The Washington herald., 1911-08-05
PECK TO CIRCLE
DOME OF CAPITOL

A dangerous, gusty wind and overhans-
ing clouds were defied at College Park
aviation field yesterday by Lieuts Ar
mold and Milling, flying the Wright aero
plane. Lieut.. Milling ascended twice, and
on his last trip took with him as pas
senger Lieut.. Frank NJ. Kennedy, re-
Gently assigned as a pupil at the aero
school
Lieut. Kennedy had not experienced a
ride in an aeroplane before, but seemed
to enjoy his trip, which lasted for about
ten minutes. The vibration of the aero
plane was unnoticed by him, he said, and
the machine seemed rather gliding than
travelling at a rate OF forty miles an
hour.
Lieut.. Kennedy has been at the avia-
ton field only a few times. Recently he
was selected as an aviation pupil, and
was called from his post at Ell Paso. Tex,
to take charge of a CUrtiss aeroplane.
AS yet he has selected no time for COM
mencing his practice as aviator.
Two flights were made by Lieut. Mill
ing. In the first flight he found the
course difficult, but reached a height of
1000 feet, and rema ined in the air for
about fifteen minutes
Lieut.. Arnold, who made the first flight
of the day. reached an altitude of about
ten minutes. He experienced many
troubles, caused by the wind. as the
rainstorm had. stopped about half hour
before the aeroplane was taken from the
hangar.
After he had made the most successful
landing of the day, the machine having
descended in almost perfect manner.
Lieut.. Arnold said he had believed the
steering gear broken at one time during
his flight, when he had almost no con-
troll over the machine.
The flight, however. was considered
good, and the turns were well executed.
The clouds at times We're close to the
ground, and were driven by winds that
were first strong and then gusty. The
gusts caused the aeroplane to tilt at dan
gerous angles.
Rex Smith may permit Paul Peck, his
aviator, to make a flight to Washington
this evening, weather permitting. Peck
is anxious to make the trip, he says. but
as he has never attained any consider
able height Smith may want the flight
delayed until next week.
The Rex Smith machine will, however
fly to Washington shortly, and a course
has already been outlined. Smith will
permit the flight within the next week.
he says, and is waiting only until he
eliminates risk to Aviator Peck as much
as possible.
Peck intends to fly at an altitude OF
about 1000 feet from College Park to
Fifteenth and H streets northeast. From
there he will fly over Maryland avenue
to the Capitol and circle around the
dome.
Upon leaving the Capitol Building he
will guide his aeroplane probably down
Pennsylvania avenue and will alight on
the Speedway. The machine will be left
in the Speedway grounds for one day for
inspection.
Then he will again fly to College Park.
taking the same route over which he
travels to Washington. He will start his
flight to this city about o'clock.
Aviator Peck has made several flights
at College Park recently. Thursday aft
ernoon, after the army officers had left
for this city, he made two flights, stay
ing in the air altogether for about thirty
five minutes. The highest altitude he
reached was 100 feet.
Since the Rex Smith factory has been
built at College Park several improve
ments have been added to the machine.
New wing tips and planes elevated at
the ends are features.