The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-28
RECORD FOR FLIGHT
oRvILLE WRIGHT UP IN AIR OVER
AN HOUR. e
First Of the Endurance Tests Il Sue
cessful, and Aviator 10 Con-
graduated WARMLY BY
President Taft.

Washington, d. c.. July 27-The
worlds aeroplane record for two men.
as to both time and distance. was brok-
en- this afternoon In a beautiful digit
OF one hour, twelve minutes and forty
seconds-upwards Of fifty miles. and at
a speed averaging about forty miles an
hour. by Orville Wright at Fort Myer.
with Lieutenant Frank p. Lahm, of
the Army signal Corps. as passen-
ger.
The former record was made last
year by his brother. Wilbur. joint inven-
tor with him of the machine In which
both achievements were performed, at
lie Mans. France. with Professor Fain-
leve, of the French Institute, as a pas
senger. The flight was one hour, nine
minutes and thirty-one seconds. Wilbur
was an eager spectator Of today's
flight by his brother.
You just scotched your brothers
record without really damaging II
much" remarked a newspaper man to
Orville after the flight.
That's all we meant to do" replied
Orville with a smile, which his big
brother appreciatfvely duplicated.
The cheering which heralded the set
ting OF a new mark in the conquest of
the air was led by President Taft, in
person, who sat an intensely interested
who insisted. at its conclusion. upon
personally congratulating the brothers
upon their success.
This success was all important to the
wrights, in that II completed the f1rst
of two crucial tests of their machine
imposed upon them by the United
States Government-the so-ca1led "en-
durance test" which required them to
remain one hour continually in the air
with one passenger.
Orville did nearly thirteen minutes
better than that. and could have kept
on indefinitely. three hours and q half.
the limit imposed by the gasoline ca
pacity of the supply tank.
The other test, that for speed. Will
be complied with tomorrow. weather
permitting, when orrvilie Is to take
Lieutenant Benjamin FOULS of the Sig
nal Corps on a cross-country flight to
Alexandra and return, a total Of ten
miles, over a measured course, at a
speed required to average forty miller
an hour.
Poignancy was added to today's
achievement OF Orville Wright by the
realization that upon his last attempt
to navigate the air with passenger.
that passenger, Lieutenant Selfridgo.
was killed, and he himself was terribly
injured.
His devoted sister. Katherine Wright.
when he returned unhurt. nestled her
face against his breast and said:
Bully for you brother, It was beau
tiful."
1t Is a question whether this word
of praise was not more to him than
that which came a few minutes later.
when the President of the United
States took him warmly by the hand
and said, with the other grasping that
of his brother. Wilbur:
ct congratulate you heartily, sir. II
was a great exhibitions. You came
down as easily and gracefully as you
went up. You beat the worlds record .
eyes. sir" replied OrvIlle. evidently
embarrassed. 'T beat my brothers rec
ord"
The President and everybody in the
crowd Joined In the laughter.
How did your passenger conduct
himself? Did he talk to the motor
mann" asked the President.
'He behaved very we'll" replied the
aviator.
well. congratulate both of you.
and thank you for the privilege Of
witnessing such q flight" added the
President.