The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-15

~NOAAO4As NV GLSCIiC d
Ely, the aviator, made the first sue
cessful flight from the deck of a
naval vessel to-day, when his Cur
tiss biplane was started from tenn
porary launching platform on the
forward deck of the scout cruiser
birmingham, which was anchored
in Hampton Roads, off Old Point
Comfort.
After many hours OF preparation,
Ely finally climbed into his machine
shortly after 3 O'Clock. He had
been delayed for several hours by
furries of hail and rain. Finally,
about SIG o'clock, his aeroplane
was started down the platform,
which was inclined at an angle of
about 8 degrees. His machine
gathered momentum rapidly, Ely
making slight miscalculation in
controlling the levers, which made
his machine dart down toward the
water.
LANDS IN SAFETY.
The wheels and tip Of his propeller tust
barely touched the water. He succeeded
in righting the machine and il turned up
ward. He rose 10 100 feet and few about
fve miles toward Willoughby Spit, Just
opposite Old Point Comfort. where he
landed safely. During the flight a biting
wind and rain prevailed. which prevented
EYsErom identifying the. landing marks.
II was Ely's original intention to ay
from the deck Of the Birmingham to the
Norfolk Navy Yard, but he was prevent
ed oy the adverse weather conditions.
AS his machine touched the water. the
spray flew into his goggles, almost blind
ing him. which prevented him from con-
tinuing the flight 10 the navy yard. His
propeller blade was slightly clipped by
contact with the water. bat not sufn-
ciently. however. 10 interfere with the
flight
Shortly before noon the Birmingham
left the Norfolk Navy Yard. accompanied
by the torpedo destroyers Roe and Terry.
which acted as convoy. While the YES
sells were proceeding through the Eliza
beth River into the Roads a heavy hail
storm broke, Finally at l2.30 O'Clock the
Rfr-1lfnohau7 aurboraF or rt,, ,.-t....e
Old Point Comfort with her bow headed
into southwest breeze which was blow
ing at the rate OF about ten miles an
hour.
Ready for the Start.
Ely climbed into his machine shortly
after o'clock in the face OF a biting
wind and rain. with an occasional furry
OF hail. His machine was thoroughly
tested before launching. Finally. at 3:16
o'clock, the bluejackets who were hold
ing the machine on the launching plat
form. on the forward deck of the Bir-
mingham. were ordered 10 let go their
hold.
The machine glided gracefully down
the slight incline and continued its de-
scent until the wheels and the tin Of
the propeller touched the water about
Ice feet ahead or the birmingham. which
vas anchored.
Every spectator on the naval vessels
and the other craft which were gathered
In the Roads breathed hard for mo.
ment when IL looked as Il the machine
would be unable to rise from the SUI
face or the water. Ely hod no difficulty
however. ia managing the machine. and
sent II upward by suddenly fitting the
elevating planes. They responded in
stantly, and the machine travelled swiftly
upward in almost a straight line toward
WillOughhy Spit
When the aeroplans SKINNED over the
water II splashed the spray In Ely's eyes
IN spite OF the goggles that he wore
BY the time he had righted HIS machine.
however. Ely had lost his bearings and
was confused as 70 his real position.
He saw the land directly ahead OF VII
loughby Spit and descended there with
out difficulty He covered about five
miles In little more than FIVE minutes.
His machine travelled at the rate Of about
hfty-hVe miles an hour. launch from
the Birmingham picked Ely up and
placed him on board the destroyer Roe |
on which he returned TO the Norfolk !
Navy Yard
Used Curtfssf Machine.
The machine which Ely used IN today's j
night was the same aeroplane in which /
Curtiss iew from Albany to New York
City last spring II was fitted with two
pontoons under the main planes so as TO /
make II float in case Of accident Ely /
also wore life preserver.
MY flight" said Ely. "is the first time
that an aeroplane was ever launched
from the deck OF naval vessel orig
!naily I intended to launch my machine
with the cruiser steaming at a fair rate
of speed against the wind. This would
have given the aeroplane greater lifting
power and would have been a Far easier
achievement.
To-day, however, the weather condi-
tions we're adverse, and was anxious to
complete the test without waiting any
Rnger for more auspicious conditions 7
oisregarded the fact that the Birming-
ham was anchored at the time / was
ready 10 start, because did not want %
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