New-York tribune., 1909-10-09
MISS COLUMBIA FLIES
OFFICERS PASSENGERS.
Lieutenants Lahm and HumphrieS
Ride scith Wright at College Park.

College Park Md. oct. S.--An aeroplane owned
by the United States government rose in the ar
for the time here to-day, circled over the
farms that nestle in the valley and sailed back
obedieniIy TO it's starting point 10 rise again
Thus. under the guiding hand cf one Of its in-
ventors Wilbur Wright. II few five times in the
dedication aviation Of the government tract
of land here.
With almost ideal conditions. few spectators and
hardly enough breeze send the little cups Of the
thermometer around at the rate of mile an hour,
Mr.. Wright began the flights to eacn the officers
OF the signal corps how 10 handle the machine. II
was the first time he had driven Miss Co
lumbia. Several times, however. he had wit
messed his brother Orvine make flights Fort
Myer before the governments acceptance on
the starting rail at 1886 O'clock he circled the field
for three minutes. To the spectators it appeared
that he was making ideal flight the machine
skinned along twenty-five feet above the ground.
Nj Wright said when he landed that when he
became better acquainted with the aeroplane he
would do better.
Mr.. Wright was off for another fight at 400
o'clock. This time he in the air five minutes,
At 451 o'clock he scared again. TO return after
about five minutes. Each time he kept the
reservation grounds. Then Lieutenant I.ahm took
his place in the extra reat. Twice before he had
ridden with Orvile Wright.
Az 5:l5 o'clock the American inventor and the
American officer ascended. They rose to the high
est altitude attained during the afternoon-pro-
ing their to circles over the government
reservation, they went mile and half toward
Washington in hardly more than many minutes
As they sailed the last remaining acres
owned by the Calvert family they could have
dropped bomb in the old mansion built by Lord
Baltimore more than two centuries ago. Practi-
cally under their shadow the feet Of the British
had trod nearly hundred years ago they
marched from Washington to Baltimore in the
War of 1912. The aviators returned TO the start
ing rail in q few seconds more than five minutes.
Lieutenant Humphreys had been waiting all the
afternoon At last Mr.. Wright beckoned to him
10 take his place for his first ride in aeroplane.
The minute the two off. Five more and
they had finished their circles Of the field and
bringing the machine to a halt alongside the
starting rail
It's much more pleasant than automobiling
remarked Lieutenant Humphreys. We had a
splendid view of the country"
AS each flight ended the spectators who had
Witnessed Orvlle Wright the machine
mented upon the superior way in which Wilbur
glided TO a stop When the latter was approached
a Wright brother-in defence Of Orvine.
There never was field in the world harder to
fly on that Fort Myer," he said There
you had 10 be turning your machine all the time
you were coming down. Here you glide in
straight line just far you like. When 1 get
more accustomed TO the machine may do better.
bolfs with Vet"
Flights probably viii be made tomorrow and
on days following until the officers familiar
with the art.