The Washington herald., 1909-07-13

After a long afternoon of waiting. in
wKch a puffy wind had things all its own
way most Of the time. several things hap
pened at Fort AIyer yesterday afternoon.
T Orviue Wright made the prettiest Of all
ais flights up to this time In the machine
now being experimental with Wilbur
tripped over a guy wire and fell in
heap, which is a very undignihed thing
FOR Wilbur TO do. and the first time he
has been known 10 do it in public.
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth (nee Miss
Alice Roosevelt saw the whole flight and
was delighted. The German Ambassador
said he was glad he waited. Secretary
OF the Navy Meyer exclaimed that the
flight was a wonderful thing and Maj.
George O. sqgier, OF the Signal Corps,
who has been very much cut up since the
Congress OF the United States journeyed
out TO the parade grounds and went back
empty eyed. was glad he had number
Of persons about him who were rather
4LuuCuLAuls q EALl4 AAAAAA6o 50 Al " aoAA-
ingtOn and who we're evidently impressed
by the way the aeroplane cut capers about
the field Altogether. It was an era Of
good feeling, and although the flight was
merely neat and not gaudy. everybody
left the Virginia shore IN a pleasant
frame Of mind.
Lasted Five Minutes.
The flight itself lasted exactly five min
utes and thirty-one seconds, in which
time six and one-half circuits Of the pa
rado ground were made by the seroplane.
Tho flight could have been made indef-
nitely longer II OrviIle had wished TO
make It so. But the hour was late since
the dash down the mcaoran was not
made until 7.07.S5 o'clock, and the dusk
was coming on rapidly. Consequently the
aviator brought the machine down 10 the
ground as soon as he had demonstrated
that q longer flight was q matter entirely
under his control He made one Of the
prettiest landings he has ever negotiated.
The wind conditions were not just what
the Wright brothers wanted. Since they
are still experimenting with the machine.
they want 10 eliminate the Unbalancing
effect Of the wind as far as such a thing
can be done. IN order that any defects
may be traced directly 10 the machine IL
self. AS Wilbur said.
This sort Of a wind IS Just what we
are trying TO avoid. I suppose when we
have worried along this way for a while
and gotten the aeroplane tuned up finally
- under adverse conditions. Wen come
across a long period Of perfect calm %
Which goes 70 show that Wilbur and the
weather are not entirely chummy.
10o1-ed f0~ q TvHffa ff the prna~i-
ence Of that other Monday Of Congress
fame was about to be repeated. The
machine had been wheeled out OF its
shed and set up over the mOnOraiL Their
the brothers sat down 20 wait for the
wind 70 drop. About that time some OF
the iilustriOus visitors filtered out on the
field 70 size Up the machine.
Mrs. Longworth came out with the
Mexican Ambassador. She went lmme-
diately up TO Wilbur and treated him 10
q cordial shake OF the hand, which Will
bur got away with pretty well. Then
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer and Sena-
tor Lodge came up, and Joseph Letter
the Chicago rich man. The party was
soon joined by Count Won BernstOrG. the
new German Ambassador: By Representa-
tive Ransdell. Of Louisiana. and Assistant
Secretary Of state and Mrs. Huntington
Wilson.
After a warming-up run Of the engiae
IN which the motor showed a steadiness
and virility It has not exhibited UP 10
the present time, Orviue climbed into the
aviator's seat and glanced over at w.
bur 10 see II everything was all right
Wilbur nodded, and Orville reached down
for the releasing lever.
Wind Was Light.
The blast Of air from the swiftly re-
volving propellers and the rushing noise
arising from II suddenly ceased as the
ms chine started fcrwerc down the mono
rail That was at seven and a half min
utes after o'clock. The wind was light
but htfUl. registering about seven miles
an hour in velocity Il was blowing di-
recty up the field against the aeroplane
as It sped down the track.
As the aeroplane left the rail It rose
sharply. attaining an altitude Of twenty
feet before It had progressed twice that
distance from the end of the track. Its
lifting power was strong and It went Up
steadily to n height Of nearly 100 fee;
above the ground before OrvilIe brought
it to the level
In many ways the flight was unusually
pretty to watch. The slight puffs of wind
kept the whlte-winged flyer continually
undulating and dipping, and on the
cUves it slanted more than it did on any
OF the former flights. Orville made longer
circuits than he ever has before, coming
close above the watchers as he passed on
the north side OF the starting derrick IN
rushing down the upper end Of the field.
At times his altitude was as great as ID
feet His speed also seemed TO be greater
than ever before. although he said after
he came down 10 the ground that he was
travelling at about the usual rate OF
forty miles an hour.
Six times the aeroplane clrcled the pa
rade ground. and then. by the downward
slant OF the flight II became evident that
9rville intended TO make landing. AS
he went south by the side Of the stables
he came close 10 the ground.
Suddenly he dipped sharply downward.
and Il looked for q moment as If he We're