The Washington herald., 1911-08-08

mas. he stopped his engines while at
height Of 2,500 feet and started on a long
glide to the rear of Fort Myer.
He judged the distance well, and landed
at the west side of the fort, and was
soon surrounded by soldiers from the
barracks of the cavalry troops. The time
consumed in the fight was twenty min
utes.
After a rest OF thirty-seven minutes,
during which time he left his machine
in charge of a detail OF troops, he again
made ready to fly, and as he circled in
the air to gain the height necessary for
the trip to the College Park field he saw
the Wright machine just crossing the
city.
Record Ascent Made.
At first Capt Beck thought Of descend
ing. but the large number of spectators
on the parade ground made 1t dangerous
for two aeroplanes to land, and he few
for Washington, at a height Of 1900 feet,
just as Lieut. Arnold and Capt. Chandler,
at an altitude OF 5000 feet, were prepar-
ing to make the final glide of descent.
Capt. Beck, in attaining a height of 1,5oo
feet in five minutes, broke the record
for ascent in the Curtiss machine.
Returning, Capt Beck made the fast
time of twenty-five minutes, after hav-
ing made his course to Fort Myer to
the Monument and then ~ the American
League Baseball Park. where he passed
over the field at a height of $500 feet, and
said afterward he thought OF a toy gar
den when he saw the green field.
Lieut.. Arnold landed his machine at
Fort Myer at about 5:05 o'clock. After
| having followed the railroad tracks TO
the Union Station, they made for the
Capitol, and finally for the Washington
Barracks, hoping to select good land
ing place from an open point.
Lieut. Arnold rested the Wright ma
chine at Fort Myer for about thirty min
utes and then when the parade ground
had been cleared with some difficulty re-
turned by way of the Monument, Union
Station, and then direct to College Park.
in nineteen minutes. The trip to Fort
Myer was made in twenty-five minutes.
at an average speed of thirty-nine miles
an hour.
The Wright machine. which Capt.
Chandler had for a time controlled. land
ed at College Park at about 5:45 o'clock,
thirty minutes after Capt. Beck had re-
turned.
Beck May Fly to Annapolis.
The three aviators were pleased with
the flights, and Capt. Beck announced
he would soon attempt to fly to Fort
Myer and return without a stop, and
then will fly to Annapolis.
Lieut.. Arnold. with his pupil, Capt.
Chandler. expects to fly to Frederick
during the National Guard maneuvers
| there. 1t is expected the army aviators
will start night flights shortly. as they
are now working on plans for a light, re-
liable, acetylene searchlight, and will
light the corners of the aviation fled with
bonfires in order to find a landing place.
Paul Peck, the Rex Smith aviator. ex-
poets to fly to College Park this after
noon about O'Clock. He attempted to
fly yesterday. but, after making two
flights. reaching attitudes Of 300 and 1000
feet, found 1t was too dark for trip TO
College Park. and was forced to land in
Potomac Park.
The new Burgess-Wright aeroplane,
shipped from the factory at Marblehead.
Mass, August 2, has arrived in Wash
ington, and is at the freight yards await
ing delivery to the army flyers at COL
lege Park. 1t increases the stock of aer-
oplanes at College Park to four.