New-York tribune., 1909-07-01
MlSHAP TO AEROPLANE
FLIGHT OF goo YARDS.
Or5aue Wright Hopes for another
Trial To-day.
from The Tribune Bureau. !


Washington, June S0.-The Wright aeroplane at
Fort Myer failed to fly this evening for the second
time. There was onlv trial. and the machine
after going into the air. flew distance Of about
two hundred yards. Then Orvfle Wright who was
again the aviator. made short turn, rather close
TO the ground. It the shortest and sharpest
turn that the Wright machine has ever attempted
the Fort Myer field shorter than has been be-
lieved possible for aeropane Passing over a
ridge of ground the machine was at a sharp angle
like bicycle rider taking banked track at high
speed Then the machine came down. just how It
impossible to tell. owing the dust and the
distance it refused fly and from the velocity
of the short fall and the angle at which the aero
plane lay IT clear that it had met with worse
accident than happened to IT yesterday. The
wheeled trucks put under it and Il rolled
back to the shed. It seen that the right hand
skid had been broken by the force of the landing.
and all trials for the evening were over Because
the parade ground was occupied by the monthly re-
view of the troops the start had not been made IN
til $50 O'clock
A length had been added TO the starting rail-
and this gave decided additional fall to the start
ing weight and sent the machine of at high speed
MACHINE STARTS WITH RUSH.
The engine had been repaired. and there was
every prospect that if the machine could be sent
into the air It would stay there. It went off down
the track with rush and mounted into the air as
though It intended fulfil all expectations. but
there something wrong At first IL flew faster
than ever but when IL came 10 the turn the
rrachine lost headway. leaned aIarmingly and went
down in cloud Of dust
Orville Wright said after the accident that the
trouble was deeper seated than the engine trouble
of yesterday. which he thought at the time was
the only thing the matter with the aeroplane- He
said the control was not right and would have 70
be readjusted.
The accident 10 the skid is not serious The
same thing happened on one Of the landings last
year and repaired with piece OF wood picked
up in local lumber yard. This year there are
spare parts and that result OF the acCident oughI
to he easily remedied tomorrow.
sorne who witnessed the fight to-day year tne
rving power Of the machine has been sacrificed for
the sake Of speed It has been cut down three reet
in length and six inches in width, and even II tne
main planes modelled on the old curves thlS
would decrease the lifting power while tending 10
Increase the speed If this process has been car
ried too far the machine cannot fy with the same
engine mower. The engine IS the same that vas
used last year.
SPEED TRIAL COURSE CHOSEN
II the repairs can be made in time there viii be
another flight tomorrow evening at o'clock The
course for the speed trial has been chosen out no'
ofHcfaIIv announced II is TO be over What i
known as the Alexandria course-that is 70 say.
FIVE miles almost due south OF the fort and return
There was large crowd at the fort to-day IN
expectation of a successful hfsnt- among tne
spectators were a number Of Senators. who neg
Iected the tariff debate to be present The on1cers
at the fort provided an inspection drill FOR the
entertainment Of the crowds while they were walt
ing for the aeroplane tests
Charlie Taft the Presidents younger son. went
10 Fort Myer to-day with Major Squier, OF the
signal corps and insisted upon having the Wright
machine explained to him in detail He manifested
great interest in the aeroplane. and TO show his
appreciation OF the Wrights courtesy he explained
10 Bishop Milton Wright father Of the aviators.
the mannuvres OF the cavalry and artillery