Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25
ATTA|NS GREAT SPEED
OrvilIe Wright Makes Forty
Seven Miles an Hour.
FLIGHT NOT A LONG ONE
Satisfactory Performance Of the
Big Aeroplane
OFFICIAL TEST TO BE SOON
Spectators Disappointed When the
Aviator Fails to Take
Passenger With Him.
FLIGHT NOT A LONG ONE
OFFICIAL TEST TO BE SOON

OrVilfc Wright at Fort Myer this
evening surpassed all previous perfOrm-
nnces Of the Wright nerOplane in the
mntter Of speed and In the sharpness
Of his turns
Wilbur Wright, who closely watched
his brothers flight during every inch
Of his progress, calculated his average
speed with and against the wind nt
fOrty-seven miles an hour.
One Of his circles ut full speed was
estimated to be within the diameter Of
$50 feet. An automobile could hardly
do better than that at the high rate of
speed.
orville Wright demonstrated again yes
terday evening that the aeroplane with
which the Wright brothers intend to make
their official tests within the next few
days can do all that will be required of it
In the way of speed. For 20 minutes
and 80 seconds the machine flew around
the field at Fort Myer yesterday evening
at the rate OF forty-seven miles an
hour. The test was purely one of
speed and Orville could have remained
up much longer than 20 minutes If II had
been necessary. But as it was rather
late in the evening and as Wilbur, who
estimated the speed from the field. had
gathered sufficient data for his calcua-
tions. Orville decided to descend.
Large Throng of Spectators.
AS 1T was Saturday afternoon and as
several good flights had been made dur
ing the week, large throng went to
Fort Myer. hoping to see the machine
tried. Among them were, as usual, many
distinguished persons, senators, repre-
sentatives, general officers of the army
and diplomats Nearly a hundred auto
mobiles or carriages were parked around
the field. The crowd waited more or less
patiently until nearly o'clock before they
saw the machine go up. DO you think
he will fly?' was the general question
asked as everybody watched for indica-
tons that the stiff breeze that was blow
ing in the afternoon would die down. 1t
was late In the afternoon when the four
doors of the balloon shed were thrown
open, and after the field had been cleared
OF the crowd OF spectators the machine
was wheeled up to the starting dsEEiek by
detail from the Signal Corps.
Wright Rode Alone.
At 6:35 o'clock. after the wind had de-
creased, Orville climbed into the machine
and sent 1t rushing along the monorail
Up to the time the machine started nearly
everybody expected to see Lieut. Foulois
or Lieut.. Lahm take a place beside Or
vile to make the first attempt to carry g.
passenger In this country since the acci-
dent last fall In which Lieut.. Selfridge
lost his life But as the machine rushed
off the Signal Corps officers, to their own
disappointment and that Of the specta-
tors, were left behind.
The ascent from the monoraii was not
as rapid as usual. and the machine kept
fairly close to the ground for nearly .s,
(.rad11all hnrpy-1r hy- c1yi nJ,,11
manipulating his forward planes Orville
got the aeroplane to rise to height of
about 100 feet. IL was then that he began
ma king his speed tests The machine was
geared the same the last fight, which
was merely ten-minute test OF speed
On the first circle of the field the machine
went at a rate OF more than forty-fiye
miles an hour. and maintained it during
the entire flight until the engine was
stopped for q descent. Some very sharp
turns were made, and on one Of them the
aeroplane leaned at such an angle that
the spectators gasped. but quick as a
flash Orviile righted it again. and a cheer
arose from the crowd.
About Twenty-Five Circuits.
After going around the field about twen-
ty-five times Orville began to describe
smaller circles. and approached the
ground preparatory to landing Next TO
the question of whether il will go up, the
spectators are most interested in how it
comes down. The moment the rattle OF
the propellers ceases hush spreads
through the crowd. every one leans
forward 10 see how the machine lands.
The landing yesterday afternoon was
rather more rapid than usual but the
runners struck the ground evenly, and
Oryille was cheere6 as he stepped from
the machine.
II was 7:15 O'Clock when the Signal
Corps men wheeled the machine to It's
she'd and the moment the flight was over
there was a grand rush for the cars. For
nearly half an hour there was a steady
line of automobiles going from Fort Myer
10 the Aqueduct bridge.
Oryille Wright said that the machine
behaved well and that the speed during
the entire flight was more than forty-fiye
miles an hour.
The official tests will he made in a few
days. and it is not thought proba BILE that
the Wright brothers will request another
extension of time.