Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-05
WRIGHT BREAKS
FLIGHT RECORDS
Reaches Unprecedented Height
of 1887 Feet in An Ascent He
Made With Crown Prince
Frederick William.

POTSDAM, Oct. 2.-Orville Wright, the
American aviator, today broke his own
and all other records for high flying. He
reached the unprecedented height of
more than 1,600 feet, although an afficial
measurement was not taken.
He had a red letter day in a double
sense in his experience as an aviator, TAX
ing up Crown Prince Frederick William
as a passenger and more than doubling
the altitude record which he made re-
Gently over the same field.
The crown prince had been constantly
urging Wright, since he first saw the
American fly, to take him up as a
passenger. Wright avoided this respon-
sibility while making flights at the
Templehof field, owing to the unfavorable
Winds but since the beginning of the
flights at Bornstedt field, near Potsdam,
the prince had been telephoning the
aviator every morning asking him if he
was ready to crafty his request. Wright
finally consented today.
PROTECTS UNIFORM.
The prince reached the field at 4:30 in
the afternoon without his adjutant. At
ter drawing on his overcoat at Wright's
suggestion, to save his uniform from be-
ing despatched with oil, the prince took
his seat alongside the aviator and the
machine rose in the air. Wright kept 1t
at a height of about twenty feet for a
brief period, but the crown prince ex"
claimed, higher, higher" Finally, the
aviator went up above sixty feet and
the crowds heartily cheered the prince.
who waved back his acknowledgements.
The asroplane glided back to the start
ing point ten minutes later.
The crown prince congratulated Mr..
Wright on the easy and safe motion OF
the aeroplane and presented him with a
souvenir of the occasion, diamond and
ruby pin, composing the letter w. and q
crown. He watched the daring aviator
make his high flight, which also was
viewed by a large multitude. While the
machine was at its greatest altitude ex-
cursionists on a Hawai- steamer three
miles distant thought 1t was big box
kite that was in the air and were sur
prised when further evolution showed the
object to be Wright's aeroplane.
NEVER FLEW so HIGH.
speaking of his marvellous flight, said:
''I never flew so high before"
NO measurement was taken, but I es-
innate that I reached an altitude of so
meters q, 637 feet. 1t is difficult tc
gauge height, but I make the estimate
from the time it took me from the start
ing point to the greatest altitude.
Immediately after rising, 1 set the
height rudder at the maximum and KEEP
climbing steadily for Is minutes, until
the field and adjacent county reminded
me of the picture 1 had from Zeppelin:
air ship, only things seemed smaller.
TERRIFIC SPEED DOWNWARD
1.-THE descent, 1 made in five minutes
l came down at a simply terrific speed
The whole machine shook as 1T rushed
through the air, but my sensations Were
lust the same as in lower attitudes. Tit
air was no colder and the wind resist
ence was no greater"
With regard to his passenger, TIT
crown prince. Mr.. Wright saidi
1.-THE prince did not say much NOR
than fine during the fight, but l wa
able to read his impressions from hi
face. I never took up a passenge
who looked so pleased. He just smiled
when we started and he kept smiling.
felt a great responsibility in having thu
! future German emperor as a passenger
not that l mistrusted the machine, bu
any littl eirregularity migst cause tn
people anxiety 1 stayed low at frs
| but the prince kept urging me to g
HIGHER"