Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-27
CIRCLES THE AERODROME
First of Her Sex in United States to
Have the Privilege.
IS DELIGHTED WITH THE TRIP
Was in the Air Four Minutes-Con.
tinuation of the instruction
at College Park.

diversion of more than ordinary in
terest from the daily flights was fur
nished today by Wilbur Wright at the
government aerodrome at College Park
Md. Having coached his three army Of
f1cer pupils to the point where they now
are able to operate an aeroplane them
selves. Mr.. Wright had for passenger
woman aviation enthusiast in the per-
son of Mrs. Van Deman. wife of Capt
Ralph II. Van Deman of the 21st In
fantry. The machine circled the aero
drome and was put through some intricate
maneuvers. the flight lasting four min
utes. The landing was made without
the slightest mishap. Mrs. Van Deman
received a round of applause as she step
ped from the machine on to earth.
First in United States.
Mrs. Van Deman was the first woman
to fly in a heavier than-air machine in
the United States. Mr.. Wright and his
brother Orville both have had women as
passenger in their aeroplane abroad and
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth at Fort Myer
recently expressed a wish to make a
trip in the aeroplane, but the Wright
brothers have refused heretofore in the
United States 1t was only after Mrs.
Van Deman had obtained permission from
her husband that Mr.. Wright consented
to take her for a flight. The trip today
was made during a calm. Mrs. Van De-
man expressed herself as delighted with
the unique sensa ton.
Mr.. Wright afterward put the aeroplane
through several short flights to instruct
his pupils in gliding to earth from various
heights with power shut off.
Early Morning Flight.
Mrs. Van Deman went to the aeroplane
shed in company with her husband soon
after 7:3O this morning. She is a friend OF
Lieut. Lahm. and had wanted for some
time to make a trip in the machine. Al
the time of her ascent she wore a blacl
silk skirt, black hat and q long gray coat
An attempt was made to start the ma.
chine at 100 but there was not enough
weight OH the derricks, and the actua
start was not until SIS. Mrs. Van Demar
sat in the machine after the false start
had been made, and was in it when il
was wheeled back to the rail.
She behaved as model passenger or
on coming down was: "Oh. this was sim.
ply splendid.' She and her husband ther
hurried from the field.
Capt. Van Deman said after the flight
was over: II am mighty glad he did take
her up, for this insures peace in my fam.
ily.'
Mr.. Wright was about as uncommu.
nicative usual after the flight was
| over. and declared that he did not know
whether he had taken a woman up or not
Several Tests Made.
| There was "a false start made at go.
| and again at 9:Os. Mr.. Wright succeeded
| in getting off for a two-minute flight by
himself. He ascended to a height OF
| 40 feet. cut out the motor and glided
down without difficulty.
There was another flight made at 1905
when Mr.. Wright took up Lieut.. FoulOis
| and remained in the air twenty-four
minutes.
Mr. Wright has not yet determined how
much longer he will remain at College
Park. but il is probable he will leave
within day or two unless he decides
TO stay for the training of Lieut.. Fou.
lois.
| There were two flights made last night
when Lieut. Humphreys was sent aloft
| for 24.2J minutes. He handled the ma.
chine alone and said that he enjoyed the
| flight very much. At 5:17 Lieut.. Lahm
was allowed to go up and remained ir
| the air forty minutes. This would have
| been almost world record a year ago
| He said laughingIy after he came down
that the only reason he stopped was
becunSe he wanted supper.
Orville Wright Sails for Home.
SOUTHAMPTON, October 21.-Orville
Wright, the American aviator. who has
been giving series of remarkable flying
exhibitions at various points in Europe
since August last. sailed for home today
m tbe steamer Adriatic