The Washington herald., 1909-06-22
MAY BREAK RECORD
Wright Brothers Announce
Latest Expectations.
WOULD GO 4S NILES AN HOUR
Believed Speed Test VIII BE Given
on Course Between Alexandria and
Fort Myer-TeIephOne Wire VIII
BE Strung to Record Time Made.
Putting the Machine Together.

Orvllle Wright. who. with his brother.
Wilbur Wright. is In the city preparing
for the test flights OF their aeroplane at
Fort Myer the latter part of this week.
expects 70 break the best record made by
the Wright flyer up tO this time by two
or three miles an hour.
When asked last night at the Raleigh
Hotel by a representative Of The Wash
ington Herald what velocity he expected
10 make in the speed test Of ten miles.
he replied;
i hope 10 make fOrty-tWO. and perhaps
fOrty-three, miles an hour. In the flights
last september the engine was not worked
at full capacity. It's full power viii be
used this time
The Contract Price.
II the flyer travels at the rate Of forty
three miles an hour the contract price OF
S25.O00 which the government will pay
the brothers on the acceptance Of the ma
chine. will be increased by a bonus OF
$500.
While 1t is believed the speed test wiz
be made toward Alexandria and back,
the course has not been definitely de-
cided upon. Gen. James Allen. chief
signal officer Of the army, conferred with
the Wright brothers at Fort Myer yes
terday.
He asked Us 10 let him know the
course as soon as we had decided upon
II" said Orville Wright. "in order that
the proper preparations may be made.
A telephone wire VIII then be strung. so
that the time OF arrival at the end OF
the five miles may be kept track Of as
Well as the time OF passing the line on
the start back for the parade ground"
No stop will be made at the outward
end Of the course. but by the telephone
wire arrangement the time required 70
turn the flyer will not be counted against
the record. Either Lieut. Foulois or
Lieut.. I.ahm, Of the Signal Corps. viii
be carried as the extra passenger re-
quired by the contract Enough fuel viii
also be aboard for a continuous flight OF
l25 miles.
A persistent report has been afoat
that an American concern has offered %
take charge Of the manufacture of the
Wright flyers for commercial purposes
When asked in regard TO IL. Orville
Wright said he preferred not 20 discuss
the rumOr He was asked II he would
attempt 10 duplicate the feat OF Wilbur
wright IN france ~ demonstrating lLlaL
the flyer can rise from the ground with
out the aid Of the derrick. falling weight
and mOnOTail used in giving the initial
forward movement. He replied he would
use the starting device In the tests.
In response 20 question as 70 whether
heavier-than-air machines would ever
become a sport of the wealthy classes.
Mr.. Wright answered:
A Costly Amusement.
1T has already. The trouble az the
present time is that II is so expensive.
The cost Of the flyer is not the only
expense to be considered.
Wilbur Wright keeps himself in the
background when the howl Of newspaper
men is heard in the jungles. He has the
property OF disappearing. Ike a Sandy
Hook gun carriage.
The brothers spent yesterday hard at
work putting their aeroplane together IN
the balloon shed al Fort NIyer. Orvile
Wright said he did not believe he would
be ready for a flight before Friday, or
Thursday at the earliest
A new board OF officers will Judge the
performance of the machine al the COM
ing tests II will consist OF Maj George
O. Squier. Mai c. Nick Saltzman. c. S.
Wallace. Capt. De F. Chandler. Lieuts.
Frank P. Lahm, Benjamin d. FoulOls.
and c. H. Humphries. T. s. A. and
Lieut. Commander Charles Sweet. L.
S. y.