The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-19

Lieuts. Frank z. Lahm and Frederick
D Humphreys qualified yesterday for the
diplomas in aviation they are soon to re-
ceive from the hands OF Wilbur Wright
For the first time since the army school
was opened at College Park, each of the
officers was given practically complete
control OF the biplane in fight. and in a
wind. at that. which made the machine
act as skittish as a young colt in fly
time.
Mr. Wright engineered the starts and
landings. Once or twice he put a hand
to lever TO keep the machine little
hands were within six inches Of the gov
erning rods. poised for instant action in
case Of emergency. The aquiline Day
tonian is a careful man with himself. and
re is a careful man with others.
But otherwise, the two pupils had the
ups and downs and the turns and slant
lngs Of the biplane IN their own charge,
and they acquitted themselves so well
that Wilbur Wright had a satisfied grin
on his face when he came down for the
night. The little group Of enthusiasts
which braved cutting fall wind to stand
watch at the aeroplane shed was i'm
pressed by the clever way the officers
guided their new acquisition through the
air.
New Hands Apparent.
There were indications TO the eye used
to watching the manipulation Of the
Wright brothers that hands new at the
business were at the levers. The upward
climbs and gliding dips. and the slant OF
the planes on the turns had little un-
certainty In them that has not been
seen before. But. all things considered.
the machine rode remarkably smoothly,
and IT will not take many more lessons
10 make the officers skilled In the game
Of aviation. II was probably the flrst
time any man other than one of the
Wright brothers has operated a Wright
machine in this country.
Mr.. Wright. in speaking OF the time re-
CURED 10 train a man in the use OF the
machine. said a pupil could be taught In
not much more than an hours actual fly
ing. Lieut.. Lahm has been up In the BIZ
plane at College Park six times, or total
Of sixty-eight and half minutes. Lieut.
Humphreys has made the same number
Of trips. lasting in all ffty-two minutes
Tn other ways, too. yesterday was the
aviation schools big day so far. Six
flights were made. which is record In
that regards and one Of them, in which
Lieut.. Lahm had the seat beside Mr..
Wright, was the longest yet at College
Park. lasting eighteen minutes and thir-
ty-seven seconds.
-Four ascensions were made IN the
morning. starting early. At $50 O'Clock
the weight thudded 70 the ground at the
base Of the starting tower, and the ma
chine shot on with Mr.. Wright and Lieut.
Humphreys aboard. Lieut.. Humphreys
was gwen control Of both levers and
showed that he could pilot q flying ma
chine with as much cleverness as he can
drive an automobile. The flight lasted
eleven minutes and forty-seven seconds.
Lieut.. Lahm Goes Up.
on the second flight. which started az
III o'clock. Lieut.. Lahm was taken up,
and be also took charge Of the flying
That was the long fight, and the ma
chine did not come down 10 the ground
until eighteen minutes and thirty seconds
had been batted into eternity By the
wlHrling propelleTs. The third flight.
with Lieut.. Humphreys beside Mr.
Wright, began at 7:47 o'clock and ended
ten minutes and thirteen seconds later,
and the fourth. with Lieut. Lahm. began
at 1878 and last eleven minutes and thir-
ty-four seconds. on the last two trips
Mr.. Wright kept entire charge OF the
machine himself, as the wind was rising
and was too squally to suit
With good mornings work pasted 10
the history OF aviation, Mr.. Wright went
to Washington on a still hunt for some
clothes TO make winter aeroplaning q
little less OF a hardship. He invested In
a sweater with neck that came close
w under his ears and a pair Of heavy
gloves built In the gauntlet mode 70 pro-
tect his wrists.
He returned 10 the aviation field late
In the afternoon, and the next fight Of
the day did not start until 5,O6:50 o'clock.
II lasted eight minutes and twenty-five
/ seconds. Lieut.. Humphreys had charge
OF the levers most of the tine
Lieut. Lahm captained the ship through
most Of the next and last hight which
started at 5:21 80 and ended eight minutes
and twenty seconds later. The machine
was then tucked into the shed for the
night
Many believed that when Mr.. Wright
went to town in the afternoon he Nigh
| drop around to the War Department ana
pick up the $4,000 the government is go
! ing 20 pay him. At the department, how
ever, they said they had seen nothing Of
Mr.. Wright. and later at College Park
Mr.. Wright said he "hao S=en nothing OF
! the money" When asked how he thought
the sum would be paid. he said he didn' I
| quite know. but supposed it might be in
some sort of an order.
Anyhow" he said, II guess II won't
be in dollars"
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