The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-02
Three Successful Flights Are Made By OIViIIe Wright
 At Fort Myer
THOUSANDS CHEER THE
 AVIATOR IN FLIGHT
Flying Machine Is Under Perfect Con- troI While the Great Aviators Show They Will Over
 come Obstacles.

Washington, July 1.-Calm, confident and nerveless, Orville Wright late today encircled the Fort Myer drill ground time after time in his aeroplane in three suc- cessful flights, while a crowd of thou sands cheered him for the success that attended his persstency and pluck.
 Excitement and enthusiasm permeated the air as the machine climbed higher and higher and continued skirting the drill grounds. After the apparently un- successful trials of the past two days the performances of the flying machine were inspiring. While the machine oscil- lated at certain points in it's flights and dipped and rose suddenly at other points, it was evident from the regularity with which these things happened that they were due to the condition of the atmos- phere and not to any fault of the ma chine.
 Shortly before o'clock this evening, just as the sun was sinking in the west, the aeroplane was wheeled from the shed at the southern end of the field to the starting track at the opposite end. Previ- ously the field had been cleared by a troop of cavalry.
 Damage Repaired.
 The damage sustained by the aeroplane in yesterdays flight had been repaired by splicing a new piece to the broken skid Everything had been tested carefully, in accordance with the custom of the Wrights, before the machine was removed for trial flight. There was no evidence from the manner of the brothers as they walked across the field together that they feared any repetition of the previous unsuccessful attempts. Bishop Milton G. Wright, the proud father and the brother, Reuchln, who had never before today seen his brothers machine fly. were with them.
 After the motor had been tested the weight which gives the plane it's start was hoisted up and everything was ready for a flight. The propelers were cranked and Orville turned on the motor. The screws whirled around at what seemed like great CT speed than on the previous occasions, and Orvile climbed into his seat, Will bur put his hand on the right wing ready to run along with the machine. Nodding to his brother, Orville released the ma chine, and 1t started down the track at a rapid rate As it neared the end of the starting rail Orvlle turned up the for ward horizontal rudders and the machine rose into the air. It was a beautiful start and the crowd that lined the sides of the aerodrome cheered wildly.
 Down the field the aeroplane sailed, curved gracefully about the lower end and back up the east side of the field along the edge of the Arlington cemetery.
 The machine seemed to be behaving bautifully.
 Flying All Right.
 Mir Wright was making very short turns but as he seemed to regain the familiar ity with the ground over which he was travelling he increased the radius of his trips about the field. The first round was made in 50 second. Five times the machine skirted the field, attaining a height which varied from 15 to 90 feet. On the sixth round MT. Wright came to earth within few hundred feet of the starting point, completing the flight in exactly five minutes. The landing was perfect, the machine sweeping down in successive gldes until within a few feet of the earth, when Orville pulled the string which stopped the machine and the aeroplane glided smoothly over the grass on It's skids until 1t came to a stop. The machine was returned to the start ing apparatus while the two brothers held consultation. Again the aeroplane was placed in position, the motor was tested and another flight was essayed. The start was as successful the first.
 In the second flight Orville made much wider turns and rose to greater height. It was evident that Wilbur had cautioned him to do so. The elder brother watched every detail of the flight with care. The machine encircled the field with ease and grace, responding readily to the aviator S guiding hand. MT. Wright approached dangerously near the starting tower and flew within few feet of the stables which line the field on the west.
 Dip of AeropIane.
 It was noticed that at time the motor skipped but this seemed to have no effect
 rr1t.- starting rail runs downward into a little hollow in the field and whenever the aeroplane passed over this hollow 1t dipped noticeably, and whenever it passed over a vacant space between two of the stables 1t was seen to rise as though on a pillow of air. It was also noticed that there was tendency to approach nearer the east side of the field, which is bor- dered by large thiclkly foliaged trees in Arlington cemetery. But all these at mospheric conditions were easily over come by clever manipulation of the lovers.
 On his second flight Orville made nine rounds of the field in few seconds less than eight minutes. He made another graceful landing but flew dangerously ciope to the ground for some time before stopping his motor and descending. He held another confab with his brother be- fore the machine was again returned 10 the starting point at z O clock. By this time the sun was entirely obscured and dusk had settled over the fort grounds. Or vile said the arm which he used to oper- ate the levers controlling the planes was rather tired but he did not hesitate to make another flight.
 The Third Attempt.
 In his last attempt he remained aloft for a few seconds more than nine min utes and encircled the field nine and one-half times For one complete round he flew very close to the ground, evil dently preparing to land. This he did within 200 feet of the aeroplane shed. During this last flight he went higher than on his previous trials. reaching a height of % feet.
 Just before making his landing the left