The Washington herald., 1911-07-26

by a generous act OF tne Onted
States Signal Corps, the "aeronau-
tic hall of fame" in the National
Museum promises to become one 6f
its most noted features.
The 1909 Wright aeroplane, the
machine in which Brother Orville
startled the world two years ago,
has passed out of active service in
the army and will soon be his
toric relic in the noted institution
on the Mall.
The pioneer flyer has already be-
come archaic, for the aviation of
the present year has far outstripped
it. The Signal Corps officers saw
the opportunity to immortalize the
celebrated aeroplane by turning it
over to the officials of the National
MuSSulIl, dllQ lldNC uOilC 81.
FITTING COMPANION.
1t will be a fitting companion piece to
the old Langley monoplane, the pioneer
flyer OF them all, which scoffers laughed
to oblivion. but which time has vtndi-
Gated. In the great marble temple on
the Mall the two will hang side by side.
both eloquent In their testimony that
America, not France, was the real con-
Queror of the air.
The tandem monoplane. whose stubborn
failure to take the air broke Prof.
Langley's heart. was the aeroplane idea
in the raw. The machine bearing the
names of Wilbur and Orville Wright is
now the only remaining relic of those
wonderful days at Fort Myer. when his
tory was being written by the wizards
from Dayton. It was built to fly and 1t
did fly.
1t bore the fame of the Wright brothers
to the ends of the earth. 1t shattered
all duration and distance flights at Fort
Myer, and won the 1000 army prize for
an aeroplane which could qualify under
the conditions imposed, 1t is. perhaps,
the most noted flyer in the world to-day.
officers of the National Museum are
elated that the prize is theirs. The
Langley monoplane they regard with
sentimental affection. since its creator
was one of their own men. The Wright
biplane is the second great trophy they
have procured for their aeronautic ex-
hibit.
Since the Wright brothers intrusted the
machine to the Signal Corps, II has lit
orally been the aviatory packhorse Of the
army. 1t has done its duty faithfully.
First at College Park. then at San An
tonic, Tex, It has borne the brunt Of
elaborate military experiments under
taken by the ambitious Signal Corps men.
So far as Is known. 1t has never broken
down, or ever disappointed the high
hopes held Of it at the time Of its por-
chase.
Undergoing Repairs.
II is now at the Wright brothers fac
tory in Dayton, undergoing some final
repairs before entering upon its final
fame in the Museum.
The Wright machine became famous
three years ago. when the Wright
brothers were experipenting at Fort
Myer, and when everybody, including
the President and uncle Joe" Cannon.
went to see them fly, and when thou
sands Of people endured disappointment
without murmur. It was during these
initial flights that Lieut.. Selfridge was
killed and Orville Wright was kept in
a hospital for months with q shattered
hin. In July 1909. the machine won for
it's owners the prize OF $4,000 offered by
the War Department, carrying a passen-
ger. Lieut.. Foulois, from Fort Myer to
Alexandria and return-a fight that was
then considered q daring achievement
Taught How to Fly.
The machine then passed into the
control of the Signal Corps. and the
Following fall an aerodrome was fitted
uu at College Park. The two Wrights
aeafn came to Warrington to teach the
military men how to ny. These expert
ments continued until wintry blasts IN
teryened. and the aeroplane was then
taken to San Antonio. 1t has been
there ever since. far away from the
spotlight, but always doing trustworthy
work.
one reason why It II surrendered at
the present time II that the Wright
aeroplane has undergone extensive
notifications in the last two years. The
forward elevating planes have been
a abandoned. The elevating plane 10 now
in the rear of The rudder. and the front
framework has lost the function for
which II wss originally designed. The
new Wright machine 10 far easier and
safer to manage. and the 1903 aeroplane
is regarded ~ obsolete.
AS q relic Of historic days. when n.y.
ing was in Its infancy. the old machine
will be highly treasured by the National
Museum. It IL always sure Of an hon