The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-29
Weather Conditions Cause Great Disappointment to the
 Ohio AViatOrs
MACHINE IS READY BUT
 WIND k NOT STEADY
Crowds of People Gather To Witness the Flights and Senators Lay Aside Tariff Bill, But All
 Are Disappointed.

Washington, June 2S.-Owing to strong wind prevailing this afternoon the Wright brothers failed to make their exrs.eted initial aeroplane flight of the year at Fort Myer. They thus gave further evil dence of their disregard for public criti- cism when the caution they exercise in all of their aviation work dictates such a course.
 Although the Senate had set aside the tariff bill to allow its members to wit ness flight of the aeroplane. and to- gether with several thousand others sig zled in the hot sun on the Fort Myer drill grounds, the Wrights decided that the wind was too strong and too un- certain for a flight with a new. untried machine.
 Fully expecting to make preliminary trial of the flying machine, Orville Wright early today notified Gen. James Allen, the chief signal officer. that he intended to make an unofficial trial flight after o'clock this afternoon.
 A great crowd of people gathered long before the hour named at the army post opopsite Washington.
 At 3:S0 o'clock the field was cleared by a squad of cavalry and everything made ready for a flight A little earlier Or vile had come to Washington to meet his father, Bishop Milton Wright of Day ton, and his brother, Reuchlin of Kansas, who has never seen his brothers fly.
 Track Inspected.
 Wilbur Wright carefully inspected the starting track and the two brothers, with their aeroplane mechanic, Taylor. made 1ir,at of ma china which was then wheeled across the field from the shed to the starting apparatus at the northern end of the field. It was then O clock and a brick wind had sprung up from the west Heavy storm clouds appeared upon the horizon and when few scattered drops of rain fell, the crowd began to fear that conditions were not favorable for a flight. The word came, however, that Orvile did not mind flying in the rain, but that the wind was the objectionable feature.
 Then the cluods veered to the south and the wind died out
 Everything appeared to be in readiness for the trial when a fresh wind began blowing from the south.
 Orville Wright, who had been walking about rather nervously, at this point ex- pressed the opinion that the unsettled weather conditions would prevent flight. The officers of the signal corps, the bal loon detachment and the cavalry guard were the only persons permitted on the field with the exception of a corps of photographers who had obtained the con- sent of the Wrights to snap the machine as it went down to the starting track.
 Examining the Machine.
 Wilbur Wright, in looking for the oper- ator of moving pictures machine, the use of which he desired to prevent, neared the impatient crowd. In his peculiar jocund manner, he remarked that he usually put his machine away when the crowds In France were fretful. But a number of senators requested him to let them examine the machine at closer range and that was the opening wedge for A large number of senators, representa- tiyes and other distinguished spectators to inspect it closely To avoid being ques- toned the Wrghts reh ed to the aero plans shed until even the privileged few had again been ordered off the field.
 The wind having shown no signs of abating at 6:30 clock, Wilbur turned to Taylor, the Wrights' mechanic, and said: Well, l guess you had better run her back to the shed"
 Crowd Dsperses.
 Greatly disappointed the crowd then dispersed. Wilbur explained that the ma chine was a new one and that they never made flight In an untried machine until 1t had been tested in the best possible weather.
 Unless the air is calm, you can't tell whether the machine is erring or whether some little fault is caused by the wind,' he added. He said they would make a flight as soon as ideal weather conditions presented an opportunity. Both the Wrights expressed regret at the necessity of disappointing the crowd.
 T don't like to see Orville make flight in wind like this with a brand new machine" said Taylor. Sometimes there are little things you don't know until you are in the air he added.
 The machine was the same as the used last year, as far as construction was concerned, but it was trihe smaller.
 The planes are not as long nor far apart" he said, but the machine Is faster. It has as much lifting power and greater speed"
 Curtiss May Make Trial.
 A. M. Herring, the New York aero pianist who holds the contract with the government to deliver flying machine, today sent word to Gen. James Allen, the chief signal officer, that he would be unable to deliver his machine by July l, the time specified for final delivery. MT. Herring wrote that Glenn H. Curtis, the aviator who was a member of the Aerial Experiment association and who made flight of one mile In New York on Saturday, would reach Washington to- day to make proposition to General Allen regarding MT. Herring's contract. It is believed that MT. Herring desires permission to use Curtis aeroplane in stead of the one which he was supposed to be constructing for the signal corps. It aleo is probable that he desires to have Ar. Curtis make the flights.