Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-08
.CURTISS MAKES
] THREE FLIGHTS
viator, Who Won Honors in France,
Gives Exhibitions at
st. Louis.
.ENGINE FAILS IN FINAL TRIP
Machine Drops twenty-five Feet and
is Slightly Damaged.
THREE DRIGIBLEs IN ACTION
Successful Flights by Knabenshue,
Beachy and Baldwin.
GREAT CROWD Is THRILLED
-Four Hundred Thousand Persons See
Exhibition I'm Forest Park
Wright Teaches Army
Officers.
Machine Drops twenty-five Feet and
is Slightly Damaged.
THREE DRIGIBLEs IN ACTION
Successful Flights by Knabenshue
Beachy and Baldwin.
GREAT CROWD IS THRILLED

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7.--Glenn H. Curtiss. who
won international honors In aviation at
Rheims, France, made three aeropane
flights here today. One was more than a
quarter of a mile and the shortest of the
three was about 200 yards. This was wit
messed by a throng OF 100000 persons who
waited for hours in Forest park to see an
aeroplane in action.
Curtiss' last performance of the day was
cut short by his engine failing when he
was about twenty-fi feet from the ground
The machine glided to an irregular landing
place and rudder guy snapped Efforts
TO mend # before darkness were unavailing
The noted aviator said the machine would
be ready for service tomorrow.
In the flights today Curtiss used a bipane
WHY 25-hOrse power motor. Few people
witnessed the first two flights, as the
morning mist was stlll undlspelled. A stiff
wind this afternoon delayed him until dusk
George Francois Osmont, who is here with
the Farman bipane which won the endur-
ance prize at Rheims, attempted three times
at dusk to satisfy the crowd that he could
fly. He circled the field several times. but
not fast enough to enable him to leave the
ground. His disappointment was clearly
expressed in his face.
monoplane built on the lines Of I.ath-
T..
Louis was also brought out, but the motor
failed to develop sufficient power and no
attempt was made to go into the air.
Three DIrigibIes Fly.
The really successful navlgators Of the
air We're Roy Knabenshue, Lincoln
Beachey and Thomas Baldwin, in dirigibles.
The last made an extended flight, when
motor trouble overcame him and he was
forced to land In the crowd His second
flight after repairs had been made. was
greeted with great applause.
Knabenshue. however, was the favorite
with the crowd. He and Beachey thrilled
the spectators by mounting simultaneously
and flying two miles sld-by-side. Knaben-
shue left Beaehey's airshlp in the rear when
the Iatte7ss motor became overheated
Knabenshue then swept out over the park
In a great circle, amid cheers
1t was announced tonight the Curtss and
Osmont will make flights tomorrow, and
Il is expected Robinson will make another
trial
The crowd which witnessed the flights
was the greatest the street car company
has carried to Forest Park since the
Worlds fair. The space allotted to the CEN
tennial week visitors was densely packed
and Art Hill was black with spectators.
Wright Teaches Army Officers.
COLLEGE PARK, Md, oct. mo flight
was attempted today by Wilbur Wright,
who is instructing the officers of the signal
corps in the practical use of tho Wright
aeroplane.
The entire day was spent by Mr.. Wright
in tinkering with the machine and explain
ing its manipulation to the student officers.
The starting derrick was erected but the
monorail was not placed in correct position
for flight. No time has been set for Inc
first flight