The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-23
DREADNAUGHT OF. AIR TAKES EPOCH MAKING TRIAL SPIN
Success Of Wright Brothers EquaIIed When BarIing
 Bomber Completes Flight

DAYTON, O., August 22.-(By Asso- ciated Press. )-Surpassin even the widest dreams of it's designer and other air service officials, the Bar ling bomber, worlds largest airplane, completed it's maiden flight at Wilbur Wright field this evening. Ease with which the giant dreadnaught of the air was maneuvered, both on the ground and in flight. and the slow take-off and landing speeds, was the chief feature of the performance, wit messed by less than 1000 visitors and characterized as the most promising maiden flight ever undertaken by any aircraft. The plane was in the air 2S minutes.
 Only one minor detail was found to be in other than perfect order during the flight. This was the connecting rod between the upper and lower ele- vator planes on the tail, which vii brated considerably according to members of the crew. The vibration was not sufficient by far to mar the complete success of this greatest of flights since tbe Wright brothers of Dayton made their memorable voyage through the air at kftsy Hawk, N. C. in December, 1903.
 Even as the dreams and hopes of the Wright brothers were founded on this flight, so were the dreams and hopes of Waiter Barling, the English man WnO QeSlEneQ NnlS GDlps GGHleItt completely lI this flight.
 Before the ship took the air he smiled and expressed his confidence in his handiwork. but his hands were shaking and his nervousness other wise was apparent as he climbed through the small trap door into the fuselage of the ship following Lieut. Harold R. Harris, pilot; Lieut.. Muir Fairchild, assistant pilot, and Engi- neer Douglas Culver.
 After the four men entered the ship Harris took his place in the pilots seat in the nose of the fuselaGe. Fair child was seen at his side, in an aux ilary pilots seat Barling was stand Ing on the lighting platform" with the upper half of his short body above the fuselage and Culver was at the in strument board.
 Giant Craft Hops orr.
 Under it's own power the giant craft majestically swung around for a quarter turn and moved off to the southwest to get in position.
 Arrived at this position the ship remained for a time. with motors idling. Suddenly came deafening roar as the six Liberty motors were speeded up preparatory to the take off. An instant later the ship was seen to move across the field.
 In nine seconds and after a run of 120 yards as Lieutenant Harris gave her the gun" the ship was off the ground. leaving the ground at speed of about 50 miles an hour. The big craft gained altitude steadily and was 30 feet in the air by the time It passed the place where a battery of cameramen were stationed.
 Similar in many instances to the historic flight of the Wright brothers almost 20 years ago, this giant craft appeared strangely similar to the first Wright ship when it was viewed from the rear in the air.
 The tail of the Barling has a wing spread greater than that of the DII Il, standard training ship of the army air service, and this large tail espe- cially when the ship was far away. appeared quite similar to the box kite tail of the first Wright ship. The propellors on the engines in the wings also recalled that the two pro- pellors on the first successful heavier than-air machine were To- cated in the wings.
 As the Barling bomber circled the field, expressions of awe were heard
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