Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-20
KEEPS NEAR TO EARTH
Flights at Low Altitude by
Wright AeropIane Today.
PUPILS SHOW PROGRESS
Lieut.. Humphreys in Control While
Circling College Park Field.
COLD WEATHER INTERFERES
Wind Blowing at From Eight to
Ten Miles an Hour-Work
Yesterday.
COLD WEATHER INTERFERES

len an nOuT-" DIX
Yesterday.
The first flights of the Wright aeroplane
at College Park today took place soon
after sunrise. 1t was the coolest day
that the aviators have yet faced. and
after two very short flights Mr.. Wright
came down rubbing his cheek and look
ing for snow to put on his nose. declaring
that the flights were off until he got
something to eat The field was white
with hoarfrost, and though there was
scarcely a breath of wind stirring, the
air was bitter cold, and the enlisted men.
grouped shivering around the starting
derrick, declared that they had to pour
hot water over their blankets this morn
ing before they thaWed out enough to
peel off.
1t was SO cold that the gasoline appar-
emily did not work very we'll, and two
false starts were made before the ma
chine got into the air. There was no at
tempt made to start without the weight.
and when the machine was sent away at
Gal it simply skidded along the ground
and refused to mount into the air at all.
The engine was running more slowly than
usual. and apparently it needed to get
warmed up before it was really efficient.
There was another false start made at
7:15 and again the machine would not
take the air. 1t was brought back to the
rail by the enlisted men, who, like the
engine, were by that time getting warmed
up to their work. and at 7:29 it was sent
off again with Lieut.. Humphreys as a
passenger.
Circles Field at Low Altitude.
The field was circled at a low altitude
anil the aviators stayed in the air only
three minutes. At that time it was so
cold when travelling at forty miles an
hour in the air that it was dangerous to
hold the control levers. The machine
came to earth gently and it was then
that Mr.. Wright took hold of the levers
for the first time since getting clear of
the starting rail. He made the landing
himself. but aside from that the machine
was entirely in the control of Lieut.. Hum
phreys.
The next start was made at 1913 o'clock
and Lieut.. Lahm was taken up for a
sever minute flight: The sun had by that
time began to show an effect and the
air over the field was warmer, but both
aviators We're chilled and stiff when they
reached the ground. Mr.. Wright super
intended the putting of the machine away
and then strobe off to breakfast, and was
gone about an hour. When the party re-
turned to the shed Mr.. Wright went up
with Lieut.. Lahm for a fight of two and
a. half minutes and the practice was called
off for the forenoon.
Making Good Progress.
Both of the pupils are progressing very
we'll in handling the aeroplane and prob
ably will be allowed to make flights alone
in the course of another week.
There was six to ten mile wind blow
ing most Of the day. and Mr.. Wright took
advantage of the lull in aerial activity to
come in town in order to look after some
business.
Two Flights Yesterday Afternoon.
Two long flights were made yesterday
afternoon. but on neither of them did
Mr.. Wright leave his pupils so much to
themselves as he had done during the
morning. 1t was fairly quiet throughout
the early afternoon. Lieut.. Lahm had
gone to Washington and Mr. Wright did
not start with Lieut.. Humphreys until
we'll on in the day.
The machine was brought out of the
shed and the first start was made at 4:2l
o'clock. Lieut.. Humphreys was the only
up for spin of eighteen and one-half
minutes. This more than rounded out
full hour that he has spent in the air.
PAGES Railway Train.
The machine flew low. This has been a
Characteristic of nearly all of the Wright
training flights. Round after round Of
the big field was made at a height of
twenty feet, and frequently the machine
was not high as the heads of the
spectators On one of the rounds there
Baltimore.
it was seen that it would course down
the west side of the field about the time
the aeroplane was going down the
straight on that side also. The aeroplane
was a little in the lead when the two
came parallel and the machine climbed
higher. because it has been found that
the trains disturb the air enough to make
steering difficult even at the range OF
fifty yards.
The train and the flying machine ran
on parallel courses for only a few hum
dred yards, but in that time the aero
plane just about held its own. Mr..
Wright had said previously that ne
thought if he were high enough in the
air to be out of the disturbed area he
could speed up the machine and give a
train a good race. If he did not beat 1t.
1t is difficult for him to tell when a
train is coming behind him, however. as
the engine of the aeroplane at close
range makes noise enough to drown the
sound OF the train. 1t is hoped, however.
that before the flights are over there will
be an opportunity for the big white flyer
to show what ii can do against an ex-
press train on the straight.
When the fight with Lieut.. Humphreys
was over the aeroplane was taken back
to the shed and the crowd dispersed, be-
lieving the work was over for the day.
But after the machine was housed, Gen.
Allen, chief of the Signal Corps: Maj.
Sauier and some friends came out. and
as Lieut. Lahm had arrived he was taken
up for flight also
False Start Made.
The engine was not working very we'll
and one false start was made when the
machine slid along the ground for 200
feet wishout rising. Another start was
made at 5:o7 and this time the aeroplane
rose without difficulty. Mr.. Wright was
clad for cold weather with sweater and
gloves and had his trousers legs and
coat sleeves done up with safety pins,
having discarded the tasteful drapery of
white wrapping cord that he used for
several days.
Lieut.. Lahm was given a flight of a
little over nineteen minutes. and handled
the machine alone. with the exception of
the rising and the landing. both of which