New-York tribune., 1911-01-22
A+ No at All Dsrnayed by Toll of Lives the Air Has Taken
Experts Deny That Faulty Construction OF Aeropanes
Responsible for Fatalities, but Believe Safer
Method of Control Will Be Found.

chine to be absolutely intact. 1t was said
that the motor had stopped but Moisant
had stopped IT himself, according 10 his
team mates. obviously trying 10 land in
little space especially prepared for the puf-
nose a few feet from the fatal spot. In
fact. they found the ignition cut of. In
their own words, in the language new to
them, these famous flyers say: WHAT Is
the cause that defeated Mosant's wonder
ful ailmanship every one will talk about,
hut nobody can know. But we are positive
that nothing went wrong with the ma
chine"
Moisant was a believer in the steel CON
structed aeropdne and was intending to
make a demonstration attempting to prove
that steel construction was better than
wood In this he was not upheld by any
aeroplane manufacturer OF note. Mosant
was a natural flyer his instinct carrying
him where other aviators Of far greater
| experience and equal daring feared 10 90.
/ Such men shook their heads when Mosant
was the first 10 ny with passenger across
| the English Channel guided by a compass
| to a land in which he had never been, and
murmured, Beginners luck When he
| travelled at the rate of fifty miles an hour
/ thirty miles across country IN fog as
| thick as cotton during the Belmont Park
| tournament these mere seasoned flyers re-
| peated the phrase when asked for an cX-
I planation. When Moisant few from Paris
| to London it was his third experience in
! an aeroplane. The opinion Of Wilbur
| Wright concerning the subject of deaths
by acroplane during 1910 is that many Of
, them were almost unavoidable because or
the unusual number Of risks taken.
a few days ago Mr.. Wright said that he
and his brother had taken risks sometimes.
Such risks had seemed necessary to de-
termine certain fundamental facts. But
neither Of the brothers recognizes as valu-
able to the progress Of aviation such spec-
mems of aeronautic achievement as, for in
stance, the flight TO the Statue of Liberty
over the houSetOps of Brooklyn.
In the matter Of control Mr.. Wright said
he did not know how much improvement
the future might develop. He believes
there is less opportunity for increased ef-
ficiency in that particular than most per-
sons might imagine Speeds will increase,
he said because speed IS one Of the easiest
things for aeroplane manufacturers to pro-
duce. 1t is a question merely Of utmost
| lightness of frame, combined with highest
power motor. The motor will probably
never be perfect partly because human
labors have yet to produce a perfect any
thing, and particularly on account of the
motors highly developed tendency TO be
petulant. rendering it almost proof against
a greater degree of reliability than now
obtains. II the motor could be absolutely
relied upon not to stop running then flying
would soon be most common method of
rapid transit But" asked Mr.. Wright,
"why fly over church steeples just to gam
bic upon the question whether or not your
motor, that may have run perfectly for
three years will continue TO do so until
you are beyond unnecessary Danger
No serious accident TO Curtiss nor to any
Of his group OF aviators has occurred, part
iy. no doubt. because of his motto, which
is Loyalty kept in view by his men: "Wher
you see any kites in the air you won't see
me-"
The Aero Club Of America has ideas upon
the subject of precautionary measures
against accidents by aeropianes and bal
looms in the year just begun. The Aero
Club believes a thorough and ofiicial-per
haps not necessarily diferert-inspection OF
all flying craft should be made before the
bomb bursts starting any exhibition. Suci
inspection has been ordered by the Aero
club of France and by the Royal Aero
club of the United Kingdom. Action by
the International Aeronautc Federation j.
sought Such proceeding on the part OF
the International Aeronautc Federation
would make official inspection imperative al
all sanctioned exhibitions and contests
throughout the world.
The committee appointed by the Aero
Club to make searching investigation OF
the equipment and construction Of the ma
chimes in which HoXsey and MoiSant los
their lives contains no member famed iol
aeronautical eXperience-off the ground
These men are suggested as qualified e
draw up rules anl regulations that may
htv. the power to exclude from flying II
anv exhibition or contest such aeroplane.
or balloons a. the committee may deter
mlne to he dangerous to pilot or spectators
Atmospheric conditions will be studied b!
Professor \. f. Zahm. Of Washington: Ma
jor Henry &. Eersev Peter Cooper Hewitt
NJ. B. Sellers and Dr. \. Lawrence Rotch