The Washington herald., 1909-10-09

as It passed the College Park station the
biplane whirled. and for a few moments
paralleled the trains course along the
track 1t was the unanimous opinion OF
the crowd that II the biplane had kept
on toward Baltimore 1t would have
reached the Monumental City first.
For some reason or other, Wilbur seem
ed to take the air at the end OF the mono
rail more easily than did Orville at Fort
Myer. in spite OF the fact that the rail
at College Park, Instead OF having con-
siderable decline in its favor. runs level,
with something OF a lift near the end. In
addition to that. the falling weight was
only 1000 pounds, while that used at Fort
Myer was 400.
1t Is remembered that OrvIIle often
skinned the grass for a hundred feet
or so after leaving the rail before Civ
ing the machine its head Wilbur. on
the other hand. yesterday sent the BIZ
plane into the air Immediately.
Flights Begin Early.
The first fight commenced at 3:S4:4O. and
ended three minutes later within a few
feet OF the starting derrick. on this trip
the machine at no time was sent higher
OF the fight the skids were not the
height Of a mans waist above the dried
grass. Considerable dipping was notice
able. due to Wllbur's unfamiliarity with
the machine. This unevenness Of flight
disappeared as subsequent ascensions
were made. until the biplane's course
seemed to be along an invisible. but geo
metrically straight. rail in the atmos-
phere except when the operator sent Il
upward or downward at his will
The second flight began at 4:Os:lO
o'clock, and lasted FIVE minutes and twen-
ty seconds. AS the machine sped about
the extreme limits OF the course, along
the railroad tracks on one side and past
the fringe OF trees on the other, a bird
came out OF the thicket stung with
curiosity Working its wings like a twin
pair Of falls, II kept up with the in
truder on its reservation. II was Joined
by other birds looking for live topic OF
conversation. and soon a flock OF them
we're trailing the silent man from Dayton
and his fleeing machine.
With all mis- cunning In the mastery OF
the air Mr.. Wright looked anything but
birdlike His coat tails were Tapping
dizzily in the rush OF wind Scoring a
cap. he had pulled his derby on his
head at a forty-five degree slant. which
made him look Ike the fellow who sells
shoe strings on the corner, But he got
through the air. and that was what was
troubling the birds.
In the third flight, which began at
4:fS.5, and lasted four minutes and
forty-fve seconds. Mr.. Wright took the
machine TO an altitude OF 100 feet on
ha avuF oil
so close TO the ground that the spectators
continually thought he was about 70
make a landing. He was so low that
every rise and fall IN the surface had
10 be watched. and the course OF the bi-
plane was a perfect profile OF the earth's
features.
Lahm Goes AIOft.
II was on the fourth flight which be-
gan at 5.ls:S5 and lasted Eve minutes
and fifteen seconds. that Lieut. Lahm
was taken IN the passengers seat. The
machine went 20 an altitude OF $50 feet
almost Immediately. On the second round
Mr. Wright set his forward planes
straight down the field. and the biplans
receded into the distance. past the limits
OF the governments holdings. until thu
edge Of Riverdale Park was reached
There the turn was made. and. with q
gradual upward scale OF sound. the ma
chine came back past the aeroplane shed
and the little group OF watchers. or
the last lap the entire course was COW
cred with the skids not more than -four
feet from the ground.
The fifth flight, in which Lieut. Hum
phreys was the passenger. began al
$3.50 and ended four minutes and twenty
seconds later. Mr.. Wright said afterwarC
that both lieutensnts were good stu
dents"
The morning was spent in connecting
the sections Of the monorai, IN trying
out the engine. and IN dynamlting some
stumps that still protruded from the
ground. The thermometer. OF wind gauge
was also rugged. on account OF the di-
rection OF the wind. the direction OF tho
monorail which the night before had
been southwest. was changed TO a nttl,
west Of north. When the fights were
commenced the wind was blowing gently
at the rate OF about FIVE miles an hour
and conditions were good for aerial work
Several more fights OF the same sort
will be made before the army officers are
allowed 10 participate In the manipula-
ton OF the machine. Yesterday they had
nothing 10 do in the air but sit tight and
watch what was going on. The cranking
of the engine, the lifting Of the weight
and the fastening Of the catch which
holds the machine stationary until the
starting lever is released were done by
the army men. with occasional dlrec-
lions from Mr.. Wright.
II was a great day for the people of
College Park, who formed the bulk OF
the audience. The group, which at first
numbered hardly fifty persons. grew
rapidly as the news that real flying was
going on was flashed through the town.
and when the final flight was commenced
all OF 100 persons were on hand.
Most Of them had been alive less than
fourteen years. and II there isn't a
fiourishing crop OF hand-me-down flying
machines in College Park IN the scar
future IL viii be a reflection on the in
genuity Of the genus boy. It isn't every