Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-07-31

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
COMPLETE TESTS
FOR THE ARMY
Orvllle Made Cross Country
Flight Last Night.
Carrying a Pas.
Senger.
INSTRUCT OFFICERS
TO USE AER0PLANt
Inventors Earned $4,000 by
Building Machine That Can
Be Operated to
Satisfaction OF
Officers.

Washington, July 31.--The Wright
brothers completed the tests OF the
Iaeroplane purchased by the army and
won 10000, including a bonus Of
SIS, 900, when Orville Wright last night
accomplished a cross-country flight OF
ten miles from the Fort Myer drill
grounds and return, carrying Lieutea-
snt Foulois and making an average
speed of more than AZ miles an hour.
The flight was witnessed by hundreds
of spectators and President Taft ar
rived just as the trip was ended.
No more flights will be made by
the Wrights at Fort Myer and the
training of Lieut.. Lahm and Lieut.
Foulols, who are to use the aero
plane, will begin at once. These two
officers have been chosen to have
charge of the airship and to continue
experiments with il to ascertain its
value to the army in time of war.
I heir instruction will take place near
Washington on ground free from 90
structions, and they will be put
through course of training which
lNill enable them to handle the aero
plane as competently as the Wrigh.s.
An immense crowd watched orvillc
placed on the starting rail. The mo-
tor was given a tinal test and then
Lieut.. F'oulois climbed into thu seat
beside the motor. Wilbur Wright
took a position by the side of .de
seroplane while Orville climbed into
his seat beside the officer and rs
.eased the machine.
The aeroplane skinned down the
track, rose into the air and sailed
over the ground, rising higher and
higher as ii reached the end of the
field, then turned and sailed over the
leads of the madly cheering multi
tude. Orville turned the machine
southwark and it flew straight down
the center OF the field to shouts If
They're off"
Continuing straight southwark the
machine, carrying its two passengers,
rose high above the woods in the dis
tance and finally disappeared from
sight. The hum of conversation in
the crowd ceased as the aeroplane dis
appeared. Wilbur Wright appeared
agitated as the arship failed to az.
pear, but the concern of the crowd
left when someone with a field glass
sighted the acroplanC.
In a few minutes the aerOplane
sailed over the drill ground. turning
To- the southwark, and landing easily
down the field. The feat was accom-
plished and Orvllle was greeted with
dc cafening cheers as he dismounted.
The inventors Immediately began
heuring the speed they mad made an"
after q few minutes announced il u
42l2 miles. Lieut. Fuulois said a
speed of 50 miles an hour had been
made on the return trip.
Its easier To fly across the couu-
try than around field" said Oryille.
we were forced off our course by
several counter currents. and IN turn
ing a trend of air took me lower than
/ intended to 80, | was forced to
climb higher i'm starting back"
Despite Gordon of troopers tn
crowd surged across the field and sur
rounded the a,ropIdne and its IN
ycntOrs. The guards finally succeed
ed IN driving the crowds back and re.
forming their lines.
President Tatt arrived on the field
Just as the landing was made and
hastCued to congratulate the Wrigh
on the success OF their official tests.
A crowd nearly as large as tho one
al Fort Myor had assembled at the
end of the ten mile course, and when
the acroplanc sailed into sight, cir
Cled the turning point aud started
back, the crowds broke into cheers.
A current of air prevented the ma
chine keeping 10 the course planned
al the turning point but Oryillc
quickly oyerCamo the difficulty ami
his maneuvrr showed the absOiu.r
control he had over the acroplane al
all times.
The Wrlghts expect To leave mex.
month for Europe, whore they Will
conduct tests of machines they hay.
sold 10 governments and private pun
chascrs.