The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-27


this progress due to the so-calied "martyrdom"
of the birdmen who aspired to heaven and had
TO fall TO get there.
1t is doubtful If the American public is as en-
thusiastic over the flight of Ely from shore TO
ship and back, the aerial excursions of .Wey-
mann and Sommers with three, four and six pas
sengers and the starting of heavier-than-air
machine from the waters of San Diego Bay by
Glenn Curtiss as it was over the hair-rasing
curves and didoes cut aloft by the midair circus
men who cast their life into the balance, and
then tipped the scales the wrong yet the ineyi-
table way, that noise might shake the hills.
Nevertheless, the aviators who have perform
ed since the shocking tragedies of December and
early January have accomplished more toward
making known to the world the uses of the
heavier-than-air flying machine than probably
all OF the victims Of aerial capery and reckless
abandon. We have regarded it as great feat
to land an aeroplane on the same field from which
it started Considering the fanciful capers cut
by the operators of the machine while navgat
ing the territory higher up, 1t was a great feat
that they and their machines should come down
when the aviator willed, rather than when the
memorable laws OF gravtation dictated. and
equally remarkable that they alighted intact But
how much more instructive and thrilling is 1t to
learn that a flying machine, weighing 1900
pounds. has been safely ploted from land to the
deck of vessel and brought to halt without
the slightest shaking of single strip Of wood
or inch OF canvas, and without injury to the
aviator?
But a short time back the world applauded
when the operator of a heavierthanair flying
machine took passenger with him. We were
told that the day would come when dozen or
more passengers would be taken aerial
junket and that the aeroplane would rival
trains and ocean liners. The aviators who
made these predictions. however, lost their lives
by becoming bit too fly with their machines
while carrying passenger. and thus cheated
themselves of fame near at hand and the science
OF aviation OF profitable lessons.
( In a quiet modest way Weymann and Som
mers have carried one passenger, learned the
lessons of the flight and gradually increased
! their knowledge and experience, until they have
run the total up to six. Their flights show
that there great possibilities for safe and
e1hilarating sport In the Observation-Disclosures ma
chine, and that caution and common sense are
the chief requisites for successful navigation Of
the air.
/ Like Elys epoch-making flight, MIR. Curtiss
excursion over the water from d start on thu
bosom of the bay, demonstrates the PRACTICABLE
ity and usefulness of the aeroplane in warfare
particularly on the sea. This inventor.birdmar
has proven that 1t will not only be possible bu
necessary for the warships of the future to carry
aeroplanes on their decks and to launch then
from the water. Sufficient running space before
an aeroplane can leap into the air is not afford
ed on the INSTRUCTED deck of war vessel TIL,
flying machines, to be used in the future war
for scouting, delivery Of orders and other ser
vice, can be and will be started from the surface
, of the water the ship from which 1t is low
cred This has been a mooted question sine,
naval officials realized the important part tn,
heavier-than-air flying machine was to play il
hostile maneuvers of the days to come, and ha
now been settled to the highest satisfaction.
! 1t is not to be found in the stories of thes,
! great flights of the last ten days that the avia
tors were assisted in the slightest by the mar
tyrdom" OF transforming aerial stunt artists
who few for plaudits II is written that thes'
successful adyancers OF the science flew will
level machines and heads about them, followed
T straight and sane courses with definite pur
pose to accomplish and a higher ambition thar
that OF winning applause or individual fame fol
themselves.
! INVESTIGATIONS
Shall be through with this hyphen