The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-30

The original trial of 1903, which failed, was made at Whitewater, Va, an attempt being made to launch the aeroplane from the roof of a house. boat A car supporting it, and driven (on its release) by the recoil of long and powerful spiral springs, ran swiftly along a short track, then sud- denly dropped away, leaving the craft af1oat in mid-air with propellers whirring. The method (says MT. Cur tiss) was entirely practical, but failed to work on first trial-the result being that the aeroplane and it's pilot were plunged into the mud at the bottom of the Potomac river.
 MT. Curtiss, at Hammondsport, was puzzled to knDw whether it would be better to start the machine from the ground with wheels or from the watef with foats.- He finally chose the lat ter, r,swhich were suitably attached-the aeroplane in other respects, including engine, rudders and propeEers, being left substantially as it was in 1903. IL retained the same system of control being raised or lowered by moving a horizontal rudder up or down, and steered to right or left by turning vertical rudder.
 It was a pleasant day, with a mild breeze blowing, when the machine was lifted into the water, and its en- zine started, with MT. Curtiss at the wheel in a little boat-Shaped car un- der the forward part of the frame. It took on motion immediately, skimming over the wavelets, and then, pointing automatically into the wind, rose level, <Js Q 1rn feet, and sank again to the water, upon which it alighted softly.
 The Langley flyer had flown, and the theory of it's inventor was at last vindicated.
 This. however, was only a begin- ming. It remained to be ascertained what the machine could do with the addition of few up-to-date improve ments
 The engine anbd propeller were re. placed with a Curtiss e8O-horse power motor and a tractor propeller mounted on steel frame we'll forward. This meant, of course, a considerable in. crease in the weight to be carried.
 In 1903 the total weight of the Langley machine, including that of the pilot was only 830 pounds. With floats added, it was increased to 1,17O pounds. With the new motor and tractor propellor, it was 1,52O pounds.
 But, notwithstanding all of this ex- tra weight, the delicate wings and spars supporting it in the air in the subsequent flights were not broken, nor was any part of the machine overstrained
 When the changes above described had been accomplished, the reaL and interesting test of the possibilities of the Langley aeroplane was made, the post of pilot being taken by MT. El- wood Doherty, pupil of the Curtiss aviation school It was an occasion of historic interest, and crowds of spec tators were assembled along the shores of Lake Keuka to watch the proceedings. It was a sunny sum- mer's day, and a light. breeze rippled the water without raising whitecaps.
 A dozen workmen, lifting the great tandem monoplane from the beach, with the pilot in his seat waded into the lake and set it gently upon the water. When official obververs, in motor boats, were suitably stationed, a man in high top boots, standing in the water, started the propeller and y. the craft ran swiftly out upon the lake, it's huge yellow wings beautifully arched and gleaming brilliantly in the afternoon sun.
 Presently the rear floats and rud- ders cleared the water, the front floats still skipping on their heels white with foam-the whole affair now in pose to soar. Then it rose majestic ally, and sailed on even wing 1000 feet; sank safely, skinned the water, and scared another 1000 feet; grazed the water again, rose, and sailed half a mile; sank once more, skipped over the water a little way, and scared over half a mile.
 The Langley flying machine, in a word, was a proven and practically success. It lacked only one thing that the man who gave this marvel to the world should have been there to see!