Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-06
GREAT FLIGHT
Washington Machine Flown by
a Washington Aviator.
TRIP FROM COLLEGE PARK
Circles Capitol Dome and Glides Over
the City.
SPEEDS ACROSS THE RIVER
Finally Settles in Potomac Park
as the Shades of Night Are
Falling.
TRIP FROM COLLEGE PARK
SPEEDS ACROSS THE RIVER

For the first time in the history of avia-
ton Washington aeroplane, built by a
Washington man and flown by WASH
ington man, passed over this city at dusk
last evening and settled down for the
night in Potomac Park. It was the Rex
Smith aeroplane, flown from College Park
to Washington by Paul Peck, the young
aviator who earned his pilots license just
week ago.
Peck took the aeroplane from the shed
at the Smith factory in College Park rose
quickly to a height of about 1000 feet and
flew into Washington much as though a
casual visitor had taken an automobile
and come in by road. He circled the
dome OF the Capitol about eleven minutes
after he started and then Strengthened
out for the Monument. He circed that
and then cut across the Potomac river
into Virginia, and returning settled in
Potomac Park. where the aeroplane was
tied up for the night near the bandstand
Fast Trip From College Park.
The trip was very fast. There was a
twelve-mile wind blowing, according to
the thermometer at the army hangar at
College Park, when Peck started at I
O'Clock. The wind was quartering with
him. which accounted to some extent for
the quick trip but the machine showed
that it was fast. none the less.
Peck came over the end of H street
at about 1,JOO feet. and cut out his. Ell
gne, letting the machine glide down
nearly 20 the tops of the houses. Then
he threw ON the power and climbed again
till over the top of the Capitol He cir
cled the building and then. cutting Off the
power again, he glided down toward
Pennsylvania avenue, passing not more
than fifty feet over the top of The Star
Building.
Driving toward the Monument, he
climbed high above the top of the shaft
and then cut off the engine again. COM
the shaft. This was the prettiest part
Of the whole flight. Throwing on the
power once more, he flew across the river
into Virginia and went nearly to Fort
and settled in the polo field on the
Speedway. Rex Smith was waiting for
him and threw down piece OF canvas
to mark spot for him to land Peck
put the machine directly on the marx
and 1urnped out.
The whole trip had taken just fifteen
minutes. Which gives some idea Of the
speed at which it was made, and indi-
Gates how the living area of city will
be increased when men own their aern-
come 10 business in them
Machine Behaved Well.
Great, yes, fine, you know: real great,
was the manner in which Peck described
The flight. He explained that the machine
behaved well on the trip and that it dill
not seem to need any control worth men,
tioning. even in the worst gusts encoun
tered. He said that once he got the feel
of the high air he felt entirely independent
of the wind as the machine seemed to
come back automatically to an even keel
even after the worst rocking. Tech
nically speaking, the flexible wing tips
seem to balance the machine quite as
well as ailerons and are much easier to
manipulate, so the new machine has
demonstrated one important virtue
The machine was securely staked down
for the night and several watchers left
10 guard it. remembering the fate that
overlook the machine belonging to Al
wood on the same spot.
Peck intends to take the machine for
q little spin down the river today,
probably going as far as Fort Washing
ton and Fort Hunt. After that he will
return to Washington and fly back to
College Park. The flight win be be-
tween and o'clock this afternoon, if
the conditions are favorable.
Three Machines in Air at Once.
There was an unusual amount of fly
ing at College Park yesterday after
noon. The Wright machine, the eight
cylinder Curtiss and the Smith machine
were all in the air at the same time.
Lieuts Milling and Arnold made flights
for practice Arnold came down in a
spiral glide from height of about 1900
feet. Both he and Lieut.. Milling are
using the spiral and reverse spiral
glides for descents from high attitudes.
They are not taking undue chances, but
are gradually feeling out the capabilities
of the machines.
The new Curtiss machine is very fast.
probably close to seventy miles AN hour
1t can make rings around the other
machines, and Capt. Beck, the operator.
says it climbs well. not quite so fast as
the Wright, but is quite a capable sky
scraper Capt. Beck went up yesterday
about 1900 feet The fast machine can
land inside of 100 feet at need. but this
gives ii shaking up that Is not par
| ticularly good for it. and usually it
! takes about three-quarters of a mile in
which to make an easy landing.