Evening star., 1909-06-22
A|RSH|P TAKING FORM
Rudders Ony Remain to Be Set
on Wright Machine.
PRESIDENT MAY SEE TESTS
Has Expressed His Desire to Do So
to Signal Officers.
DIRECTION NOT YET DECIDED
Optional With the Aviators to Select
Course From Fort Myer They
Deem Most Suitable.

Slowly but surely the Wright flying ma
chine is growing into shape at Fort Myer.
The brothers are both at work on it to-
day in company with their one mechanic.
The big planes that are the main part of
the machine have been put together and
the engine has been set inside All that
is lacking now the front and rear
rudders The front rudders. as will be re-
membered by those who have seen the
machine or pictures of 1t. are set horizon
tally for vertical control and the rear
rudders are vertical, like those of a boat.
for turning corners. The turning In
horizontal plane is accomplished by the
rear rudders of which there are two. and
by f1exing the wing tips much like bird
in fight.
The machine this year is said by the
brothers to be just the same size as the
one formerly used. but 1t gives the i'm
preston of being both larger and heavier.
1t cannot be actually much larger, how
ever. it will be remembered there was
a mistake made by the contractor last
year in building the aeroplane shed, and
the machine would hardly go into it.
The machine this year is being assembled
in the same shed, and fits it like the
finger in glove.
Taft May Witness Flights.
An effort is being made to have Presi
dent Taft witness some of the flights
this week. He has expressed his desire
to do SO to Gen. James Allen, chief signal
officer. Members of Congress will be at
the fort in large numbers and are evil
dencing great interest in the work of
the Wright brothers The officers of the
Signal Corps hope that they will be suf-
hciently impressed with the Importance
of aerial navigation to vote for a SUBJ
stantial appropriation for aeronautics at
the next session of Congress-
OrVille Wright was at work this morn
ing sooner than his brother. who was de-
tanned In the city on business. He did
not make any prediction as to when the
machine would be ready for fight, but
the indications are that Thursday or Fri
day may see the aeroplane actually put
together. while there will have to be at
least a day of trial flying to make sure
that the parts are all working properly.
Adjusted With Great Care.
1t is such big. heavy affair that it
seems a small matter to throw the parts
together, but Mr.. Wright today sat in the
drivers seat and worked the levers,
tightening a wire here and loosening it
there and decided that one wing joint
needed an eighth of an inch more play,
so 1t was clear that after all the machine
has to be just SO before it is ready to
leave the ground.
Gen Allen and Maj Squier had a con-
ference with the Wrights yesterday after
noon as to the direction in which they
should fly from the fort in the speed test.
The War Department has map of the
region around the fort and had drawn
five-mle circle with the drill ground as
the center. The aviators are at liberty to
fly in any direction from the drill ground
to the edge of this circle. The officers
want to settle this course in advance If
be marked with captive balloon and
there will be a special telephone wire
strung to fash the time from the outer
end Of the course.
The conference yesterday had no def
mite result, as the brothers have not
looked over the ground and want to do
SO before they decide on the direction.
There is a bonus of $4,000 a mile de-
pending on this speed test, beside the
prestige that comes from the record.
Consequently they want conditions to be
as good as possible. In flying over rough
country the aeroplane not only has to
contend with the up currents of air
that come from trees, hills and build
ings. but the natural instinct of the
aviator is to follow the curve of the
ground and thus make the aerial road
longer instead of keeping on a direct
line.
Flat Country Preferred.
In view OF these conditions the
Wrights want to pick out as fiat coun-
try as possible. There will be no pos
sibility of getting anything like level
country around Fort Myer, as it is all
rolling and alternated in woods and
cleared spaces. Therefore the Wrghts
will go over the surrounding country
possibly in automobile or possibly
in their own machine and pick out the
course over which they want to fly.
Capt. Thomas s. Baldwin told me that
the country to the west of Fort Myer is
the least uneven said Orville Wright.
And | am going to examine it carefully
to determine it's advantages over the
country lying to the south toward AleXan-
dria. AS We must fly over trees j would
prefer country which is heavily wooded.
with intermittent open fields rather than
one where trees are sparse and scattered,
where a landing would be difficult. There
is no need Of taking unnecessary risks
The War Department is still without
news of Herring. the other aeroplane con-
tractor. who is due to complete his official