The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

New York June 2s.-Rising easily from
the ground by its own momentum. ths
Night Owl, the new aeroplane construct.
ed for the Aeronautic Society Of New
York by Glenn H. Curtiss. this afternoon
new for three-Quarters Of a mile over the
Morris Park race track al the rate OF
fifty miles an hour.
The aeroplane made three half turns
during its flight. and was at all times
under the complete control Of the opera
tor Though Curtiss has made num-
Der OF straightaway flights In the past
this is the first one he has made on a
circular course, and the results far ex-
ceeded his expectations. he believes that
with more practice in balancing himself
ne VIII be able to equal the long distance
records now held by the Wright brothers.
Witnessed by 10000.
At least 1000 people were present all
afternoon in the expectation Of witness
Ing the trip Of the Night owl and the
trial trips OF a number Of would-be fiers
at the matinee" Of the aeronautic So
ciety
one accident marred the afternoon.
William II. Martin. of Canton. Ohio. was
having his gliding machine towed by a
hiEh-powered automobile, In which his
wife was riding. While thirty feet in the
air. and with the automobile going Al
thirty miles an hour. the two rope broke
and the glider dashed into a fence. Mar
Tin had his left hand and arm BADLY
lacerated. His INJURIES were attended at
the track. His glider was smashed
Before attempting TO soar completely
around the track. Curtiss made two
nights Of a quarter Of a mile straight
away.
He had his machine under complere
control at all times, and never reached
an altitude OF less than ten feet above
the ground
II was shortly after o'clock before he
attempted his record flight. Starting at
tAe mead Of the stretch. he sent his aero
plane along the track for three or four
hundred yards. Then, BY pushing his
steering wheel from him. he elevated his
rudders' and the little yellow aeropIape
the smallest Of its type ever constructed.
rose easily into the air, gaining in mo-
mentum the instant ii left the earth.
Makes Successful Turn.
At a speed OF forty-hye 10 fftv miles
an hour Curtiss scared over the trac,, N
the clubhouse turn, which ne negotiated
as easily as he had the straigbtavav
he rounded the second turn. and started
MS return trip along the opposite side or
the track At the stretch turn sliqb,
oefeet in his steering gear caused hin, 70
ahght- He skinned the track for .
Few yards and then settled down.
a slight swaying. like a snip pitcbi,~
in a head wind. was the only apparent
defect Curtiss has gained one dscido5
advantage over the Wright brothers 3,
mat ne has been able TO leave the esrtb 80
us own strength, while the Virgins ar,
compelled 70 use a mOnorail tracl- ~
weight to ascend
ne Curtlss aeroplane is twenty-nine
ieet from tip to tip and four and a baIf
feet from front 70 rear. and It's enti~e
weight, including the aviator. IS bur "a
pounds. The machine runs alono The
ground on bicycle wheels which are ar
tached to a bracket. so the operator NAV
stop MS machine quickly after landing
Fred Schneider, in an aeroplane v-bicb /
was modelled after the Wright brofbe-s, 4
successful air craft, made an attempr n /
ny, but was unable 70 get his macbfno /
ch the ground. He IS confident +bo,,,,b 1
with a Few defects remedied. he win he /
able 20 hy NC
Scores Of models Of aeropIapes. hi
planes. and mOnoplanes were on eTbi5i-
ton ''' eAilio4-