The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
AViatOrs viii Get AsrOp|ane Re-
paired Very Soon
LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE
OrviIle Wright Says He Misjudged
Height of Tree or His Machine
Would Not Have Met With
the Mishap.

Washington, July Especial. 1.-The
Wright brothers and their mechanic
Charles Taylor were at work early to-
day repairing the damage sustained by
their flying machine yesterday. To re-
place the broken parts of the skids and
rcadjust the guy wire which was snapped
will not be d long or difficult task, and
this work was we'll advanced when quit
ting time calne today. The repairs to the
damsg god plane will take time chiefly be-
cause of the peculiar nature of the cloth
used for covering.
1t is a strong light canvas with smooth
preparation on the outer surface much
like that used ON oilcloth, but much finer
and setter. This cloth will have to come
from the Wrghts' shop at Dayton, and
has been telegraphed for
Several Gays must therefore elapse be-
fore the experimental trials can be re-
rewed.
Both brothers were frank in expressing
their disappointment at the unfortunate
ending Of what otherwise wound have
been most successful fight.
"If l had NOT misjudged the height of
that little scrub oak, the machine would
have landed " thcut mishap," said Orville
Wright es+4sz.s.4.s
I'm the fading light and from the height
at which I saw it first it appeared to
be not higher than bush, and it's leafy
top concealed the sawed-off prong which
caught the extreme tip of my aeroplane.
When l did discover its size it was too
late. There was not sufficient momentum
to Ell able me to lift the machine over it,,
nor could i veer to the left.
Oryille affected to think little of the
feat of having landed from an altitude of
100 feet without breaking any bones.
1--WE learned to manipulate this style
of aeroplane without the aid of an engine
nine years ago." said Wilbur. I'm fact
we experimental for two years without
a motor of any kind and flew successful
ly l would have no hesitation in shut
ting off the motor at any time while in
the air, because I do not depend upon 1t
t. reach the ground safely"
And you mean to say that if you were
zoo feet in the air you would be perfect
ly willing to shut off the engine of your
own accord, just for the fun of gliding to
the earth?'
Certainly" answered the younger
brother IF for any reason 1 wanted
to shut off the motor, I should not give
it a second thought
"There is absolutely no way the ma
chine can get into trouble through the
stopping of the propellers. A series of
dips and glides would bring me to the
ground as easily as If I were moving
under full power In place of the engine
the speed would be gotten by slantng the
forward planes downward little until the
machine accumulated speed from the
slanting descent. Then the planes could
be set level again and the aeroplane
would glide until the sackening of It's
velocity necessitated another downward
dip. Successive repetitons of this pro-
cess is all that is necessary to a safe
landing
The highest level reached by the Wright
aeroplane thus far was .ouched by Wilbur
in France when he went to height of
$50 feet. Orvile's record is 300 feet, made
at Fort Mver last fall.
The worlds record for continuous flight
in the air was made by Wilbur in France
when he STAYED up two hours and 81
minutes by official count The record
prior TO this was held by Orville at
Fort Mver when the time was something
over an hour.