The sun., 1909-06-21
THE WRIGHTS IN WASHINGTON.
They VIII Begin the Tests OF Their Aero.
plano This Week.

WASHINGTON. June 2O.-Wilbur and
Orville Wright arrived in Washing ton
this afternoon. Tomorrow they will 60
to Fort Myer to superintend the setting
up Of their aeroplane. which arrived a
the WrightS' mechanic. 1t is not likely
that there will be any fight at Fort Myer
before Wednesday. as much remains to be
done in the work OF preparation. The
WriGhts went to the Hotel Raleigh,
Before the Wright aeroplane is accepted
by the Government two tests must he
made. These will occur during the pres
ent week. One is a test for distance.
The contract requires that there shall be
a straightaway flight Of five miles and re-
turn. Two passengers must be carried.
The course will be from Fort Myer toward
Alexandria and back. The flight will be
made over rough ground. something that
has never been done by an aeroplane
anywhere Lefore. The character Of the
surface Of the earth does not OF course
make any difference in the physical action
OF the machine. but there is the psycholo-
gical effect on the opera tor in his concern
about the consequences OF accident. The
former flights at Fort Myer and those
made in Europe have always been over
practically level grounds
The contract requires that the second
test shall be for speed, the provision being
that the machine carrying two passengers
shall travel for an hour at a minimum
rate Of thirty.six miles. The Wrights are
confident they will meet all requirements,
IL successful they will receive S25. 900
from the Government. For each nile
over forty miles an hour they make in the
speed test they will receive a bonus Of
s.. 500 up to fortyfour miles.
After the tests have been completed
and the machine accepted by the Govern
ment the Wrights will instruct army
officers in its operation.
Orville Wright made the statement
this evening that riding a bicycle or in
motor car was hardly more dangerous
than riding in an aeroplane. He and
his brother were answering questions
about the probability OF an automatic
control OF an aeroplane to prevent rock
ing. According to Orville Wright the
matter was OF no great consequence.
He maintained that no automatic device
was regarded as necessary TO preserve
the equilibrium OF a motor car or BIZ
CYCLE and he saw no necessity OF attempt
ing to apply such a principle to an aero
plane, which was now under perfeSt con-
troll and rocked only in consequence Of
counter air currents, He likened this
rocking to that Of bicycle or automo-
bile on a bad road.
To other questions Orville Wright said
thsG the accident at Fort .Myer last sum
mer, when Lieut.. Selfridg6 was killed and
Mr.. Wright badly hurt. could not happen
again under similar circumstances, The
trouble. he explained, was caused by the
breaking OF propeller blade and the
distance to earth was too short to en-
able him to right the machine.
Had we been up fifty or a hundred
feet higher he said. -the landing could
have been accomplished in entire safety.
with the machine and everything else
in good condition. We were only twenty
five feet from the ground when the pro-
peller blade broke"
Orville Wright will make all the flights
at Fort Myer. After he has completed
the trials he probably will go TO Ger
many in connection with an aeroplane
contract with that Government. Wilbur
will remain at Fort Myer to inst ruct
army officers in aeronautics.