The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-31
WRIGHT HAS WON
His Aeroplane Meets Every Re-
quirement of Government.
Final Trial at Ft. Myer Is a
Great Success.
TO RECEIVE $4,000.
Besides $1,000 as the Price of
the Machine.
Flew AZ Miles an Hour on Part
of the Trip.
D RECEIVE 100000.

Washington, July 31.-Orvil1e
| Wright Travelled 47.431 miles an hour
in his flight yesterday in returning
from the Alexandria end of the
course to FIT. Myer This is the
official report made by the trial board
today His average speed was 42.5S3.
Washington. July 31.-Orviue Wright,
IN a ten mile cross country fight in
the famous aeroplane built by himself
and his elder brother. Wilbur. and ac-
companied by Lieutenant Benjamin d.
F'oulois. of the army signal corps. not
only surpassed the speed requirements
or his contract with the government,
but accomplished the most difficult AMI
darlng flight ever planned for a heav-
ler-than-air flying machine. Incident
ally he broke all speed records over d
measured course and established he
yond dispute the practfcabiIity of the
aeroplane in times of peace or war.
Wrlght's speed was more than AZ miles
an hour. He made the ten-mile flight
In IA minutes and AZ seconds including
more than 20 seconds required for the
turn beyond the line at Shutter hill,
the southern end of the course. He at
tanned height in crossing the valley
of -Four mile run of nearly 500 feet and
the average altitude of his practically
President Taft arrived upon the pa
rade grounds at Fort Myer just in time
to see the aeroplane land and to par
tic1pate in the wild demonstration that
welcomed the triumphant aviators. He
sent colonel Treat, commanding officer
OF the artillery at Fort Myer, to bear
his congratulations to the victors
AT the start the aeroplane shot down
the track. rose before it reached the
end and skinned over the surface Of
the ground for one hundred feet or
more The machine rose higher and
higher, reached the end of the field
turned at slight angle, ard came
about, facing the madly cheering multi
tuCe.
Mounting higher and higher. Orviile
brought the machine at great speed
once again fully round the field. Then,
with a. short turn he swept about al
most over the heads of the closely
banked spectators and started straight
southwark, over the center of the drill
field
Unwavering, it. kept its course straight
to the south. and it seemed to be rising
ever higher as it passed over the heaV- |
lily wooded country in the distance. |
Smaller and smaller it grew, until It |
became a mere speck against the pearl |
sky above the horizon.
Those who had glasses saw the aero |
plane turn, first to the left then to the |
right. above Shutter Hill.
Suddenly the speck was lost to view |
grew upon the crowd, a silence that J
spoke of deep concern.
Suddenly the speck came in sight |
again. over the distant hill A CRY |
swept over the watching crowd.
Onward the machine came growing |
with the seconds, and seemingly |
swerved from it's course by westerly |
breeze. It grew and grew. until almost |
every detail of it was visible. Soon the |
aerial navigators were home again over |
the drill grounds flying very low. Or |
Vile steered straight across the field |
and at height of about twenty feet |
swung around again to the sOuthward |
and landed easily far down the field. |
The task was done and in triumph.
I've were making 80 miles an hour
coming back" were almost the first
words of Fouloi3 as he left his seat.
Orville said:
1T is easier to fly across country
han around a field"
He seemed more impressed by the
essons that the unusual flight had
aught him than by any sense of his
4 Movements.
we were forced off our course by
-everaI counter currents" he added, |
and in truning at the lower end a
lown trend of air took me lower than
meant to go. I was forced to climb
higher in starting back"
Beyond the high promoEtory of Shu-
er hill the aerOplane was easily 29O