The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-21
Wright Aeroplane Breaks ali American
Records and obeys the viii
Of the Pilot for an
Hour
A REMARKABLE FLIGHT
Machine Was In Perfect Control and
Was Driven Through the Air
as Easily az an Auto
mobile.

mobile.
WASHINGTON, July 21--In the
most wonderful flight Of all. during
which he cut figure Fights, made short
circles no more than 500 feet in diam
eter and assembled to sensational
heights. Orville Wright last evening
broke all American aeroplane records
by remaining in the air for / hour, 20
minutes and As seconds. At one time
he was nearly 800 feet in the air,
which is higher than he has ever been
before, which is saying that 1t is high
er than any one on this continent has
ever been in an aeroplane.
It was q wonderful flight and Orville
was nightly pleased over having
broken his own record Of l hour and
IA minutes, made at Fort Myer last
year. The start was perfect; his first
turn, hazardous affair, was perfect
and the movement OF the machine
during the long flight was splendidly
done, although several times when Or
vile was making sharp turns there
was a vicious rocking Of the aerial
craft, which made spectators gasp and
even had Wilbur Wright looking hard
at his brother and their aeroplane.
But the rocking quickly disappeared
each time and the machine went
smoothly sailing on and on.
Thousands Witness Flight.
Several thousands turned out to see
the flight and 1t is safe to say that
not one left before 1t was over, al
| though the finish did not come until
long after sunset Otville had to ma
neuver lot when making his land
ing. and went couple Of times around
the field before he had the machine
In just the right position for a safe
landing. He skinned along close to
the ground. and once as he came up
the east side of the field he turned
to the left of group of soldiers of the
signal corps, who beat rapid re-
treat out Of the way Of the oncmiing
craft.
There was trouble at the beginning
OF the work of preparation. First, the
engine would not start. Wilbur and
Taylor, the mechanic, threw the pro-
pellers around time after time, turning
over the engine. but the engine refus-
ed to start on its noisy series of ex-
piosions. Orville applied the oil can
and tinkered about bit. Then Will
bur and Taylor tried again and the en-
gint went oping away In fine fashion.
This was merely tryout and after
the engine had run along for few
| minutes 1t was cut off.
The engine was started and Orville
4 climbed into his seat. Wilbur took his
usual place alongside the machine and
signaled for the start Orville releas-
ed the great bi-plane from its anchor
4 age and off it flew down the monorail.
i The ends Of the runners touched the
ground for just an instant and then
the great thing flew upward and for
ward. Orville negotiated his first
turn in fine style end then went on
with his flight
Hard Turns Are Made.
The machine sped on through space
with unruffled serenity and compos-
ure. dipping down and up as 1t made
the turns and followed the different
currents OF the air and temperatures
OF atmosphere.
The circles Orville made were at
first large and quite uniform, but ev-
cry now and then he would bring the
machine down to a smaller course
ana would rush, rapidly through the
air without going near the outer edges
of the Fort Myer drill ground, which
| usually mark his route.
When Orville cuts down to q small
circle it usually means that he is pre-
pairing for landing and so most ev-
cry one thought several times, but he
was simply experimenting with his
machine, finding out about how 1t
minded and just what 1t would do on
sharp turns.
With each spectacular short circle
there was applause from the crowd as
the machine Strengthened out on Its
course and went to the highe. levels
Orville usually follows in making the
big rounds. Nearly every one had his
watch out as the Dayton wonder went
onward. He got up to twenty minutes
then twenty-five, then every one said
they guessed that he was trying to
beat Mondays flight Of thirty minutes
the longest he has made this year.
This he did. and he still went on.
Records Go Gllmmering.
Forty minutes and people Hoped
that he intended to beat Glenn urtiss
record of fifty-three minutes made last
week. This he did, and still went on
and the crowd grew more and more
interested hoping that the Indifferent
Wilbur, standing below, casually
glancing at the machine now and then
would not step out into the field anf