Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-20
COVERS ABOUT 81 MILES
Speed Of Approximately Al Miles
an Hour Attained.
MOTOR NOT RUNNING RIGHT
Not Known Just When the Official
Trials Of the Aeroplanes Will
Take Place.

Showing more confidence in himself than
he has exhibited before this season. Orville
Wright made two very successful flights
in the Wright aeroplane at Fort Myer,
Va, last evening.
The first flight lasted 25 minutes and Is
second, during which time the aviator
circled the parade grounds. distance OF
about f1ve-sixths of mile. twenty-five and
one-half times. The second, which con-
tinued until darkness prevented Mr..
Wright from remaining longer in the air.
was for half an hours duration and
twenty-nine and one-half circuits were
made.
During both Of the trials the machine
behaved splendidly. and indications are
that the Wrights soon will have the aero
plane in condition for the official flights.
During the ID minutes the flyer was In the
air last evening ii covered approximately
thirty seven m les. Wilbur Wright. who
carefully watched every movement OF the
machine, declared afterward that It had
attained a speed OF about forty-one miles
an hour. He said it had reached height
of l5O feet. At the start on both occasions
the machine rose easily and assembled to a
height of little over one hundred feet,
where the aviator kept it on an even
keel throughout each flight except at the
turns of the elongated oval, where IL Tilt
ed slightly to execute the evolution.
Motor Not Running Perfectly.
Wilbur Wright, after the flights said
the machine worked very smoothly. but
was not yet in perfect condition for the
official flights. The motor. he explained.
is not running just as 1t is desired to have
it run, and the new bearings have not
yet worn down sufficiently to warrant
flights of long duration. The time OF the
trials will gradually be heightened. Mr.
Wright would not say just when the Of
fetal trials would take place. nor when
he would begin to make flights carrying
another man as a passenger.
1t was shortly after $50 pm. when the
first flight began \ slight breeze pre-
vailed, but this had little effect upon the
running Of the machine. The usual crowd
of spectators was on hand and app.auded
the. aviator as he returned to the starting
point after making the first circuit.
Among the enthusiasts were Theodore
Roosevelt. jr., and his sister. Mrs. Nicho-
las Longworth, who Is d frequent at
tsndant at the flights: Secretary Meyer.
the Mexican ambassador. QIartermaster
General Aleshire and Brig. Gen. Crozier,
chief ordnance officer of the army.
Under Perfect Control.
After making half dozan circuits of
the course Mr.. Wright scared higher
until he reached a height OF abou; 100
feet. when he directed his course in a
larger oval. During the whole time the
machine was under perfect control and
dev.ated very little from the fixed course.
1t continued steadily Until 1t hal finish
ed the twenty-fifth round. when the ma
chine descended gradually ana made an
easy landing at I pm, having been in
the air just % minutes and is second !.
Signal Corps men hauled the aeroplane
back to the shed, where new supply OF
gasoline was put in the tank and the ma
chine then was taken back to the start
ing point.
The second flight began just after 10
pm. 1t was even more successful than
the first. On tbs trial Mr.. Wright di-
rected his course around q larger el!ipse.
He maintained a higher level with the
machine than on the previous flight He
continued until he had covered twenty
nine laps and had beaten the time of the
trial he had just previously made. Upon
landing the aeroplane struck several
sharp rocks. but practically no damage
was sustained.
The weather conditions during the sec
ond fight were ideal. Almost dead calm