The Washington herald., 1922-04-13
LANDING A FLAME
ON CAPfT0L PLAZA.

ON CAPfTOL PLAZA.
The other day an sirplane paid a
visit to the plaza in front OF the
Capitol. Many who saw Il and heard
about it must have wondered how
IL felt TO pilot the ship in such close
quarters. The U. s. Air Service has
issued q description OF the feat
The flying ant" Is the special pet
Of Lawrence sperry. with IL during
his recent visit here he cut up quite
lot Of antics in the vicinity Of
the Munitions Building. On several
mornings he buzzed the little "hiv-
YER" some thousand or SO feet above
the White House ellipse, circled the
Washington Monument several
I times. and entertained the army Of
government workers-pre-war.w war.
I ante-war and otherwlse-who were
vending their way to the numerous
Offices in the vicinity of the Execa-
tive Mansion. with loops and other
stunts. and. then swooping down and
disappearing suddenly from view
behind some government building.
This no doubt coused much wonder
ment amongst the uninitiated. who
knew that there 20 no Afrplane
landing field amidst these buildings.
But this vest pocket (messengerD
airpiane, Mr.. sperry has landed OF
country roads and in his back yard
without the least dIficulty
Lawrence Sperry had occasion to
land In front Of the Capitol when
the Speaker Of the HoIse invited
him to do so In order TO demonstrate
what could be done with the pri-
vately-owned army messenger
plane. He haS lust flown up from
New York. landing IN one OF the
streets adjacent the Munitions
Building. taxying up and pulling the
ship in between two Of the wings or
the building sheltered by the over
head viaduct connecting the two
wings Of the building.
I On the fight TO land in front .,t
the Capitol. he carried 100 pounds
of shot. in order TO make her get
down over the trees quicker. Tn
fortunately. as the hour had been
fixed the previous day. II was neces-
sary for him to land. despite the
fact that very fresh Northwest
winds were blowing which quar-
tered the direction Of landing max
ing him land. quartering the lee Of
the whirlpool winds got hold OF the
rudder. with the result that aftea
he got on the ground they turneA
his tail instantly at right angles.
Despite throwing on the motor he,
ran UP two or three steps OF the
iCapitoL Not the slightest damage
was incurred. however, the steps
merely forming an effective method
Of braking. and Sperry said that
IL he had IL to do over again. he
would head into the steps. using
them as a method os stopping. as
the tendency of the steps is 10
strsighten the plane out and make
II climb the steps squsrely even
though the approach Of the steps is
at an angle. In taking on. no diff
fculty was experienced except that
il was necessary for Sperry 90 gain
high air speed by keeping his nose
well down and depending for safety
on excellent air speed rather than
altitude until scme distance from
the Capitol.
Mr.. Sperry's comment after tho
flight was that the currents around
the deck Of an aircraft carrier
would probably do the same Thing
Except for the landing gear whirh
the navy have gotten up, because
there is no question that I'm a hirn
wind with the ship pitching very
slight amount and varying a slight
angle TO the wind. there would be
due to the enormous FIAT area -
the deck. considerable whirlpool
which would have the effect q
changing the direction OF landing.
Mr.. Sperry carries a parachute
compact seat type. and is a very
firm advocate thereof He says that
he likes the feeling in sitting o.
parachute and that should his
love. the Messenger. ever throw
him down. he would have the means
of leaving her.