New-York tribune., 1909-10-10
MILE-A-MINUTE AIRSHIP
PRACTICALLY HERE, SAYS
WILBUR WRIGHT.
Tells What Government AerOptanc
Can Do, after Breaking a
Worlds Speed Record.
rFrorn The Trsbuns Buresu.l


washington Ocs 9.-Wibur Wright broke a
custom tonight and made an aeroplane preoic-
tion. He said that the sixty -mies-sn- hour aero
ulane is not only possibility. but that II Is
practically here under the guise Of the govern
ment's machine which is now operating at Col
Iege Park Mr.. Wright was led to make this
prophecy as a result OF his experience this morn
ing when he made speed OF 4bS2 miles an
hour. and unoficiaIly broke the worlds record
for the closed kilometre.
Replying TO q question m the maximum
speed at which It is possible for an aeroplane TO
travel MI Wright said that with the power
plant now installed IN the government aero
plane. he could make a machine that would
travel from sixty to seventy miles an hour with
one person board. He said he would do this
by making the planes smaller and lighter. and
lesseuing the amount of head resistance of the
machine. He did not go further into the details
OF this aerial racer. but from what is known of
the Wrights' plans and methods it is TO be in
ferred that ne would probably sharpen the enter
ing edge Of the planes, aatten the curve and
change the pitch Of the propeller to suit tho in
creased speed that would be expected Of it. This
is the first time either of the Wrights has made
any prophecy 10 what machine could do
or what they could DO themselves.
The flights this afternoon were OF compare
lively small moment Mr.. Wright had installed
on the new machine = third lever correspond
ing 10 the with which he controls the wing
tips and rear rudder. The intention is to allow
the pupil TO hold this lever lightly and thereby
acquire the feel" of the machine in the air.
Later In his instruction he is allowed TO take the
place of the operator ana manage the machine
while the expert sits beside him, ready to aid
him with the wing tip lever If he sees the ma
chine IS getting beyond the control Of the novice
FIRST ATTEMPT A FAILURE.
The first attempt at fight this afternoon was
a failure Wilbur Wright attempted to start the
machine without the use of the falling weight.
but did not succeed in getting into the air. The
machine left the end of the rail. slid for about
two hundred feet on the ground. and then
stopped. The falling weight was then called
into requisition. and at 5:11 p. N. Lieutenant
Lahm was taken Up. The last fight Of the day
was made at sal. when Mr. Wright again tried
getting gtnto the air without the use Of the falling
weight The engine working better than
on the first trial. and he succeeded IN rising
without difficulty. This flight he made alone.
and he Was in the air for about five minutes
One Of the interested spectators Of the flights
was Minister Wu Ting-fang, who asked many
questions. and invited Nr. Wright TO bring an
aeroplane 10 China soon as he got il per-
fected. The diplomat seemed to think however
ton. and added his belief that the present ma
chine was exceedingly good, although he Gid not
care about riding in IL
Three flights were made in the morning. one Of
which was record breaker. A course of five
hundred metres had been marked out across the
field. and Lieutenant Lahm stood at one end
with stop watch and Lieutenant Humphreys at
the other Mr. Wright circled the field below
Lieutenant Lahm and few over his head for
what would be called a flying start in an auto
mobile race. His time was taken al the end Of
the five hundred metre run. and he then made a
turn and came back. and was timed down the
wind for return fight. His speed with the
wind was p 10 seconds, and against the wind
"a 20 seconds. This figured out 45 81 miles an
hour, or about "A kilometres In the trials AZ
Fort Myer, 40 miles and a fraction was the best
time made over a ten-nnile course. Mr. Wright
few close TO the ground. and on the short course
no distance was lost by swerving TO the side. as
was the case in the longer flight at Fort Myer
II was Immediately after this that he tried the
speed Of the machine circular kilometre
The only difference between this and the first
speed trial was that time was taken out FOR
the turn at the end OF the course He covered
altogether about twelve hundred metres, and
the time was 5S 3-5 seconds He explained after
the fight that the machine was not built for
high speed and probably would be much stead
Ter in the air at forty miles than it was at fortv
four miles.