The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-08-05
We're Off!

After starting the motor the opera
tor takes his seat, attendants in the
meantime hanging on to the machine
until given the word to let go. Then
the aeroplane starts forward on its
three wheels until it gains sufficient
momentum to take the air. BY pulling
the steering wheel toward him the
operator lifts the elevation planes. the
machine shoots upward. and the jour-
ney is begun. After that it is a mat
ter of guiding. finding the proper ele-
vation and keeping an even keel. When
ready to aight the operator chooses
his landing. which must be an open
level field. shuts off his engine. turns
his elevation planes downward and
goes earthward with a swiftness which
takes the breath of the groundlings
below. At the proper distance from
terra firma he elevates his planes
sharply. which serves both to cheek
the motion and break the descent. The
result is that he glides forward and
lights as gently as bird.
AT the Mineola field on Long Island
Charles X Hamilton in n Curtiss BIZ
plane recently did some surprising
stunts. Cutting figure Fights in the
air were among his most commonplace
performances. One of his most dare
devil feats was stopping his engine at
q great height and dropping to the
earth. When it seemed that he would
be dashed to certain death he would
start his engine again. elevate his
planes and glide away. He would also
swoop down to within a few feet
of the heads of spectators. causing
them to scatter In all directions. then
rise again aud sweep away until he
was like bird on the distant horizon.
He habitually smokes a cigarette on
bis machine. Despite his FRANKS he
did not suffer an accident at Mineola.
A Few Aeroplane Thrillers.
Since the first public exhibition by
the Wrights the aeroplane has made
marked advance and accomplished
many thrilling feats. In France Will
bur Wright had the kings and nota-
bles of the world his eager spectators.
Afterward Orville Wright at Fort Myer
fulfilled all the government require
ments. making a straightaway fight
to Alexandria and return without
alighting. also breaking the record by
remaining in the air with passenger
for more than an hour. Later in Ger
many Orville repeated the triumphs of
Wilbur in France. making at one time
1000 foot ascension. the highest up
to that time. Another notable aero
plane feat by the Wright brothers was
Wilbur's circling of the statue Of Lib
erty and Grants tomb during the Hud-
son-Fulton celebration in New York.
OF late the Wrights have settled
down to manufacturing and training
operators. They never did fly in prize
contests. Their whole purpose now is
to protect their patents and perfect the
aeroplane as a commercial proposition.
Their dropping of the thrill making
line has not been followed by other
lost that does not break some aviation
record. Louis Bleriot's feat of cross
ing the English channel was afterward
beaten by another Frenchman. who
went over IN shorter time. and this in
turn was cast in the shade by the Eng
,lishman Rolls. who. in a Wright BIZ
plane. crossed the channel and back
without alighting. Louis Paulhan has
made some of the most wonderful Of
all the fights recorded, going from
London to Manchester. distance of
1876 miles. covering 1T miles without
alighting. in 2 hours and 80 minutes /
Paulhan also reached the highest alti-
tude attained by an aeroplane, 4.165
feet. at Los Angeles. At Rheims. /
France. Henri Farman remained in