Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-09-28
Langley, Pioneer in Agitation

20 seconds duration, While the ma
chine covered a distance of 5000 feet,
although in subsequent flights this dis
tance was increased to three-quarters
of II mile. at Il speed of about 30 miles
per hour. No attempt at flight was
made in high winds. but in a wind OF
II miles per hour. the model flew we'll,
clrclcd and rose to a height of over 100
feed. guided only by it's own mechan-
ism. Thus after II period of nine years
OF study and experiment. the theory
OF mechanical flight was successfully
demonstrated n demonstrated. as MIR.
Langley said. in the only satisfactory
way. by a Machine really flying.
The government became interested in
MIR. LangleN's work early In 1895, rec
ogniZins the possibility for the use OF
such a machine i'm time of war.
Through the board of ordinance and,
fo~rtitication. President Mckinley asked
Secretary Langley to build a man car-
rNlng flying machine. The secretary
agreed to try. and coming reluctant
~ from his scientific pursuits. he COM
menced the work under an a%ppropria-
ton from the government. Many UNI
forseen obstacles We're as
had been the case i'm the construction
OF the model machine. Gasoline had
been substituted for steam as a more
practical motor power and Secretary
Langley. then at the age of 81, found
1t necessary to delve in the study OF
gasoline engine construction. He had
no desire to build Il gasoline engine.
himself. but after searching in vain,
both I'm this country and in Europe
for an engine builder who could make
MIN am engine averaging i'm weight
only 10 pounds per horsepower. he was
forced to undertake it's construction
I'm the Smithsonian shops.
~ In t,n @.,~ s-~ .l:l Il
signed and constructed by Charles NJ.
Manly, am engineer assisting MIR. Lang
ley, was Il fVe-cylinder one. producing
% actual horsepower. and weighing
with radiators. batteries and 20 pounds
of cooling water. only 2V7 pounds, av-
eraging a little less than four pounds
per horsepower. The memoir gives the
details of construction of this engine,
which even the builder of modern gaso-
line engines could study With great adj
vantage.
Nearly every n is familiar with
the termination of the experiments
made with the man-carrying machine.
Early in October, 1903. the %aeroplane
was completed n was tried out at
the testing grounds at Whitewater, Va.
Professor Langley insisting that the
night be made over the water in or
der to afford protection to the aviator
IN landing. or in the event of an ac-
al lCSIS ildu UcGIl
made previously on the launching APP
iairatus. there was some undiscovered
law and the machine was twice pre-
r:ritated into the water directly from
the launching ways before it got fair
~ INTO the air. AT the time of the
smoothly. but as the machine started
down the ways he aviator in his car
felt Il sudden r~etardation. due to the
Iact that of the wings came in con-
.act With a part of the projecting
launching apparatus. and although he
AVIATOR. Mr.. Manly, attempted to ad-
just the balance of the Machine With
the udder. the a%eroplane tipped down
ward and plunged into the river be-
fore he could secure control.
foiloWlng its recovery and repair. al
most identical events occurred in con-
hection with the second launching.
about w months later. AS before II
was conceded by all who saw thef i1ht
Ihat II machine would undoubtedly
nave flown had it not been for the
detective launching apparatus.
Nearly all d ayiators who are
familiar with the type and construc-
ton of the langley machine. readily
accord to the pioneer In the science ~
aeronautics. that his flrst heavier than
ar machine would unquestionably
nave flown and would fly TODAY IL
Iairly launched. The Smithsonian an
.norlt'es. however. have decided that
the machine will never be experiment.
cd with again. but will be preserved
as a monument to the scientist who
onauc1ed these original Investigations.
me Langley memoir on Mechanical
Flight. which forms publication I'eaa
of the Smithsonia contribution :"
knowledge. is in two parts: the first
oy Professor Langley himself. dealine
with the preliminary work and exneri.
ments up to the first successful flight
part is by Mr.. Charles M. Mani" usn
Langley's assistant in the constr1,ctinn
or the large gasoline motor. and the
m~an-carrying machine and who acted
as aviator at the two attempted flights