Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-30
SHORT FLIGHT AFTER
THREE FALSE STARTS
Wright Brothers Give Disappointing
Exhibition Before Crowd al
Fort Meyer.
MAY make ANOTHER TRIAL TO-DAY
Finally Succeeding in Making the Ma
chine Rise, Orville Wright Stays Up
Few Seconds and Then Announces
That He Has Discovered Cause of
Trouble.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, ID. C.. June 29.-Af-
ter making three unsuccessful efforts
to get his new atroplane into air to-
day. Orville Wright made a short
flight, encircling the Fort Meyer aero
drome. Lack of power. due to loose
spark control was finally determined
upon by the two Wrights as the cause
for the refusal of the machine TO fly
for more than a few hundred feet be-
yond the end Of the starting rail-
"A flying machine is like a horse. -
said Wilbur Wright after the trial. IF
it's new you have to get used to 1t
before it will go just as you want it
TO. You have 10 learn its peculiari-
ties. am glad we learned what the
trouble is and after few more trials
you will see some fun
There was hardly a breath of air
when the machine was taken out OF
its shed and placed On the starting
track shortly after five O'Clock. The
motor was given a test and it worked
very smoothly. The weight was then
hauled to the top of the starting tow
er, and the rope to which it is a.
tached was fastened to the aeroplane.
E.veryth ing being in readiness Wilbur
Wright and Taylor. the mechanic sta
toned themselves at one OF the pro-
pellers ready TO turn il like crank
ing an automobile Orville Wright
turned on the ignition and his brother
and the mechanic gave the propellers
a twist The latter whirled around at
a grtat rate as Orville took his place
in the operators seat. Wilbur station
ed himself at the end OF the aeroplane
and ran along with it when Orville
released the weight which pulls it
down the track and gives it momen-
tum.
First Bad Start.
The machine as soon as it left the
track appeared to be able to mount
in the air. but few feet It then
veered towards the ground and struck
lme earth at its tip. The machine was
swung completely around. Orville
quickly stopped the motor. II was
found that the canvas at the tip Of
the wing had been torn slightly by
Iscraping on the ground After the can
vas had been repaired the machine
was returned TO the starting rail. Ii
had Travelled about 200 feet.
Il did not have enough power" ex-
planned Orville, besides the wind Is
coming from behind me." There was
a slight movement of the air from me
north but it was scarcely noticeable
At $50 p. m. the machine started
again and the first misnap was r peat
cd with the exception that this time
the lett wing scraped the ground. The
machine was returned fO a third trial
and the crowd ches red Justify. Wilbur
contended that the weight was NOT
sufficient in front and ne gave an
illustration OF his ingenuity by attach
ing a rather heavy vice On one Of the
skids. forward OF the machine, and an
iron clamp on the opposite side. Orviiie
stuck 10 his theory that the power
was not sufficient.
The third attempt was even less
successful. thu machine refusing q
rise at all. The power was increased
but the machine was brought back.
Says He's Found the Trouble.
on the final trial the machine ross
to a height Of about Is CT 20 f.ct
Shortly after il assembled from the
ground j; showed signs Of losing head
way. but OrriIle kept on around th'
H,ld. remaining in the air about -
seconds and landing almost immcdi'
atcly in frcnt Of th, starting track. A.
he STEPPED ont be called 10 his me.
chanic. y found ont this time What
the matter was Charlie. The spark
shakes back 90 zero"
Wilbur seemed TO regard the Dr.
cultics encountered a. rather amusing
and being Orvili,'s big brother had
a few criticisms 20 make 81 bin. VII
bar refuses 70 make any flights nj
Fort Mycr. saying that IL is his broth
IRIS job. bui h. does most cf the boss.
ing and most ~ the tinkcring
nOih Niiioa Wright. father n IN
two aviaiors. and their brother Rcuch
lin arrived a. Fort Meyer IN time q
scr he tests. Tomorrow n j. said
..st.- ai..l.t iii -. affsrurfr.d