The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
HOW IT FEELS TO FLY.
Writer Tells OF His Experiences in
Wright Machine

Wright Machine
7 was wedged into a canvas-covered
center OF tie Oil-brspattered wing Of
the aeroplane. with a wooden cross-bar
Tor my feet 10 keep me wedged tightly
home Wilbur Wright climbed over the
wire stays and wooden bars that attach
the forward rudder 10 the main wings.
and came round 10 his own place on my
left. SAYS q writer in the Motor.
The familiar signal was given; WI
liam Wright fastened the two lower but
tons OF his jacket. as We had seen him
do many a time before. then climbing
into his seat he pulled his peaked cloth
cap wei over his eyes. leaned forward.
hesitated a second 70 see that the man
AT the wing tip was ready, released the
eaten. and We were of. Yes. OF, and
with such a rush that We seemed 70
have been shot forth from the mouth Of
a cannon Prepared as was for a quick
start. the terrific impetus. nevertheless.
staggered ne. Had IL been possible.
should doubtless have shouted out for
surely there was something wrong with
this high-speed switchback. 4 which did
not even provide the mcmentary lull be
fore the downward plunge.
But almost before my thoughts had
time 10 definitely shape themselves Il
was over There was thud in the rear
only the wooden bOgey. which had
dropped 10 the ground on reaching the
end OF the starting rail No need 20
worry about that. and we were being
gently swayed IN calm atmosphere.
We were climbing upward. moderately
fast. TO judge by the way in which the
ground was slipping away underneath.
But minute later even this had stopped.
and We were slowly advancing with a
gently undulating motion which made
one smile at the thought that this could
end in disaster.
But how deceiving II was. The sen
satiOu suggests that you are being
Graded in the air. YOU are moving 50
gently that YOU could not come 70 anv
harm II YOU fell; there is not much wind
only a gentle breeze-nothing whatever
to disturb you And reason insisted.
You are travelling at forty miles an hour:
you have got nothing 10 support YOU.
Down there. fifty feet away. under that
purple heather. is the hard ground wait
ing 10 wreck YOU and the machine: II
the engine stops. the air which is now
lulling you VIII turn traitor and let YOU
fan crUelly; II the pilot fOrgets himself
for an instant. you may rush downward
at the speed Of an express train, or you
may overtUrn altogether Sensations 3
reply was Nonsense And Sensation
won
"One two. three and four rounds Of
the field. Minutes had heightened out.
the novelty had long ceased and I al
ternately gazed around idly or watched
the mOtionless figure that had never prof
fered word or given a sign that he was
aware Of my presence. I thought there
would be half a gale blowing up here. but
instead there seemed to be so much air
Imprisoned in the planes that the draught
is very slight. not a fraction OF what
one feels on motor car ct forty miles
an nour-
But he is putting on speed now. We
are dropping down and going al a tre-
mendous pace. Another second and We
shall strike the ground. and there will
be a smash.
What on earth is the man doing2 A
moment later and Wilbur Wright raises
his right hand quickly. striking the cord
stretched across and attached TO the wire
stays he has relieved the compression
by opening the exhaust valves. and the
engine stops. sun We rush ahead the
ground racing by at breakneck speed.
But We are no longer IN danger OF strik-
ing Il; We are lowering about it. Present
ly we touch: when. do not know. for
/ felt no shock whatever; but after a few
seconds Of this silent glide the machine
comes 70 stop. and it is over