New-York tribune., 1909-07-13
WRIGHT In THE AIR
HIS HIGHEST FLIGHT.
Goes Tp I2O Feet and Circles Drill
Ground Sir Times
rF-om N. Trlhrne Bureau. ]

Washington july f2-After more than a week OF
delay Or1ilie Wright mads brief fight at Fort
Myer this afternooE the first time since the accident
20 the aeropane than week ago. The
Wrishts arrived at the drill ground at 4:3O p.
and gave orders for the machine be taken out at
once. At that time there was a breath of wind
and there not more than half a dozen spec
tators most Of them correspondents and photog-
raphers The Signal Service who DO the man
ual labor connected with the fight wers all away
IT the time, and before they could be reassembed
the wind had sprung up The machine was rolled
out TO the starting rail. however, and remained
there Till after O'Clock before the wind went down
sufficiently for the machine, There was not
moro than ten-miIe breeze when the brothers de-
cided make fight and by the time Orvine
climbed into the starting seat it had fallen TO hVe
miles.
The start was made at Z .o6. The motor had
heen tuned up since the last fight still not
working beyond reprOach. About three-fourths OF
the power put on and at the start the nnschins
went into the air at once. Wha- breeze there was
came straight into the face OF the aviator so that
the conditions for the run down the field ideal
Mr. Wright went higher than he has done any
previous fight and after the first round Of the field
when it seen that the machine under fair
control. he went stiU higher. so that at the lowest
part of the drill ground he from 100 to I'D
in the air. His average for the fight was
about seyenty-fve feet. The machine attained
speed Of about forty miles hour. and crcled the
parade grounds half dozen times. a total distance
OF about three and a half miles.
The test was not long. 1t getting dusk when
the start made. and when he down. after
six minutes and four seconds, II decided that
there would he no more trials to-day.
The machine did not behave much better than on
the first fights made this year. 1t steady and
the straight part Of the course but dipped
greatly turning the In fact. the turn at
the south end OF the field bad that, after
making one wide circle there Mr. Wright cut out
that Of the field and few more to the north
sTT-~ zar7a 7h
verse currents to interfere with him
II was said flight that trials Will be held
daily until the machine is ready for the official
fights. The machine to-day seemed 70 make bet
speed. but IT Is not steady in TIE air as the
used last year.
There We're four hundred or five hundred persons
present. The machine shown 10 the German
Arnba ssador by Major Squire. Of the signal corps
Among others present we're the Mexican Ambassa-
dor. Senator Lodge. Representative FlanSdel, OF
louisiana Joseph Letter the Secretary Of the Navy
and Mrs. Nicholas L0ngworth-
Both Of the WrfFhts expressed tnemselT~s as
pleased with the performance They intend 10 make
only short flights until the new bearings have oe
come worn down and the motor IS working perfect
IT, When these things have adjusted themselves 70
the satisfaction OF the aviators they intend 10 al
tack their main task. 20 which these minor flights
are pre1ninary--that OF satisfying the condluons
prescribed by the government for the of7cal test