The Washington herald., 1909-05-30
Arlington expected fly 100

hills had more than one reason. The
sand hills we're favorable ground. but
were far away from home. Their re-
moteness was one Of their recommenda-
tions- The brothers were anxious from
the first 10 keep their work secret
Secrecy was needful. Yet il was ore Of
the most trying features OF the work
There was plenty OF interest in fight
during the years following Santos Du-
mont's fight by airship. the sensation
which had no doubt helped 70 stir I'D the
ambitions Of the HSrights themselves.
But observers might rob the brothers OF
the fruits Of any Improvements that they
might make To profit by their efforts
they would have 10 keep the world ig-
nOrant
The Wrights were indeed no lavish ex-
perimenters Ike Santos Dumo1t. Cir
.cUmstances were with him, and against
them. Lack of means was imposed by
their circumstances. Lack OF freedom was
the restriction Of secrecy. Lack OF as
sistants rendered longer those tedious
repairs and alterations which delayed the
progress Of their study OF the cOndi-
tions All these lacks imposed a prudence
in their methods that was in itself a han
dicap-
Sought TO Build Useful Machine.
The Wrights described their way of go
ing about the work OF discovery in the
following extract from their report 10 the
Aero Club Of America, made IN March,
1906:
From the beginning the firm object
was 10 design a machine OF practical util-
ity. rather than a useless and extrava-
CANT toy. For this reason extreme light
ness OF construction has always been
resolutely rejected. On the other hand.
every effort has been made 10 increase
the scientific efficiency OF the wings and
screws, in order that even heavily built
machines may be carried with a moderate
expenditure OF power
Favorable results were due 10 more
scientific design and 10 improved methods
o. balancing and steering. The motor
and machine possessed no extraordinary
qualities. The best dividends on the labor
invested have invariably come from seek
ing more knowledge rather than more
power
Wrights' Methods Slow and Sure.
Though the words were written after
the Wrights had gained their results.
they suggest what was the spirit Of the
inventors work previous 10 the consum-
nation From the start they resolved not
TO Overreach success. They turned their
backs on risky flights and on fimsy meth
ods. Both might have made the earlier
fights easier. The Wrishts built their
first aerOpIanes heavy and felt their way.
awaiting favorable DAYS, making short
and gradually lengthening flights. Il was
the method natural 70 their tempers and
10 their purses.
A flying machine was built and equip
ped with an S-horsepover motor. It
weighed somewhat under SO pounds with
It's passengers According 10 calculations.
II should carry the weight Of one man.
This first Wright flyer was equipped, as
had been some Of the later gliders. with
the Wright device for DETECTING the wing
TIPS for equilibrium. 1t was taken 10
Kitty Hawk and set Up with great Sc
crecy IN the seclusion Of the sand hills.
The inventors had devised q falling
weight and line TO jerk It along Z mono
-ail and give it its start
Flies at First Attempt.
The thoroughgoing methods Of the broth
ars were justified when It came 20 the
test. They were not ready 70 fy until /
December L. 1913. after q deal OF tuning
-p- But when they were ready the ma 4
shine few, and came down without mis-
zap IN its first departure from the ground /
L covered $50 feet in fifty-nine seconds /
against a twenty-mile wind
After a few fights on the sand hills the /
brothers found 10 their delight that they 4
had a fair amount OF control over the 4
light Il was no longer so necessary for /
hem 10 keep 10 the sand hills. They re- I
turned. therefore, 10 Dayton, 10 continue /
their experiments near their home. There, /
oo' they found a place. large secluded ]
meadow, where they could carry on their 1
experiments without being observed /
Finding that their machine could be i'm /
proved, they dropped their flying for a 4
While and built IN their shop their second /
motor flyer.
With No > they made over 100 fights /
hear Dayton in 1904 These were such 4
modest flights that few persons knew
What was going on except the family. !
rho heard the results IN the evenings. /
The inventors were holding their machine /
n, all this time. more or less At least.
hey entirely neglected the enticing pas
ime OF finding out its capabilities and /
devoted themselves 10 the labor OF discov-
ring It's faults. After tinkering WITH the
iyer al through the summer OF 1904 the /
,rOtheTS first let II out q bit that autumn.
IN September % they first few a complete
,iTcle. On November the machine was
ut 70 q motor endurance test and. ac-
ording 70 the brothers records, went
through the air three miles
The Wrights had reached a point where
uccesS was theirs beyond dispute No
ne else had ever approached their re-
Ults; no other inventor had yet produced
n aerOplane that wOud actually carry
i'm through the air. The brothers saw
he work Of years. so easy to sum up in
few memoranda, but 50 tedious 70 ac-
omplish, brought to the point Of success.
Success Kept secret.
The Wrights did not do as most invent
rs would have done under the circum-
tances- They kept as quiet over their
riumph as they had kept before. They
Id not give any public exhibitions OF
heir flying powers. They did not show
heir machine nor seek patents. Instead
4 ending in disclosure right there and
hen. the secrecy OF the WTights grew
eeper- They had their purpose in keep
ng quiet It may be read in the words
Z Wilbur Wright in communication 10
ne St Louis Republic on March Il, 1905:
We will sell our flying machine and
he calculations We have made. which We
eSard as Of more value than the mere
machine itself. Only 20 the governments
Z the world We have taken out no pat
nts on our Inventions simply because we
10 not intend ever 10 make a commercial
enture OF our discovery. Secrets are OF
-alue 10 governments when patents would
70. be.
It seems strange that mzchins should