straight Course.
 Unwavering, it kept its straight course and seemed to be rising even higher as 1t passed over the diverse and heavily wood- ed country in the distance. Soon 1t was a mere speck against the pearl sky above the horizon.
 Suddenly the speck was lost to vis,~ and as the seconds passed a silence grew upon the crowd, a silence that spoke of deep concern. Wilbur Wright, standing with leveled glasses beside his sister, strained his gaze in an effort to catch sight of the aeroplane when 1t should rise again above the skyline. Seconds seemed minutes and as the interval became seem ingly alarming great beads of sweat stood upon his brow and his agitation was evident.
 Suddenly the speck came in sight again over the distant hill. A cry swept over 1 the watching crowd.
 There it is,' everybody said, and gave a sigh of relief.
 On 1t came growing with the seconds. 1 It grew and grew until at last almost every detail was visible. Before you knew 1t they were home again over the drill ground, flying low. Al height of per- haps 20 feet 1t swung around again to the  ' MIMI M rpu D A