Evening star., 1925-05-05
The First Airplane" Dispute.

The controversy between Orville
Wright and DR.. Charles d. Walcott,
secretary Of the Smithsonian Institu.
| ton, regarding the disposal of the orig.
inal Wright flying machine involves
80 much OF technicality regarding the
handling of the Langley airplane and
the present condition Of the Wright
| flyer that the public is unable to fol-
low it clearly. But there is something
more than technicality in this matter.
Primarily involved is the question OF
patriotic loyalty. In this country was
first developed the neavier-than-air
plane. The United States is the source
of practical aviation. 1t should be the
place without question for the per-
manent exhibition Of the original ma
chimes, from which the present mar
vels Of human flight have developed.
Mr.. Wright's complaint is that the
Smithsonian, custodian of the Langley
plane, permitted it to be used in a
test which bore upon certain patent
disputes, and that in doing so the
plane was altered from its original
condition. He processes a fear lest his
own plane be subjected to similar
changes. This is plainly a subterfuge
There is no danger or remote posi-.
bility Of any alteration. The Wright
plane deposited in the Smithsonian as
an historic exhibit would be just az
secure from change as it would be in
a British museum.
1t Is well established and generally
accepted that Prof Langley was a
pioneer in the science of heavier-than-
air navigation, and that his device,
though unsuccessful in its first and
only test, contained the essentials Of
successful performance It's fault lay
in the means Of launching it. 1t was
not as it stood practicable airplane,
yet ittwas later flown. after certain
notifications had been made. 1t IS
with reference to those notifications
that Mr.. Wright now demurs to plac-
ing his own plane in the Smithsonian.
If the Langley plane, as exhibited in
the Smithsonian now, was not in fact
the first practicable airplane, If it is
not the identical Langley apparatus,
80 much the more reason for placing
the Wright plane there as the identi-
cal, original, first American flyer.
The American people hailed the
achievement of the Wright brothers
with the warmest enthusiasm and
praise. They are regarded as the first
practical American flyers, and there
fore the first in the world. Theirs was
an actual achievement. 1t was the be-
ginning Of the science of aviation.
Their original plane has therefore a
significance in American history, and
it would be in the last degree lamenta-
BILE for it to be sent abroad, to be
preserved out of it's native environ
ment, against foreign background,
and especially in consequence of a
feeling of jealousy.
Quite naturally the Smithsonian In
stitution is proud of the contribution
Of Samuel P. Langley to the science
OF aviation. 1t is appropriate that
his device should be preserved there.
Whether it is properly labeled with
reference to other works is of far less
moment than that the historic col
lection should be complete through the
inclusion of the first plane that car
ried men in flight. Asperities should
be Modified, differences adjusted and
jealousies laid aside to this end of pre-
serving here at Washington the physi-
cal record of the first step in prac-
tical human flight.