The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-30
Wright and Curtiss
"a Fly With Ease
Continues From First Pasel

it,"
Previous to making his flight, Mr.
Curtiss examined the entire extent Ga
the Governors Island aerodOme and
found few places where the sand WAS
solid enough to afford a good starting
point. I'VE are just going to try out
the motor" the aeroplanist remarked
TO one of the army officers by way OF
explanation, in order that the test
would not be mistaken for failure TO
rise from the earth. I'VE are faced
sideways to the wind. he added,
land it would be impossible to rise
while in that position"
WRIGHT MAKES FLIGHT.
Two hours after Curtiss complet-
ed his fight, Wilbur Wright had his
machine taken from the shed and
made a flight, encircling Governors
Island, sailing over the water and
covering six miles. Wright made a
lbad landing. the tip Of one of his
planes striking the sand and swery-
ing the machine around. Fortunately
no damage resulted, and the aeroplane
was replaced on the starting track.
In starting, Wright faced the west,
but the wind was not as strong as
when Curtiss flew. The aviator, al
ter his machine had gained sufficient
speed, turned up his elevating plane
and, rising supeTbly, headed toward
the western edge of the aerodOme.
Turning to the left. he made a wide
sweep OF the field and, coming around
TO the southern end of the island,
headed over Buttermilk channel, go
ing toward Brooklyn.
As soon as he was out of the water,
he turned north and cirCled the island.
being lost from view of the spectators
behind a CIump of trees He reap
peaTed on the outer side of Castle
William and made a complete circle
in the southern half of the aerodome
before coming around a second time
very close to the earth.
A BAD LANDING.
When about to land. the left wing
tip scraped the sand and whirled the
machine around so that it landed
sidewise on the skids.
That's the worst landing I've made
fn a long time. and I'm not going TO
try anything like it AGAIN said the
aviator. Il thought surely the ma
chine would be smashed TO pieces. It
is the only machine in the world that
would stand such a bad landing"
There were marked differences IN
the manner in which the CUrtiss and
Wright machines behaved. Curtiss
flew on an even keel and with less
movement from side to side The
Wright aeroplane. when taking curves.
keeled over like an automobile round
ing banked track 1t also flew some
what faster than the Curtiss machine.
The Wright machine few at an aver
age altitude of forty feet.
After Wright had inspected his
aeroplane to see if it had suffered any
damage, Curtiss, who had reached the
field as Wright came to earth, greet
ed his rival Familiarity and asked him
"How's the going this morning."
Very good" responded the Dayton
aviator, "but ! made a very bad land
ing"
Conditions for flying improved rs
the day advanced and a crowd gath
cred at the battery and boats sur
rounded Governors Island in expee-
JatiOn of further exhibitions
A SECOND FLIGHT.
After Tightening the wires and
screws of his aerOplane and shifting
the starting rail SO that it faced di-
rectly against the wind Mr.. Wright
made another flight during which he
crossed the lower bay and passed
around the Statue of Liberty. He
made this fight in six minutes and
thirty seconds.
Mr.. Wright headed his machine di-
Tectly toward the Statue of Liberty.
At height of thirty feet he flew di-
rectly over the water, with the wind
coming slightly over the port side.
He climbed gradually as he aDDroacb-
ed the Jersey shore and had attain
ed the height of 100 feet when he
began his turns to the southwark to