Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
DAMAGE NOT VERY SERIOUS
Upon Receipt of Material Repairs
May Be Easily Made.
WAS UP IN PRACTICE FLIGHT
Two Officers Aboard, But Neither
njured-Future of Aeronauts
Under Discussion.

The Wright aeroplanc met with All acci-
dent a College Park this morning winch
will probably result i'm putting it nut %.
commission for a day or two. Liouts.
I.ahm and Humphreys. making 4 fisl
shortly after o'clock, while ondcavoring
to turn the biplane when only few feet
above the ground found their engine
working slowly aud without sufficient
force to swing the machine about. In
consequence the left plane touched the
ground. causing the machine To lurch
breahing the right plane as we'll the
right skid that held the forward steering
plane in place. The linen covering of the
lower righ-hand plane was badly torn.
The machine was in charge Of Lieut.
Lahm, and Lieut.. Humphreys was with
him.
The accident happened after the Off
GERS had been flying for about five min
utes. There was very little wind and
that little was coming from the north.
Engine Not at Full Capacity.
II is generally understood of course.
that the aeroplane has more buoyancy
going against the wind than with it,
In this case the machine was making
the turn at the north end of the field
and was about ready to straighten out
for its flight to the south with the wind
1t was said after the accident that the
engine was not working at it's maximum
efficiency when the turn was made
Speed is always lost on a turn, il was
explained. and this morning the machine
was already within three feet OF the
ground. When the curve was rounded
the left hand wing dipped just enough to
touch the ground and this threw the ma
chine violently to the right with the re-
suit stated. Neither of the occupants
was hurt and the engine suffered no in
jury.
The machine was Immediately taken
back TO the shed, where the horizontal
front rudder was removed and prepara-
tions made for the repairs. II probably
Will take until tomorrow afternoon To
complete the carpenter work that will
be necessary, but ii will also require
fresh cloth TO cover the new part OF the
plane. This is special cloth which
can be secured only from the Wright
factory in Dayton and message has
been sent to ship a fresh covering. This
will be sewed into shape and will be all
ready to adjust when IL is received here,
but it may take several days for the or
der to be filled.
Whereabouts of the Wrights
The officers at College Park do not YET
know whether the Wright brothers have
returned to Dayton or are still in New
York. II the latter is true Wilbur prob
ably will come to College Park and take
a look at the engine to see whether or
not il needs attention and had any part
in the accident The news Of the acci-
dent was received with phiIosophic calm
at the War Department. where II was said
that accidents were naturally TO be eX
pected where men were handling new APP
paratus, and the chief regret was that il
would necessarily cut down the time re-
naming for practice flights, which soon
will be rendered impossible by the APP
proach OF winter.
Today's accident was the first serious
one that has occurred since the army
lieutenants have been practicing with the
machine. II is the only one occurring
during the absence of Mr.. Wright.
Testing Speed of Machine.
Just how the flying qualities e the
Wright aeroplane are TO he tested to .sir
full capacity is a question that is rece.v
ing attention among officers of the United
States Signal Corps, and is of especia!
interest to the army lieutenants who have
become adopts in handling the machine.
The lieutenants themselves from the be-
ginning OF their detail as students If avI-
alton have been anxious to do stunts
with the biplane. The officers of the Sig
nal Corps also wish to see the qualities
Of the machine developed to their extreme
capa city. They want TO know by actual
experiment what the aeroplane could he
depended upon to do In time of war, when
reconnOisSances to gain informa ton OF
the enemy's whereabouts and strength
would be of the highest importance To.
do that il would be necessary To know
what velocity Of wind coul he encoun-
tered with safety.
Necessity in High Altitude.
The operators would need to be trained
In aerial navigation under adverse cir
cumstances. They would have To possess
a knowledge of methods of handling the
biplane i'm strong currents of air, because
they would be obliged to seek high al
titude to obtain safety from the enemys
guns, and AT such attitudes there are ire
quentiy treacherous currents. WhlIe d
comparative calm may prevail near the
ground.
II IL is decided to enter upon a series
OF experiments to fully qualify aeroplane
operators for efficient work 1t IS now
| realized that corps of highly trained
men must be maintained.
Planning for Future.
| II will not be possih, 81: tine near future
! to instruct large number of officers
| in aerial navigation, but those VIII" are
detailed have much TO learn that can
be attained only by experiment. Before
they can hurry on such experiments with
/ practical results they must be highly
trained in handling the biplane. 1t Will
| be necessary for these officers to take
risks = they are to become masters of
aerial navigation. Flying in the wind of
| less than eight or ten miles an hour, II
! Is declared by experts, never Will develop
| aviators who can De depended upon to
make practical reconnaissance III time
! OF war.
FOR AVIATION FUND.