New-York tribune., 1909-07-17
sCURTISS'S FINE FLIGHT
STAYED UP HALF HOUR.
Says He Could Haze Kept on In
defniteIy-WM F[y To-day.

Glenn H. Curtiss, the aeronaut. scared like
bird over Hampstead Plains yesterday morning
and was watched by crowd of several hundred
persons, who cheered the skill with which he
handled the g3r craft Curtiss made two flights
on the first occasion remaining up for twelve min
utes. and on his second flight speeding about in
the upper regions for nearly half an hour When
he descended from his last flight he explained to
the onlookers that he could have remained up in
definitely had he chosen.
The first flight was made a few ro,nu+ee after :
O'Clock. and the other between and o'clock
The course a three mile one and as the
aviator flew around and around It he seemed 10
nave the aeroplane under perfect control Curtiss
remarked later that he handled the machine just
as easily, and that the whole mechanism worked
as perfectly and as freely, as any automobile ever
did the ground
MI Curtss reached the tent where he stores
his airship shortly before o'clock and although
thick fog prevailed a the time and it was
Impossible TO see more than few yards he an
| nounced that he would make a flight 'lst as soon
as hs could get ready After testing all the work
ing parts Of the aeropane the aeronaut said that
he was ready, and few minutes after o'clock
with only a few men witnesses he rose like a
bird.
The fog had begun to lift and il was rossibIe TO
follow him in the air for about quarter of mile
and then he was lost In the mist. He appeared in
view again few minutes later. and. waving his
hand TO those on the ground. kept on He made
five circles OF the course and then came 10 earth
on almost she same spot from which he had as
cended. He said he was hungry and had come
down TO get something to eat. Just as soon as
he had his breakfast. he said he would make an
other fight.
A few minutes after : o'clock when there were
about two hundred spectators. the machine was
made ready for a flight. This time the fog had
entirely lifted, and the aerOnaut was visible to the
crowd over the entire three-nile course He kept
TO the same three-mile course and went round and
round for nearly" thirty minutes when he came
down, amid the shouts and cheers of the crowd
that had been watching him.
In discussing the flights Mr.. Curtiss said:
Il do not know exactly how long was up in the
, air. but do know that made the longest fight
that has been accomplished by aerOplane in
America this year. am sure that I made not
less than sixteen miles and perhaps a little more.
which is the record for this year. OF course
longer flights have been made. but not this year,
you see mine to-day was the best that has been
made in 1903 I could have remained in the air
much longer am sure, as my machinery run
ming finely and the airship responded TO every
manpuvre I attempted. My principal object now
is TO make long flights, so that l will be able sue
cessfully 10 carry off the grand prize the inter
national contest to be held at Rheims. France. in
couple of months.
IF my machine behaves it did this morning
have not the least doubt that I will be the
winner Of the big prize. To-day I logged along
at about forty miles hour. l could have made
greater speed, but bent keeping my ma
chine in the air more than accomplishing any
speed record.
Il was up in the air and naturally did not take
any specific time 10 the length Of my flights
and, strange TO say, there wide difference in
time between those who made the attempt time
me. Some who held watches say up in the
air little twenty-One minutes, while others
ma 5e il twenty-six minutes One enthusiast in
sisted that l up half hour. l believe
that up about twenty-five twenty-three
minutes but I could just well have remained
in the air for an indefinite period I came down
again after felt safe that my ship in perfect
running order and capable of making a much
longer fight.
Tomorrow morning. about go o'clock I am to
make attempt TO win the cup offered by The
Scientific American for the longest flight of the
current year You know won this cup in competi-
tfon last year at HammondspOrt- Tomorrow
morning l do not expect TO have any competitors
but will surely beat the record l made this morn
ing
Il believe IN early morning flights because the
wind better suited and the crowd is smaller two
very good reasons